AP Lang Vocab

A fortiori

with greater reason (If a person cannot walk one mile, then a fortiori, they cannot run ten miles)

Ad Hominem

appealing to personal considerations rather than to reason

Anadiplosis

repetition of the final words of a sentence or line at the beginning of the next

Antecedent

A preceding occurrence or cause or event

Antithesis

Exact opposite

Aphorism

A short pithy instructive saying

Appositive

A noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename, identify, or explain it.

Argument

The combination of reasons, evidence, etc. that an author uses to convince an audience of their position.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjugations where they would normally be used.

Chiasmus

a rhetorical device where concepts, words, or grammatical structures are repeated in reverse orde

Colloquialism

an expression that seeks to imitate informal speech

Concession

Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a smaller point (without conceding the main argument).

Deductive reasoning

A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word.

Didactic

A text with an instructive purpose, often moral.

Epigram

A witty saying

Euphemism

Referring to something with a milder or veiled phrase instead of directly.

Figurative language

The use of language in a non-literal way (e.g., metaphor, simile).

Horatory

Giving strong encouragement

Idiom

A common phrase that signifies something different from its literal meaning. (That costs an arm and a leg!)

Inductive reasoning

Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand.

Irony

Saying the opposite of what you mean, or situations when results differ dramatically from intent.

Juxtaposition

Placing two very different things together for effect.

Litotes

understatement for rhetorical effect ("That wasn't half bad" — Meaning: It was actually quite good.)

Metonymy

substituting the name of a feature for the name of the thing (thing Wall Street – Stands for the finance and money business.)

Non Sequitor

a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it ("Our team won the big game because I wore my lucky red socks.")

Occasion

The reason or moment for writing or speaking. (vs. context which is about the rest of the text)

Paradox

A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself but contains a underlying truth. (Phrases like "dark angel," "fresh rot," or "blissful hell.")

Parallelism

Repeated grammatical structures in a sentence or series of sentences. ("We went to sea; we went to war; we went to bed.")

Parody

Using the form of a work to mimic and make fun of it.

Periphrasis

an instance of using more words than needed (“The radiant orb that graces the morning sky" instead of “the sun.”)

Polemic

a verbal or written attack, especially of a belief or dogma

Polysyndeton

a literary device where a writer repeats the same conjunction (like "and," "or," or "but") over and over in

Prolepsis

anticipating and answering objections in advance ("I know you will claim this plan is too costly, but let me show you how it saves money in.)

Purpose

The author's persuasive intention.

Rhetoric

The use of spoken or written word (or visual medium) to convey ideas and convince an audience.

Rhetorical triangle

The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context.

Rogerian Argument

A type of argumentative reasoning that aims to establish a middle ground between parties with (For example, if you wanted to watch a comedy and your friend wanted to watch a romance.)

Sarcasm

Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean.

Satire

A genre of humorous and mocking criticism used to expose societal flaws or foolishness.

Style

The author’s personal approach to rhetoric in a piece; similar to voice.

Syllogism

A three-part logical argument

Symbolism

Using a symbol to refer to an idea of concept.

Syndoche

Referring to a part of something to represent the whole. (Using "asking for her hand" to mean asking for marriage.)

Syntax

The way sentences are grammatically constructed.

Synthesis

Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way to support a larger point.

Synthesize

combine so as to form a more complex product

Themes

Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work.

Tone

The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject.

Zeugma

rhetorical use of a word to govern two or more words ("She broke his car and his heart." (Broke is literal for the car, but figurative for the heart.)