AP Language & Composition Terms

When a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions.

Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb, and can stand alone as a sentence.

A brief recounting of a relevant episode as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.

A regular pattern to the syllables in lines of poetry.

Using a verb to modify 2 or more words in a sentence. "John and his license expired last week"

Argument in which the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion.

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row.

Figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction

Term describing prose or poetry teaching a lesson, moral or provides a model of behavior

Reference to something outside of the text with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.

Writer's attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, and organization.

A description involving a “crossing of the senses.”

A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning

A comparison including extreme exaggeration

When a line of poetry contains a rhyme within a the same single line.

Word choice, particularly as an element of style.

A less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts.

The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through word choice (diction/syntax).

The ironic minimizing of fact, this presents something as less significant than it is.

Sentences that states an idea. It doesn't give a command or request, nor does it ask a question

Literary work holding up human behaviors & foolishness to ridicule/scorn

A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle.

A comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables.

A recurring idea, symbol, theme in a piece of literature.

A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language.

Argument in which the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion.

A common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally.

The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.

Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (who, whom, which, what)

Language or dialect of a particular country-everyday language from that region

The use of a word which imitates or suggests the sound that the thing makes.

A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.

Involving circumstances in which actions have an opposite effect from what was intended.

When the audience of a drama, movie, story knows something that the character doesn't.

Vivid description that appeals to reader's five senses.

Cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause.

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure.

Persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions.

When the last word of two different lines of poetry rhyme.

Implied meaning rather than literal meaning of a word.

When you say something and mean the opposite/something different.

Writer begins with subordinate elements and ends w/ the main clause, main idea appears at end.

Same words are used twice in succession, but the 2nd time, the order of the words is reversed.

When a poet creates a rhyme, but the two words do not rhyme exactly – they are merely similar

An exaggerated imitation of a serious work or person for humorous purposes.

Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.

A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word

When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements.

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Ordinary or familiar type of conversation.

Story in which characters, things, and events symbolically represent qualities or concepts.

A concrete object, actions, character...representing abstract ideas or emotions.

Sentence construction repeating equal grammatical constructions

The central idea or message of a work. May be directly stated in nonfiction works; not fiction.

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the end of words or within words.

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words

Sentence that issues a command

Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human

The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds.

Question not asked for information but for effect.

The art of effective and persuasive communication.

Persuading by the use of reasoning, using true premises and valid arguments.

Using persuasion to convince audience with the credibility of the author.

Making an implied comparison, not using “like,” as,” or other such words.