AP Language and Composition Vocabulary

• Allusion

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

• Analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

• Anaphora

the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences

• Anadiplosis

Figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase.

• Anecdote

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

• Antimetabole

The repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast.

• Antithesis

the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

• Aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.

• Aporia

Expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.

• Apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

• Asyndeton

the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.

• Chiasmus

A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed

• Colloquialism

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

• Connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

• Denotation

the literal meaning of a word

• Diction

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

• Didactic

intended to teach

• Epistrophe

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

• Euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

• Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

• Hypophora

a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question

• Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

• Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

• Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

• Litotes

A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.

• Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

• Metanoia

a rhetorical device in which a writer or speaker deliberately retracts or qualifies a statement just made, immediately restating it in a stronger, milder, or more precise way.

• Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

• Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

• Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

• Parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

• Parataxis

writing successive independent clauses, with coordinating conjunctions, or no conjunctions

• Periodic Sentence

a complex sentence in which the main clause comes last and is preceded by the subordinate clause

• Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

• Polysyndeton

the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural

• Procatalepsis

by anticipating an objection and answering it, permits an argument to continue moving forward while taking into account points or reasons opposing either the train of thought or its final conclusions.

• Rhetorical Question

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.

• Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

• Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using like or as

• Symbolism

A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well

• Syntax

Sentence structure

• Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

• Understatement

the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

• Verbal Irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

• Situational Irony

irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

• Dramatic Irony

Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.

• Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

• Enumeration

a list of words, phrases or clauses, sometimes numbered or bulleted

• Claim

the writer's position on an issue or problem

• Thesis

Focus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.

• Counterargument

A challenge to a position; an opposing argument

• Rebuttal

refutation; response with contrary evidence

• Concession

a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands; a thing conceded.

• Evidence

the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

• Commentary

(n.) a series of notes clarifying or explaining something; an expression of opinion

• Reasoning

the process of drawing a conclusion on the basis of evidence

• Warrant

to justify or deserve

• Assumption

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.

• Ethos

an appeal to the speaker or writer's credibility, authority, and moral character

• Pathos

appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response

• Logos

an appeal based on logic or reason

• Credibility

the quality of being trusted and believed in

• Bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

• Audience

One's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed.

• Purpose

One's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.

• Context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.

• Exigence

an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak

• Kairos

a person's ability to adapt to any occasion and deliver a message fit for that moment

• Line of Reasoning

The logical sequence of a writer's claim, evidence, and commentary that leads a reader to and from a writer's conclusion. (The path of the argument).

• Qualification

A special skill, knowledge, or ability that enables a person to perform a particular job

• Refutation

a denial of the validity of an opposing argument

• Fallacy

a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

• Ad Hominem

a fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute

• Non Sequitur

A statement that does not follow logically from evidence

• Straw Man

A fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea.

• Red Herring

A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion

• False Dilemma

A fallacy of oversimplification that offers a limited number of options (usually two) when in fact more options are available.

• Slippery Slope

a fallacy which assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented

• Hasty Generalization

a fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence

• Circular Reasoning

a fallacy in which the writer repeats the claim as a way to provide evidence

• False Analogy

When two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them.

• Appeal to Authority

A fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a famous person or institution.

• Bandwagon

A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.

• Burden of Proof

the obligation to present evidence to support one's claim

• Call to Action

Words that urge the reader, listener, or viewer of a sales promotion message to take an immediate action.

• Persuasion

A kind of speaking or writing that is intended to influence people's actions.

• Organization

orderly structure shown by living things

• Structure

the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work

• Chronological Order

(Time Order) Events are arranged in the order in which they happened

• Cause and Effect

The reason something happens and the result of it happening.

• Compare and Contrast

Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout.

• Problem and Solution

A text structure that presents a problem and offers solutions to solve the problem.

• Repetition

the action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

• Emphasis

Special importance, value, or prominence given to something.

• Unity

the imposition of order and harmony on a design

• Coherence

the quality of being logical and consistent

• Transition

a word or phrase that links different ideas

• Motif

(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design

• Theme

the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.

• Point of View

the perspective from which a story is told