Rhetorical Devices to Know for the AP Lang Exam (AP) (copy)

Rhetorical devices

Techniques used in speech or writing to persuade, inform, or evoke an emotional response from the audience.

Analogy

A comparison between two things based on their structure, often used to clarify a complex idea by simplifying it.

Antithesis

The use of contrasting ideas within parallel structures to highlight differences.

Diction

The deliberate choice of words to create a specific effect or mood.

Ethos

An appeal to credibility or authority to persuade.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas close together for comparison.

Logos

Using logical reasoning and evidence to support an argument.

Pathos

Appealing to emotions to sway the audience.

Rhetoric

The art of using language effectively in written or spoken form to convey ideas.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Tone

The author's attitude towards a subject, conveyed through word choice and style.

Anecdote

A brief narrative of an interesting, often personal, incident used to illustrate a point.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid pictures in the mind.

Irony

Expressing something contrary to what is meant, often to highlight a discrepancy.

Paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals an underlying truth upon closer inspection.

Polysyndeton

The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession.

Epistrophe

Repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning that moves from general principles to specific instances (top-down approach).

Inductive Reasoning

Drawing broad generalizations from specific observations, leading to theories or hypotheses.

Metonymy

A figure of speech where one thing is substituted for another that is closely associated with it.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech where a part represents the whole or vice versa.

Thesis

The main statement or central argument in a work.

Chiasmus

The repetition of ideas in reverse order.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words, not necessarily the consonants.

Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of successive words.

Allusion

A reference to a historical event, literary work, or well-known figure.

Didactic

Intended to teach, often with an emphasis on moral, ethical, or educational lessons.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that is developed throughout several lines or sentences, with consistent comparisons.

Colloquial

Language that imitates informal, everyday speech.

Connotation

The set of associations that a word carries beyond its literal meaning.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the end of words.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed by the speaker not meant to be answered.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative technique that captures a character's thoughts and feelings in a continuous flow.

Thesis

The main statement or central argument in a work.