AP Lang Glossary (Topic 1)

Argument

A claim or position the author intends to prove, supported by evidence and reasoning.

Example: Billy argued that his potato chips were not as good as his friends.

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive communication, including strategies and devices used to influence an audience.

Example: Rhetoric can be the use of ethos, pathos, and logos to enhance an argument.

Text

Any written, spoken, or visual work that conveys meaning and can be analyzed rhetorically.

Example: Romeo and Juliet is a type of text.

Annotation

A note or brief explanation added to a text to highlight, question, or interpret aspects of the work.

Example: Annotating while you are reading to explain/understand something better.

Rhetorical Situation

The dynamic of speaker, audience, purpose, context, and constraints that shape how a text is produced and understood.

Example: A speech from a politician trying to get people to vote for him.

Exigence

A combination of occasion and context that helps the speaker make their point.

Example: MLK’s speech was during a period of great civil unrest.

Purpose

The intended goal of the speaker's message, such as to persuade, inform, or entertain.

Example: The purpose of an advertisement is to persuade consumers to buy a product.

Audience

The people for whom the text is created and who interpret its meaning and persuasion.

Example: Those passing by a billboard and reading it are the audience for that billboard.

Writer/Speaker

The individual who creates and delivers the message.

Example: Hernan Cortés is the author of the Second Relation letter.

Context

The conditions surrounding a text—including historical, cultural, and social factors—that influence meaning.

Example: People might interpret a text differently based on their background and experiences.

Message

The central idea or claim that the text communicates to the audience.

Example: The message in a persuasive essay often advocates for a specific opinion.

Occasion

The time, place, and circumstances that prompted the creation or delivery of the text.

Example: Sending an email after you completed an assignment to let your teacher know you finished.

Tone

The narrator's or writer's attitude toward the subject or audience, revealed through style.

Example: Using specific word choices, sentence structures, and punctuation to sound more formal.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere experienced by the audience as a result of the text.

Example: A solemn mood in a sad poem.

Stance

The speaker's attitude or position on the issue expressed in the text.

Example: Agreeing with the idea of banning phones during school hours.

Medium

The channel through which a message is delivered (speech, print, digital, etc.).

Example: Using a billboard to get a message across.

Bias

A predisposition or prejudice that affects judgment or presentation of information.

Example: An NC State fan might think that their team is better than it actually is.

Claim

A statement the author asserts as true that requires support from evidence.

Example: Different study method improve test scores more than how much you study.

Defense

The reasons and evidence offered to support a claim and counter objections.

Example: A lawyer providing information to defend his client.

Appeals

The modes of persuasion used to influence an audience (ethos, pathos, logos).

Example: A speaker using long words to sound credible and educated.

Ethos

The credibility and ethical appeal of the speaker, built through character, authority, and trust.

Example: A billboard calling yourself the "best" or "most trusted" lawyer.

Pathos

The appeal to emotions to engage and persuade the audience.

Example: A serial killer pretending to be humanitarian to gain sympathy.

Logos

The appeal to reason using evidence and logical argument.

Example: Changing the way you structure your argument to sound more convincing.