AP Lang Rhetorical Terms List 2

ad hominem Argument

An argument that attacks the integrity or character of an opponent rather than the merits of an issue.

Analogy

A comparison that attempts to explain one idea or thing by likening it to another.

Anecdote

A brief narrative offered in a text to capture the audience’s attention or to support a generalization or claim.

Appeal to Ethos

An appeal to ethics, credibility, etc.

Appeal to Logos

An appeal to logic and reasoning.

Appeal to Pathos

An appeal to emotion, an appeal to feelings rather than to strict reason.

Begging the Question

The situation that results when a writer or speaker contracts an argument on an assumption that the audience does not accept.

Casual Relationship (Cause-and-Effect)

The relationship expressing, “If X is the cause, then Y is the effect,” or “If Y is the effect, then X caused it”.

Colloquialism

A word or expression acceptable in informal usage but inappropriate in formal discourse.

Conclusion

The final paragraph or paragraphs that sum up an essay and bring it to a close.

Connotation

The implication of emotional overtones of a word rather than its literal meaning.

Emphasis

A rhetorical principle that requires stress to be given to important elements in an essay at the expense of less important elements.

Essay

A short prose discussion of a single topic.

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

Example

An instance that is representative of an idea or claim or that otherwise illustrates it.

Generalization

A statement that asserts some broad truth based upon knowledge of specific cases.

Logical Fallacy

Errors in reasoning used by speakers or writers, sometimes in order to dupe their audiences.

Objective and Subjective Writing

Two different attitudes towards description; one being when author tries to present an unbaised view, while the other has personal experiences and ties to it.

Red Herring

A side issue introduced into an argument in order to distract from the main argument.

Sarcasm

Involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.

Satire

The use of wit and humor in order to ridicule society’s weaknesses so as to correct them.

Subordination

Expressing in a dependent clause, phrase, or single word any idea that is not significant enough to be expressed in a main clause or an independent sentence.

Tone

The reflection of the writer’s attitude towards subject and audience.

Understatement (Litotes)

A way of deliberately representing something as less that it is in order to stress its magnitude.

Voice

The presence or the sound of self, chosen by the author.