AP Lang Term 1 and 2 Vocab Words (i like to call it self inflicted depression why did i take this class)

active voice

essentially any sentence with an active verb; usually preferred in writing because it expresses more energy and command than passive voice. [opposite of passive voice]

anadiplosis

repetition technique where the last word of the clause begins the next clause, creating a connection of ideas important to the author’s purpose

anaphora

the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive phrases, clauses, or lines. [often seen in political speeches]

anastrophe

the reversal (inversion) of the natural order of words in a sentence

antimetabole

repetition of specific words in the reverse order

aphorism

a brief statement of an opinion or an elemental truth

appositive

a noun phrase that modifies the noun next to it

archaic diction

old-fashioned or outdated choice of words

asyndeton

the omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

complex sentence

a sentence structure that is a combination of a dependent clause and an independent clause

compound sentence

a sentence structure made up of two independent clauses joined typically by a coordinating conjunction

complex-compound sentence

a combination of a compound and complex sentence

cumulative sentence

a sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence and then builds and adds on

declarative sentence

the most common type of sentence, it is a basic statement or assertion

deductive reasoning

a logical process by which one reaches a conclusion by using claims or premises that are generally believed to be true. The assumption by the author is that you will accept the claims as true and that you will then deduce the correct conclusion

dependent clause

this clause contains a noun and a verb but is set up with a subordinate conjunction, which makes the clause an incomplete sentence or thought

epistrophe

the ending of a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words; when used in a speech it is emotionally potent

euphemism

a safer, nicer, or more appropriate/acceptable word for something others find inappropriate or unappealing

exclamatory sentence

a sentence that conveys excitement or force

generalization

a sweeping or broad statement or conclusion drawn about a group of people, or things, and applied to groups of people or things

hortative sentence

a sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action

imperative sentence

a sentence that is used to command or enjoin

independent clause

a clause that can stand alone as a sentence; it has a subject and predicate

inductive reasoning

a logical process whereby the writer reasons from particulars or specific instances to universals in order to draw a general conclusion

interrogative sentence

a sentence that is a question

jargon

a pattern of speech and vocabulary associated with a particular group of people or profession

malapropism

the form of wordplay in which one word is mistakenly substituted for another that sounds similar. Usually used to be amusing or funny

metonymy

figure of speech in which the name of one thing is substituted for another with which it is closely associated

paradox

a statement or situation that is seemingly contradictory on the surface, but delivers an ironic truth

parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

passive voice

the subject is the recipient of the verb’s action [opposite of active voice]

periodic sentence

a sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end

polysyndeton

the deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

propaganda

the spread of ideas and information to further a cause; in a negative sense it is the use of rumors, lies, disinformation, and scare tactics in order to damage or promote a cause

qualitative evidence

evidence that includes things that are interpretation-based, descriptive, or related to language and can be categorized to help understand the how, why, what happened, etc.

quantitative evidence

evidence that includes things that can be measured, cited, counted, or otherwise represented in numbers to help us understand how many, how much, how often, etc.

simple sentence

an independent clause; has a subject and a verb

synecdoche

figure of speech that uses a part to represent the whole

syntax

the arrangement of words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. This includes word order (ex: subject-verb-object or an inverted structure); the length and structure of the sentences (simple, compound, complex compound-complex); and such schemes as parallelism, juxtaposition, antithesis, and antimetabole

zeugma

use of two different words in grammatically similar ways that produce different, often incongruous, meanings

alliteration

repetition of the same sound beginning several words or syllables in sequence

allusion

a brief reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious) or to a work of art

analogy

a term signifying a relational comparison of or similarity between two objects or ideas

antithesis

opposition, or contrast/ juxtaposition, of ideas or words in parallel construction

apostrophe

a direct address to someone (or something) who is not present or cannot respond in reality [usually in literature]

concession

an acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable. In a strong argument, a concession is usually accompanied by a refutation challenging the validity of the opposing argument

connotation

meanings or associations that readers have with a word beyond its dictionary definition, or denotation. connotations are usually positive or negative, and they can greatly affect the author's tone

counterargument

an opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward. rather than ignoring it, a strong writer will usually address a counterargument through the process of concession and refutation

denotation

the dictionary definition or meaning of the word

ellipsis

three dots that indicate words have been left out of a quotation; they can also be used to create suspense

figurative language

nonliteral language that often evokes strong imagery and figures of speech; often compares one thing to another either explicitly or implicitly

hyperbole

an exaggeration that bolsters an argument

imagery

any time one of the five senses (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) is evoked by what you have read; in nonfiction, these senses are often used to create a kind of pathos

irony

a figure of speech that occurs when a speaker or character says one thing but means something else, or when what is said is the opposite of what is expected, creating a noticeable incongruity (inharmonious, out of place)

juxtaposition

placement of two things close together to emphasize similarities or differences

metaphor

figure of speech that compares two things without using like or as

mood

the feeling or atmosphere created (for the reader) by the text

onomatopoeia

a figure of speech in which a sound imitates the thing or action associated with it

oxymoron

two words that together create a sense of opposition; the juxtaposition of words that seem to contradict each other

parentheticals

phrases, sentences, and words inside parentheses ( ) that qualify or clarify something

personification

attribution of lifelike qualities to inanimate objects or ideas

point of view

the perspective from which the writer chooses to present their piece; first, second, or third person (omniscient or limited); in nonfiction can also consider the writer's attitude or nature of their persona

pun

a play on words that calls humorous attention to a particular point

qualifier

words used to temper the claim, or make it less absolute

repetition

a fundamental form of rhetorical stress that calls the reader's attention to a particular word, phrase, or image for emphasis; reinforces the power of parallel syntax

refutation

a denial of the validity of an opposing argument. In order to sound reasonable, it follows a concession that acknowledges that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable, but then goes on to disprove that argument

rhetorical appeals

rhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are ethos (Greek for character and used to demonstrate credibility and trustworthiness), logos (Greek for embodied thought and used when offering clear, rational ideas through specific details, examples, facts, statistics), and pathos (Greek for suffering, used to emotionally motivate the audience based on the audience's values, desires, hopes, fears, prejudices, etc)

rhetorical question

a figure of speech in the form of a question posed for effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer; the answer to the question is assumed, and the reader should respond in a predetermined manner

simile

a figure of speech used to explain or clarify an idea by comparing it explicitly to something else, using the words like, as, or as though

tone

a speaker's attitude toward the subject conveyed by the speaker's stylistic and rhetorical choices

understatement

a figure of speech in which something is presented as less important, dire, urgent, good, etc. than it actually is; often used for satiric or comical effect. It is the opposite of hyperbole.

ambivalent

(adj) having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas simultaneously about something or someone

earnest

(adj.) resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

enigmatic

(adj) difficult to interpret or understand, mysterious

equivocal

(adj) open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

ingratiating

(adj.) intended to gain approval or favor

pedantic

(adj) of or like someone who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

polemical

(adj) relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious (heated) writing or speech

reproachful

(adj) expressing disapproval or disappointment

strident

(adj) loud and harsh, grating

wry

(adj) using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor