AP Lang

Allusion

A short, indirect reference to a famous person, work, or event. (He may be generous, but he doesn’t walk on water)

Analogy

The usage of one thing/idea to conceptually explain another (the structure of an atom is like a solar system.)

Anecdote

A short narrative story of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident.

Antithesis

Establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them, often in parallel structure (when two parts of a piece of writing use the same structure to show similarities in their content).

Anaphora

the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Aphorism

a brief statement of a principle; an adage. (An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.)

Colloquial

informal words and expressions that are more suitable for use in speech than in writing.

Idiom

A common, often colloquial expression that is not meant to be taken literally. (“Let’s dip.”)

Connotation

a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it is not a part of the word's definition. (dove)

Denotation

the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression.

Deductive

inferring from general principles (general to specific; eg. Humans all make mistakes, so she must make mistakes).

Inductive

proceeding from particular facts to come to a general conclusion (specific to general).

Diction

Choice of words in a particular situation to enhance meaning.  Always comes with a modifier (eg. harsh diction).

Syntax

The pattern of words in a sentence that creates meaning (and abides by grammatical rules). 

Didactic

Morally instructive.  Inclined to teach or moralize, often in a condescending, self-righteous manner.

Dogma

a fixed, especially religious, belief or set of beliefs that people are expected to accept without any doubts 

Dogmatic

being certain that the writer/speaker is right based upon preconceived notions or a fixed theory.

Pragmatic

solving problems in a realistic way that suits the present conditions rather than obeying fixed theories/ideas.

Euphemism

substitution of a milder or less direct expression for one that is harsh or blunt. eg. "passed away" for "dead." 

Exigence

the catalyst and/or situation that compels a writer/speaker to share their perspective.  (The exigence of MLK’s letter was his arrest and incarceration.)

Explicit

stated clearly and directly, in detail.

Implicit

implied though not plainly expressed; indirectly addressed.

Extol

to praise highly; glorify. (eg. He extolled the virtues of faith and love in his proposal.)

Fallacy

a statement or an argument based on false or invalid reasoning.  Avoid at all costs in your writing.

Figurative Language

non-literal language that helps to enhance the reader’s understanding of a concept (eg. allusion, metaphor).

Hyperbole

exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Litotes

 understatement used deliberately, or the expression of a perspective by negating its opposite (eg. Tom Brady is not a bad quarterback).

Logos

 (logic) arguments that use objective, factual information.

Ethos

(authority) arguments that use the credibility/authority of the author (an expert) to establish moral implications. 

Pathos

(emotion) arguments that use and/or affect feelings and sentiments.

Irony

language with a hidden (or double) meaning that creates a split in the audience: one group that does not understand, and another group that does understand and is aware that the first group did not “get it”.

Jargon

specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group (incoherent to the ignorant). Esoteric.

Loaded Words

words that have strong emotional implications and involve strongly positive or negative reactions beyond their literal meaning (eg. “family values,” “weed,” “abortion,” “socialism”).

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a thing (or action) is used to represent/describe something else.

Non-sequitur

Latin for "it does not follow." When one statement isn't logically connected to another.  It can be done for effect but is usually something to avoid.

Onomatopoeia

use of words that imitate natural sounds.  (eg. bang, buzz, click, whoosh)

Paradox

a seemingly contradictory statement/situation that may nonetheless be true. (eg. I closed my eyes so I could see.)

Personification

a figure of speech in which human qualities are given to objects, animals, or ideas.

Rhetorical question

a question asked solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply.  It has become  cliche, so it should usually be avoided in your own writing.

Salient

the most noticeable or important (especially in terms of claims being made).

Satire

the use of humor to educate--to highlight the weakness in people, institutions, and/or arguments.

Simile

a form of metaphor that uses one thing/action to describe another using the words “like” or “as”. 

Structure

the format and sequence of a text that helps to shape a reader’s perception of the idea or issue.

Trope

a.)  language used in a figurative or non-literal sense; figure of speech (e.g. metaphor, personification).

 b.)  a common device that establishes a stereotypical representation of a character, setting, or scenario 

       (Wearing a cape is a superhero trope).