AP Lang Vocabulary (31-60)

Mr. Sturm

asyndeton

A syntactical structure (see "syntax,' ," no. 138 below) in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose. For example: "Veni, vedi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered" (a Latin phrase, supposedly spoken by Julius Caesar).

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the ________. Frequently the _________ foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood. Ex: Thunder cracked in the background as he approached the house.

audience

The person or persons who listen to a spoken text or read a written one and are capable of responding to it.

bias

any belief, ideology, value, or prejudice that inhibits impartial judgment is a _____.

chiasmus

a figure of speech and a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second. Ex: "He thinks I am but a fool.. fool, perhaps am.

claim

An assertion stated as fact. In other words, although a claim may be presented as a truth, that truth is not supported by evidence

classification

The sorting out of elements into _______ or groups, or the separation of something into its parts. Connected to "division." ___________ and division are used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, _____ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate ______ cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent _____. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing.

cliche

An old, tired expression that writers should avoid "like the plague," which is an example of _____.

coherence

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence: and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces of writing are the units that, by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for ________.

colloquial/colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, __________ give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions m writing include local or regional dialects.

complex sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Ex: I was short with him because I was running late.

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses. Ex: I really need to go to work but am too sick to drive.

compound-complex sentence

A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Ex: The dog ran off when I chased him, but I didn't care.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made. Ex: Marriage is like getting a root canal.

conclusion

The close of an essay, which should bring the writer's point home in a few sentences or a paragraph. Good conclusions do more than repeat a thesis, but they may refer to facts, ideas, and even the opening anecdote.

conjunction

a word or phrase that joins words, phrases, clauses, ideas. Three types of ________ grace the English language: coordinating (ex: for, and, nor), correlative (ex: either/or, neither/nor), and subordinating conjunctions (ex: after, although, if, since).

connotation

The non-iteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. ________ may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

context

In writing, ______ implies the circumstance in which an event occurs. To put writing in _______ means to examine it in relation to the circumstances present at the time of its composition or to examine it in light of the events relevant to its subject or topic. ______ may also be used to indicate the placement of a par within a larger setting. For example, a word in context refers to the meaning of the word in a particular sentence, paragraph, or text. Also called "milieu" in literary analysis or historical documents, meaning the surroundings or environment that somebody lives in and is influenced by

controlling idea

An idea that provides the common thread that ties a text together. A
______________ may be expressed as a thesis, as a topic sentence, or as an extended metaphor or image

critique

An assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for the purpose of determining what the piece of writing is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre.

deductive reasoning

Reasoning that begins with a general principle and concludes with a specific instance that demonstrates that general principle. Ex: Monkeys like bananas. Lucy is a monkey. → Lucy likes bananas.

definition

Explanation of the nature of a word, thing, or idea. ________ attempts to make us understand something we already knew in a novel or new way. When Nancy Mairs discusses "being a cripple," she is using a label others try not to use, and she redefines what it means.

denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

description

Depiction through sensory evidence. _______ is not just visual: it uses details of touch, smell, taste, and hearing. These concrete details can support a specific argument, give the reader a sense of immediacy, or establish a mood. _______, while tied to the concrete, can also use metaphor, as when Richard Rodriguez writes "At one point his words slid together to form one word-sounds as confused as the threads of blue and green oil in the puddle next to my shoes.

dialect

The language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group.
For example, Minnesotans say "you betcha" when they agree with you, and Georgians might say "y'all" when speaking to a group. _______ are evident in speech from a different era, culture, or region.

diction

Related to style, ______ refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. You should be able to describe an author's _______ (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which ______ can complement the author's purpose. _______, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style

didactic

From the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching." ______ works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

discourse

A serious and lengthy speech or piece of writing about a topic OR a serious discussion about something between people or groups. Also could refer to language, especially the type of language used in a particular context or subject or a unit of language, especially spoken language, that is longer than the sentence.

division

The separation of something into parts. Connected to "classification." Classification and ______ are used when a writer wants to break something down into its elements or group a number of things in order to analyze them. Ex: Newspaper divided into news, advertisements, classifieds, etc.