AP Lang Terms

Adage

A saying that articulates a common truth, grounding an argument

Alliteration

Repeating the same sounding consonants at the start of words, drawing attention to a phrase

Allusion

A reference to a well known thing, which can be used to strengthen the credibility of an argument

Ambiguity

Intentionally being vague to allow an argument to be interpreted multiple ways.

Anecdote

A personal story or experience that illustrates an arguments point.

Analogy

Comparing something complex to something simple, to streamline an argument.

Anaphora

Repeating a starting phrase to add emotion to an argument

Antithesis

Putting contrasting ideas side by side to highlight their differences

Apophasis

Sneaking a new topic into an argument, by stating that you won’t mention it.

Apostrophe

Increases the emotion of an argument by speaking to a third party that can’t reply.

Aphorism

Short statement that expresses a general truth or moral principle.

Argument

A claim supported by logical evidence, used to support an authors beliefs

Aristotelian Appeals

The strategies of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos, which create a strong argument

Asyndeton

Intentionally omitting conjunctions to make an argument faster paced, and more urgent sounding.

Audience

The group the writer’s argument is targeting

Clause

A sentence containing subjects and verbs

Colloquialism

Using informal language (can make an argument feel relatable/trustworthy)

Compare and Contrast

Building an argument by showing similarities and differences between two things, showing which is better

Concession

Conceding a valid point from the opposing side, making an author seem reasonable

Connotation

The emotional implication of a word (can influence how an audience feels about a topic)

Context

Social, historical, and cultural circumstances that make an argument relevant

Counterargument

An opposing view that an author intentionally mentions in their argument, so they can disprove it

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word

Diction

An authors word choices (can make an argument more persuasive)

Didactic

Instructional tone used to teach the audience a moral lesson

Epistrophe

Repeating phrases at the end of an argument, to drive home a point

Epithet

Descriptive label used in an argument to shape an audiences perception

Ethos

A speakers credibility

Euphemism

Substituting uncomfortable words in an argument (ex: dead → passed away)

Evidence

Using concrete evidence to logically prove an arguments claim

Exemplification

Building an argument by using multiple concrete examples to prove a point

Exigence

The problem that originally sparked the author to create their argument

Figurative Language

Non-literal language that makes an argument more emotional/intriguing

Hyperbole

Intentionally exaggerating to emphasize the severity of a point

Hypophora

Asking a question and immediately answering it (helps control the direction of an argument)

Idiom

An expression whose meaning can’t be figured out from the literal words (ex: “kick the bucket”)

Imagery

Using sensory details in an argument

Implication

Hinting at something without directly saying it (makes the audience piece the argument together)

Irony

Showing contrast between expectation and reality (questions the opposing arguments logic)

Juxtaposition

Puts two contrasting concepts side by side, proving a point about their differences

Litotes

Emphasizes an argument’s claim by denying the opposite side

Logos

Arguing with logic (reasoning and facts)

Meiosis

Making something seem less important than it actually is

Metonymy

Swapping a subjects name to a related word (ex: President → White House) (helps focus the argument)

Mood

The emotions the audience feels during the argument

Occasion

Specific time and setting that prompts the argument

Onomatopoeia

Sound words that make an argument more vivid

Oxymoron

A contradiction that highlights an arguments complexity (ex: Deafening Silence)

Paradox

An impossible-sounding statement that may actually be true, and reveals an argument’s underlying truth (ex: “We must wage war to achieve peace”)

Parody

Mocking an opponents style to show how absurd their argument is

Parallelism

Repeating grammar to make an argument sound balanced

Parenthetical Phrase

A side note that adds detail to an argument

Pathos

Utilizing emotions in an argument to make it more persuasive

Personification

Giving human traits to the concept being argued, making it more relatable

Polysyndeton

Adding extra conjunctions to make an argument’s evidence seem more overwhelming (ex: “We have ships and men and money and stores”)

Purpose

The arguments end goal

Repetition

Reusing words to cement a claim

Rhetoric

The art of crafting persuasive arguments

Rhetorical Question

A question that isn’t meant to be answered, but forces the audience to agree with the argument

Rhetorical Triangle

Speaker, Audience, Subject

Sarcasm

A mocking tone to ridicule an opposing argument

Satire

Humor that exposes societal flaws, arguing for change

Speaker

The voice that crafts the argument

Style

The writers unique word choices that deliver the argument

Syllogism

Logical proof composed of three parts that anchors an argument (ex: all dogs are mammals; all mammals are animals; therefore all dogs are animals)

Symbolism

Using an object to represent an idea, giving an argument more emotional weight

Syntax

The manipulation of sentence structure to control an arguments pace

Synecdoche

A figure of speech that represents a part as the whole/the whole as a part (ex: All hands on deck)

Synesthesia

Blending several senses to create more striking imagery

Synthesis

Combining multiple sources into a new argument

Thesis

The central claim an argument is trying to prove

Tone

The writer’s attitude, which impacts how the audience reacts to the argument