AP Lang Rhetorical terms

An aggressive argument to establish superiority of an opinion

polemic

meanings or associations with a word beyond its literal definition

Connotation

the literal meaning of a word

Denotation

archaic diction

old fashioned or outdated choice of words

Acknowledgement that a differing viewpoint may be true and reasonable

concession

The opposing argument the writer puts forward

Counter Argument

a denial of the validity of an opposing argument, often follows a concession

Refutation

A comparison without using like or as

Metaphor

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Simile

Personification

Giving a life like quality to an inanimate object or idea

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words ("We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship")

Asyndeton

Use of many conjunctions in a sentence

Polysyndeton

Opposition or contrast of ideas or words in a parallel structure

Antithesis

A figure of speech that combines a contradictory adjective followed by a noun term in a brief phrase ("hot ice").

Oxymoron

Phrases or sentences of a similar construction to show equal value

Parallelism

Allusion

A reference to a well known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Symbolism

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

Juxtaposition

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence ("To those old allies…", "To those new states…")

Anaphora

information, especially of a biased or misleading, is used to manipulate public opinion.

Propaganda

a statement that seems contradictory, but when looked closely, is actually a complex truth

Paradox

The arrangement of words and phrases to create a sentence

Syntax

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

Diction

A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and did not require an answer

rhetorical question

A sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end

Periodic sentence

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

Cumulative sentence

A sentence that commands

imperative sentence

A sentence that urges or calls to action

hortative sentence

Words with a subject and a verb that express a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence

independent clause

Words with a subject and a verb that do not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence

dependent clause

A sentence that asks a question

interrogative sentence

Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Speaker

SOAPS