AP Comp Terms

specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose or effect

attempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to detail

series of comparisons within a piece of writing

long sentence that starts with its main clause, followed by several dependent clauses and modifying phrases

location of 1 thing adjacent to/or juxtaposed w/ another to create an effect, reveal an attitude or accomplish a purpose

comparison of 2 unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature; ex: an extended metaphor in a poem

an accepted manner, model or tradition

an address or invocation to something inanimate

When the main idea of a sentence is first, then is followed by a succession of phrases and clauses

a literary, historical, religious, or mythological reference.

overstatement characterized by exaggerated language usually to make a point or draw attention

the repetition of two ore more consonants with a change in the intervening vowels

sentence that employs parallel structures of approximately the same length and importance

one thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy; comparison without uses of like or as

parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length

relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse

art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking

a form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical

conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data

figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something

word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes

a concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief

rhetorical argument - appeals to the use of reason

the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, grammatical structure, or ideas

a question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered

phrases with levels of meaning, such as personification, metaphor, hyperbole, irony, etc

use of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or "stands for" something else

a mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and is based on sequences of connected events

feeling or ambiance resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer/narrator's attitude and point of view

type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history

the interpretation or analysis of a text

long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end

a syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose

literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure

figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement

type of sentence that provides a statement

sentence with more than one subject or predicate

specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group

when events end up the opposite of what is expected

in argumentation an assertion of something as fact

use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases or thoughts

sensory details in work; use of figurative language to evoke feeling or describe an idea using 5 senses

repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences

writing in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone

a sentence containing a subordinate clause or clauses

the language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region or group

an argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the conflict, evades or ignores the real question

way that information is presented in written or spoken form; Includes narration, description, exposition, argumentation

method of reasoning in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principles (specific to general)

rhetorical arguments - attempting to play upon emotions

a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second

figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements (wise fool)

type of sentence that asks a question

the way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences

a mode of discourse in which two ore more things are compared, contrasted or both

A sentence that leaves the completion of its main clause to the end; produces an effect of suspense

the regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases of clauses

type of sentence that shows excitement or emotion

rhetorical arguments - authority or expert in the field

that which has been accepted as authentic

what the author/narrator says is actually the opposite of what is meant

the method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from general principals

verbal expressions used by the speaker to encourage or discourage an action

sentence with only a single subject and predicate

assessment/analysis of something to determine what it is, its limitations & how it conforms to the standard of the genre

the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words

an argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered

indirect, kinder, less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information

type of sentence that gives a command

diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area

the sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; author's feelings toward their subject

an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narration

poem or prose that laments or meditates upon the death of a person(s)

a sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech or lecture involving moral or spiritual life

a speech or writing passage in praise of a person; oration in honor of a deceased person

statement that seems contradictory but may probably be true (fight for peace)

the implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase

figure of speech in which a part signifies the hole (100 head of steer had to be moved)

direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another using like or as

the manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and uses syntax and structure

a sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one ore more dependent clauses

treating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by giving it human features or qualities

the ordinary form of written language without metrical structure in contrast to verse and poetry

writing or speech that has an instructive purpose or lesson, often associated with dry, pompous presentation