AP Lang Rhetoric Vocab

Active Voice

A clause or sentence which a subject performs an action through the verb, direct

Passive Voice

A clause where the subject is not the point or unknown, where the object or action is the focus of the sentence, the subject receives the action

Allusion

A reference, typically brief, to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work which the reader is presumably familiar with

Analogy

A comparison of two seemingly unrelated things, typically illustrating a larger point due to their commonalities.

Anecdote

A short story, typically to teach a lesson, prove a point, or provide humor; can be personal, fairy tale, or all in between

Antecedent

An earlier clause, phrase, or word that is referred to later as a pronoun.

Antithesis

A comparison using a parallel grammatical structure, often in the use of adages and catchy lines

Aphorism

A short saying that observes a general truth, like an adage. Message of wisdom and understanding in a concise manner

Appeal to emotion

Using emotions to attempt to win an argument, sometimes providing fallacy

Appeal to Ethics

Attempting to persuade the audience by convincing them that the speaker or writer is trustworthy, moral, and credible.

Appeal to logic

Attempting to persuade the audience based on reason, evidence and facts

Cliche’

An expression that is trite, or bland, since it is overused. Typically the expression has meaning behind it, sometimes abstract, but it has lost its freshness.

Colloquialism

Informal and conversational language, typically used to provide character and connection in a piece. Must be specific words or phrases. Ex: “What’s up bro?”

Complex Sentence

A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound Sentence

A sentence with at least two independent clauses, typically separated by fanboys

Compound

Complex Sentence

Imperative Sentence

Jussive or directive, a sentence that gives instructions or advice, expresses a command, order, direction, or request.

Balanced Sentence

Made up of two or more segments that are equal in both length and grammatical structure to convey meaning.

Abstract

language that deals with intangible concepts, like love, freedom, or justice. Typically ambiguous

Concrete

language that is specific and deals with tangible concepts, typically straightforward

Connotation

A meaning implied by a word apart from its literal meaning, connotations can either be positive or negative.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word

Dialect

The language used by the people of a certain area, class, district, or group. The term includes spelling, sounds, grammar, and pronunciation, distinguishing this group.

Diction

The language structure, which helps convey a point of view or idea, or tell a story in an effective way.

Didactic

Intended to teach, having a moral as an ulterior motive

Ellipsis

Used to emit a part of a sentence or literary event. The “…” allows interpretation to fill in the gaps.

Euphemism

A word or phrase used in replacement for a direct and typically harsh word, typically in order to soften the blow as a polite gesture.

Figurative language

Language not intended to be taken literally, but instead conveys a deeper meaning, creates imagery, or expresses emotion.

Hyperbole

Figurative speech that obtains a heightened affect due to extreme exaggeration.

Idiom

Common expression used in a certain language that has a different figurative meaning than the literal meaning.

Imagery

Figurative language used to invoke a sensory experience and provide a picture with words.

Implication

Something suggested or hinted without being directly stated.

Inductive Reasoning

Starting with specific examples to draw a general conclusion, bottom up

Deductive Reasoning

Starting with a general case and applying it to a specific example to provide a logical conclusion.

Inference

Logical deductions based on premises believed to be true.

Invective

Speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, idea, or institution.

Inverted Syntax

Inversion, changing the order of a sentence for a poetic or rhetorical effect, something other than subject-verb-object order.

Irony

A device where contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different then what appears to be true. Verbal irony is using speech to show this contradiction, situational irony is where the environment and setting makes contradiction, and dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the story characters don’t.

Jargon

Specific phrases or words in a specific situation, profession, or trade. These terms are relative to subjects and therefore are understood by people linked by the same subject

Juxtaposition

A literary device that implies comparison or contrast. Things placed side by side to provide dramatic or ironic contrast.

Logical Fallacy

A flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument by either using faulty evidence, flawed logic, misleading information, or irrelevant points.

Malapropism

An incorrect word in a sentence that sounds relatively similar to the desired word, creating a humorous effect.

Paradox

A paradox is a statement that at first seems contradictory, but when thought about makes sense.

Parallelism

Repetition of grammatical elements in both writing and speaking.

Parody

Imitation of the style of something that is deliberately exaggerated to create a comedic effect.

Parenthetical

Words, phrases, or clauses that provide additional, non-essential information typically set apart by parenthesis, commas, or dashes.

Rhetoric

Used in speech and writing to create a specific impact on the recipient. Rhetoric is used to persuade, convince, influence, entertain, impress, and motivate; it is different from a figure of speech, as it does not change the meaning of the words.

Rhetorical Question

Asked just for effect, or to emphasize a point. The answer may be obvious, and a response isn’t expected, but it provides emphasis and persuasion.

Satire

Ridicule of folly and vice in a means to expose or correct it. Satire uses tones of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation towards a subject in order to create awareness to promote change.

Style

The technique used by individual authors, the “voice” of the writing. There are four major forms: Expository (Argumentative) Style

Syntax

Set of rules in a language, dictating how to form a complete sentence and thought.

Thesis

A statement that a writer attempts to support and prove. Can be both fiction or nonfiction

Tone

Literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work. It forms a relationship with the recipient which influences the meaning.

Understatement

A figure of speech used by both writers and speakers to make something seem less important than it actually is.

Vernacular

Everyday language used by a specific place, group, or culture; often including slang and informality instead of pure grammatical stricture. Ex: “Howdy ya’ll.”