AP Lang Vocabulary Terms

AP Lang Vocabulary for DVHS

Rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively to inform, influence, or motivate an audience

Inference

a logical conclusion/educated guess reached by combining known evidence, or observations with your own background knowledge

Style

the unique way an author expresses their ideas

Genre

a category of text defined by its purpose, structure, and audience

Text

any piece of communication meant to convey a message

Rhetorical situation

the foundational framework for analyzing why a text was written and how it works (Persona, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Context, Exigency, Constraints)

Purpose

what the author wants the audience to think, feel, or do by the end of the text (persuade, inform, or critique)

Persona

the constructed role/voice a writer or speaker adopts to connect with a specific audience

Context

The broader historical, cultural, and social background surrounding a text

Subject

The main topic, theme, or argument discussed

Occasion

The specific time, place, and social or historical circumstances that prompt a writer to create a text

Audience

The specific listeners/readers the speaker is trying to reach, including their values and expectations

Exigency

The spark, catalyst, or urgent problem that prompted the writer to create their text

Constraints

any factors that limit, shape, or influence the choices a writer or speaker can make when crafting a text

To persuade

to influence an audience’s attitude, beliefs, or actions with logic, emotion, and credibility

To inform

to impart factual knowledge, explain a concept, or clarify a situation objectively

To entertain

to engage, interest, amuse, or captivate the audience

Description

Use of vivid, sensory details to recreate a person, place, or event so the reader can vividly visualize it

Narration

the act of telling a story or recounting a sequence of events

Argument

a structured claim backed by evidence and reasoning to persuade an audience

Exposition

Writing or speech that is designed to explain, inform, or describe a specific topic

Example/illustration

Supporting a broad, abstract claim with specific, concrete evidence

Definition

Establishing the meaning of a concept, term, or idea

Comparison

Examining the similarities/differences between two or more subjects

Contrast

Highlighting the difference between two or more subjects

Analysis

Explaining how and why a writer constructs a text to persuade their audience

Division & Classification

breaking a large concept into smaller parts, and sorting those parts into logical, distinct categories based on shared traits

Analogy

comparing two different things to explain a complex or unfamiliar concept by showing its similarity to a familiar one

Cause and Effect

explaining why something happened and what its consequences are

In Media Res

a narrative technique where a story begins mid-action rather than at the chronological beginning

Flashback (analepsis)

a narrative technique that interrupts chronological time time to depict an earlier event

Flash-forward (prolepsis)

a story is interrupted by a temporary jump to a future event

Foreshadowing

a rhetorical device where a writer plants subtle hints or clues about future events in a narrative

Cliffhanger

a narrative device where a story, chapter, or scene abruptly ends at a moment of high tension, danger, or suspense

Inductive Reasoning

a method of argumentation that builds from specific observations, facts, or examples up to a broad, general conclusion