2025 AP Lang Rhetorical Vocabulary Terms 121-151 (Vocab Quiz 5)

This is the rhetorical vocabulary for the 10/24/25 vocab quiz in Mr. Sturm's AP Lang class. Exact definitions from the packet have been modified to address grammatical, punctuational, and spelling errors, to remove the term from the definition, and to overall make the definition easier to understand. Word 151 (the last word) is a "bonus" word according to the packet.

rhetoric

From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of speaking or writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

“The art of persuasion”

rhetorical devices

Words or phrases designed to create a particular effect in a story or drama or to evoke a particular response from a reader, listener, or viewer. These strategies include but are not limited to rhetorical questions, repetition, analogy, anecdote, paradox, irony, humor, and various figures of speech.

rhetorical modes

This flexible term (also known as modes of discourse) describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common kinds of writing and their purposes are as follows:

1. Exposition (also known as expository writing) is used to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.

2. Argumentation is used to prove the validity of an idea or point of view by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader.

   • Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action.

3. Description is used to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture it being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective.

4. Narration is used to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode uses the tools of descriptive writing.

rhetorical purpose

Writing for specific reasons—exigence (something that a situation demands)—perhaps to persuade, set forth an argument, to explain or inform, to express feelings or convey emotions, or to entertain.

Determining an author’s intent is essential in determining the meaning and/or the effect of an essay.

rhetorical situation

The convergence in a situation of exigency (the need to speak or write): audience, purpose, tone, genre, medium, design.

sarcasm

From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," this term involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are intended to ridicule like this term. When well done, it can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it's simply cruel.

satire

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, this term is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing.

It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the writer: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm.

The effects of it are varied, depending on the writer’s goal, but if good, it is often humorous, thought-provoking, and insightful about the human condition.

secondary sources

Sources that analyze, describe, explain, or restate information from primary sources. Common reference materials such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, textbooks, books/articles in general are all examples of such.

If, for example, a writer is preparing an analysis of a literary text such as a novel or a poem, the text (such as Night or MLK’s "I Have a Dream" speech) is the primary source and any book reviews, website discussion, critical analysis about the text, or biographies of the author of that text are this type of source.

semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.

support

Two definitions:

1. In any researched and/or documented essay, quoted, paraphrased, or summarized words of others will be incorporated into the writer’s own text. To do this coherently, writers should seamlessly blend or integrate their own words with those of others. This term is the “weaving” of source and support material. In other words, if quotations, etc., are integrated, no quotation will stand alone as a sentence.

2. In a text, the material offered to make concrete or to back up a generalization, thesis, claim, or conclusion.

style

The consideration of this term has two purposes:

1. An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors’ choices are so idiosyncratic (distinct) that we can quickly recognize works by the same author (or a writer emulating that author’s style).

   • Compare, for example, Jonathan Swift to George Orwell or William Faulkner to Ernest Hemingway. We can analyze and describe an author’s personal style and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author’s purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, or laconic, to name only a few examples.

2. Classification of authors into a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author’s unique choices reflect and help to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement.

style manual

A guide for formatting citations and for preparing documents and papers. Many of these guides are recognized and used by different groups for different purposes.

• Those in the humanities often use the Modern Language Association’s (MLA) guide.

• Those in the social sciences, such as education or psychology, often use the guide from the American Psychological Association (APA).

subject complement

The words (with any accompanying phrases) or clauses that follow a linking verb and complete the subject of the sentence by doing one of the following:

• renaming it (predicate nominative)

• describing it (predicate adjective)

subordinate clause

Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, it cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought.

Also called a dependent clause, this type of clause depends on a main clause, sometimes called an independent clause, to complete its meaning. Easily recognized keywords and phrases usually begin these clauses

• although, because, unless, even though, since, as soon as, while, who, when, where, how, that

syllogism

From the Greek for “reckoning together,” this is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called “major” and the second, “minor”) that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.

A frequently cited example proceeds as follows:

• Major Premise: All men are mortal. (general)

• Minor Premise: Socrates is a man. (specific)

• Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

The conclusion is only valid if both premises are valid. The premises may also be in the reverse order, with the more specific claim coming first.

symbol/symbolism

Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Try to determine what abstraction it is representing and to what extent it is successful in doing so.

Usually, it is something concrete—such as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more abstract. However, it may be much more complex. One system classifies symbols in three categories:

1. Natural- objects and occurrences from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them

   • Dawn representing hope or a new beginning

   • A rose representing love

   • A tree representing knowledge.

2. Conventional- those that have been invested with meaning by a group

   • religious, such as a cross or Star of David

   • national,  such as a flag or an eagle

   • group, such as a skull and crossbones for pirates or the scales of justice for lawyers

3. Literary- sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are generally recognized. However, they may be more complicated as is the whale in Moby Dick and the jungle in Heart of Darkness.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole, such as “50 masts” representing 50 ships and “100 head of steer” representing 100 cattle.

syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. It is similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of this as the groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words.

synthesize

To combine parts into a more complex whole. For example, a writer might read a variety of viewpoints and combine parts of a number of these viewpoints into a new and more complex personal view.

Readers analyze a text by looking at specific parts of that text—word choice, structure, figures of speech—then they combine their analyses of these various parts to form an understanding or interpretation of the work as a whole.

technical documents

Includes all forms of business, professional, and technical communication. Some examples include surveys and questionnaires, research studies, and proposals. May also include letters.

theme

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually, it is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, it may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing.

In expository writing, the thesis statement, opinion, or the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's meaning, purpose, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proved the thesis.

thesis

The main idea in a text, often the main generalization, conclusion, or claim. If arguable, it is a declarative statement that includes a topic plus a judgment or opinion about that topic. It sets up an assertion or claim that the writer then provides or proves with supporting details, evidence, and reasoning. It also provides the controlling idea for the essay.

By its very nature, it should be arguable because a writer has only reason to support or prove a statement if more than one view or interpretation is possible.

tone

Similar to mood, this term describes the author’s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. It is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Know how it is revealed and how to identify it within a work.

Some words used to possibly describe it are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somber.

topic sentence

A declarative statement that provides the controlling idea for a paragraph and, consequently, provides a supporting statement for the thesis of an essay. It is valuable when it sets up an assertion or claim that the writer then proves or supports with supporting details, evidence, and reasoning throughout the paragraph.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, they effectively signal a shift from one idea to another.

A few commonly used linking words or phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly, and on the contrary.

understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact, which presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. It is the opposite of hyperbole.

undertone

An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.

Under a cheery surface, for example, a work may have threatening attitudes lying under. William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” from the Songs of Innocence has grim underlying ideas.

verb

A word or phrase that shows the reader what the subject is doing or the state of the subject.

wit

In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A statement using such language is humorous, while suggesting the speaker’s verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. It usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement.

Historically, this term originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally (in the early seventeenth century), it grew to mean quick perception, including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception.

writing process

The acts a writer goes through, often recursively, to complete a piece of writing: Inventing, investigating, planning, drafting, consulting, revising, editing, and proofreading.

zeugma

A grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated. Often used to comic effect (“The thief took my wallet and the Fifth Avenue bus”).