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AP Language Comp. Vocab

An extensive vocab list of all AP Lang. Comp terms and definitions.

Terms

undefined, object
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Coherence
quality of a piece of writing in which all parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle
Apostrophe
a figure of speech in which a person, place, thing, or abstract quality is addressed as if present
Antithesis
the presentation of two contrasting images that are balanced by words phrases or paragraphs
Classicism
the principles and styles admired in the classics of Greek and Roman literature
Description
the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, taste, smell, and touch
Asyndeton
the practice of omitting conjunction between words, phrases, or clauses
Anadiplosis
repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause
Anecdote
a short interesting narrative, often to provide humor or make a point
Comic relief
the inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast the with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intesifying the next tragic event
Alliteration
repetition of consonant vowel sounds
Claim
an assertion of something as a fact; to demand as a right or due
Assonance
repetition of identical or similar vowels, usually in successive words
Audience
the person(s) reached by a piece of writing
Conflict
a clash between opposing forces in a literary work, such as man vs man; man vs nature; man vs god; man vs self
Analogy
a comparison of two similar but different things
Deductive
the reasoning process by which a conclusion is drawn from a set of premises and contains no more facts than these premises
Begging the Question
to sidestep or evade the real problem
Connotation
the interpretation level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning
Closure
bringing to an end or conclusion
Appeal to authority
rhetorical arguments in which the speaker claims to be an expert or relies on information provided by experts
Colloquial
the use of slang in writing,often to create color and to provide an informal tone
Ambiguity
use of language that has multiple meanings
Appeal to logic
attempts to persuade the listener through the use of deductive reasoning
Apology
a synonym of the word defense
Denotation
the dictionary definition of a word
Antihero
character or force in a literary work who does not embody the traditional qualities of a hero
Cacophony
harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work
Connective-tissue
those elements that help create coherence in a written piece
Argument
a single assertion or a series of assertions presented and defended by the writer
Deus ex machine
as in Greek theatre, use of an artificial device or contrived solution to solve a difficult situation, usually introduced suddenly and unexpectedly
Ad Hominem
attacking the person rather than their ideas in an aurgument; Latin for against the man
Balance
a situation in which all parts of the presentation or equal
Carpe diem
"seize the day";the philosophy that one should live life to its fullest
Anachronism
use of historically inaccurate details in a text
Analytical writing
a style of writing in which the subject is broken down into its components and the components are subjected to detail scrutiny
Abstract
theoretical, without concrete images
Conceit
an extended metahpor
Caricature
descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person's appearance or facet of personality
Aesthetic
pertaining to the value of art for its own sake or form
Allusion
a reference contained in a work to another work or famous figure that is well known enough to be recognized by the reader/audience
Catharsis
purification or cleansing of the spirit through the emotions of pity and terror as a witness to tragedy
Conundrum
a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem
Consonance
the repetition of two or more consonants with the change in the intervening vowels (ie: splish-splash)
Convention
an accepted model, or tradition
Bildungrosman
a novel or story whose theme is the moral or psychological growth of the main character
Delayed Sentence
a sentence that withholds its main idea until the end
Anaphora
repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases
Contradiction
a direct opposition between things comapared;inconsistency
Chaismus
figure of speech by which the order of the terms in the first parallel clause is reversed in the second
Allegory
narrative form in which characters and actions have meanings outside themselves
Attitude
the relationship an author has towards his or her subject and/or the audience
Canon
the works of an author that have been accepted as authentic
Appeal to emotion
attempts to affect the listener's personal feelings

Deck Info

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