AP - Lang Tool Box Terms

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

Rhetorical Devices

Techniques used by speakers or writers to convey messages and persuade audiences.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or character.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to emotion.

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning that involves drawing general conclusions from specific observations.

Deductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning that starts with a general statement and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion.

Syntax

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

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas in a balanced structure.

Connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word, as found in a dictionary.

Code Hero

Characteristics of a protagonist who embodies certain values such as bravery, resilience, and a sense of honor.

Bildungsroman

Features of a coming-of-age story that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist.

Vignette

A brief, evocative description, account, or episode that captures a moment or character.

Dark Romanticism

Themes and motifs that explore the darker aspects of human nature, emotion, and the supernatural.

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates mental images.

FANBOYS

An acronym for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two or more ideas, characters, or settings side by side for comparison or contrast.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things.

Parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures in a series of phrases or clauses.

Personification

The attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities or objects.

Polysyndeton

The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession for emphasis.

Repetition

The deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times for emphasis.

Sentence Types

Simple (a sentence with one independent clause), Compound (a sentence with two or more independent clauses), Complex (a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause), Compound-Complex (a sentence with at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses).

Dependent Clause/Independent Clause

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence, while an independent clause can.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as."

Subordinating Conjunctions

Words that connect an independent clause with a dependent clause (e.g., because, although, since).

Symbol

An object, character, or event that represents a deeper meaning or concept.

Theme

The central idea or underlying message of a literary work.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.