AP Lang & Comp- Vocab Terms 47-68

Generic Conventions

This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and a political writing. On the AP Language Exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, _____ is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called _____s themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc.). Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy melodrama, farce, etc. On the AP Language exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following _____s: autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing. There may be fiction or poetry.

Homily

This term literally means "sermon", but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") _________s often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, _________ produces irony. The opposite of _________ is understatement.

Inference/Infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple choice asks for an _________ to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable _________ is the safest answer choice. If an __________ is implausible, it is unlikely to be the correct answeer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not ______ed and it is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation-negative or positive- of the choices.

Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many _____ ________s often seems informal, relaxed, or conversational. Generally, _____ ________s create loose style. The opposite of a _____ ________ is the periodic sentence.
Example: I arrived at the San Diego airport after a long, bumpy ride and multiple delays.
Could stop at: I arrived at the San Diego airport.

Parallelism

Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this terms comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another". It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition of a grammatical element such as preposition or verbal phrase. (Again, the opening of Dickens' Tale of Two Cities is an example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of believe, it was the epoch of incredulity...") The effects of ___________ are numerous, but frequently they act as an organizing force to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythym.

Anaphora

A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences. MLK used anaphora in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (1963).

Parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author's expression (propensity to use too many parentheses, certain favorite words, etc.) Well-written ______ offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being ______ed in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occassionally, however, ______es take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original.

Pedantic

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of big words).

Periodic Sentence

The opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase of clause that cannot stand alone. The effect of the ________ ________ is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence. (Example: After a long, bumpy flight and multiple delays, I arrived at the San Diego airport.)

Prose

One of the major divisions of genre, _____ refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms. In _____ the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line.

Repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

Rhetoric

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

Rhetorical Modes

This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of major kinds of writing. The four most common _________ _____ (often referred to as the modes of discourse) are as follows:
1) The purpose of 'exposition' (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. The AP Language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics.
2) The purpose of 'argumentation' is 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) The purpose of 'description' is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in a description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive imaging may be straightforward and objective, or highly emotional and subjective.
4) The purpose of 'narration' is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mod frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing.

Semantics

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

Style

The consideration of _____ 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' _____s are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author. we can analyze and describe an author's personal _____ and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author's purpose. _____s can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc.
2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author's _____ reflects and helps 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.

Subject Complement

The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it(the predicative nominative) or (2) describing it (the predicate adjective). These are defined below:
1) The predicate nominative- a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.
Example: Julia Roberts is a movie star.
movie star= predicate nominative, as it renames the subject, Julia Roberts
2) The predicate adjective- an adjective, a group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. It is in the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject.
Example: Warren remained optimistic.
optimistic= predicate adjective, as it modifies the subject, Warren

Subordinate Clause

Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subjec and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike independent clauses, the ___________ ______ cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. The ___________ ______ depends on a main clause (or independent clause) to complete its meaning. Easily recognized key words and phrases usually begin these clauses. For example: although, because, unless, if, even though, since, as soon as, while, who, when, where, how, and that.
Example: Yellowstone is a national park in the West 'that is known for its geysers'.
Parenthesed phrase= ___________ ______

Synechdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something us used to represent the whorle, or occassionally, the whole is used to represent a part. Examples: To refer to a boat as a "sail"; to refer to a car as "wheels"; to referr to the violins, violas, etc. in an orchestra as "the strings". **Different tan metynomy, in whcih one thing is represented by another thing that is commonly physically associated withi it (but is not necessarily part of it), i.e., regerring to a monarch as "the crown" or the President as "The White House".

Synesthesia

When one kind of sensory stimulus the subjective experience of another. Ex: The sight of the red ants makes you itchy. In literature, __________ refers to the practice of associating two or more different senses in te same image. Red Hot Chili Pepper's song title,"Taste the Pain" is an example.

Transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, __________s effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. a few commonly used __________al words or phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly, on the contrary,etc. More sophisitcated writers use more subtle means of __________.

Wit

In modern usage, intllectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A ___ty statement is humorous, while suggesting the speakers verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. ___ usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, ___ originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally, it grew to mean quick perception including creating fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception.