AP Language Rhetorical Analysis Terms
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Abstract and Concrete
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-Abstract words refer to ideas, conditions and qualities we cannot directly perceive: truth, love, courage, evil etc. -Concrete words indicate things we can know without senses: tree, hair, bird etc. concrete words lend vigor and clarity for writing
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Active Voice
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The form of the verb when the sentence subject is that actor EX: Trees(subject) shed(active verb) their leaves in autumn.
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Allegory
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-the device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. EX: an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom
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Alliteration:
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the repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.
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Allusion
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a reference to a person, place, or thing believed to be common knowledge.
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Ambiguity
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the multiple meanings, either intentional, or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.
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Analogy
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An extended comparison based on the like features of two unlike things: one familiar or easily understood, the other familiar, abstract, or complicated
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Anecdote
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a brief narrative or story
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Antithesis
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-counter-proposition that denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition or the placing of a sentence or one of its parts against another to which it is opposed to form a balanced contrast of ideas. EX: \"Give me liberty, or give me death\"
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Argument
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A mode of writing intended to win reader's agreement with an assertion by engaging their powers of reasoning
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Atmosphere
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The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Atmosphere usually foreshadows events. Sets mood.
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Bias
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An inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the (possibly equally valid)expense of alternatives
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Caricature
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a verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics.
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Claim
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the proposition that an ARGUMENT demonstrates, usually in a thesis statement.
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Cliché
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A worn-out, trite(lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition) expression that a writer employs thoughtlessly.
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Coherence
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The clear connection of the parts in effective writing so that the reader can easily follow the flow of ideas between sentences, paragraphs, and larger divisions, and can see how they relate successively to one another.
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Concessions
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which brings differing opinions together by acknowledging a part of the opposing argument that cannot be refuted.
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connotation and denotation
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-denotation: is the explicit, literal, dictionary definition of a word. -connotation: refers to a word's implied meaning, resonant with associations
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Deductive reasoning
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the method of reasoning from the general to the particular: from information about what we already know, we deduce what we need to know or want
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Diction
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The choice of words. Slang, Standard English, Nonstandard English (different dialect) etc.
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Dialect (Diction)
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A variety of English based on differences in geography, education, or social background
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Colloquial expressions (Diction)
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Words and phrases occurring primarily in speech in informal writing that seeks a relaxed, conversational tone.
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regional terms (Diction)
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Words heard in a certain locality
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Technical terms (Diction)
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Words and prhases that form the vocabulary of a particular discipline
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Archaisms (Diction)
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Old fashioned expressions, once common but now used to suggest an earlier style, such as ere and forsooth
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Obsolete diction
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Words that have passed out of use
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Pretentious diction
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use of words or more numerous and elaborate than necessary, such as institution of higher learning for college
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Extended Metaphor
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A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
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Euphemism
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The use of inoffensive language in place of language that readers or listeners may find hurtful or distasteful. ex: someone has died is replaced with someone passed
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Simile
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states the comparison directly, usually connecting the two things using like, as, or than
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Metaphor
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Declare on thing to be another without using like or as. A dead metaphor is a word or phrase that, originally a figure of speech, has come to be literal through common usage. ex: \"the hands of a clock\"
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Personification
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A simile or metaphor that assigns human traits to inanimate objects or abstractions
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Hyperbole
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A conscious exaggeration
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Paradox
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A seemingly self-contradictory statement that, on reflection, makes sense
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Understatement
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the ironic minimizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is. ex: \"Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe home much it altered her person for the worse.\"--Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a tub
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Figurative Language/Figure of speech/Tropes: Oxymoron
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a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms
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Flashback
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a technique of NARRATIVE in which the sequence of events is interrupted to recall an earlier period
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Genre
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the major category into which a literary work fits.
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Imagery
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A word or word sequence that evokes a sensory experience. the image appeals to the reader's memory of seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, or tasting
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Inductive Reasoning
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The process of reasoning to a conclusion about an entire class by examining some of its members
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Inference
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To draw a conclusion (infer); understanding the writers meaning: assumptions, purpose, fairness, and other attributes
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Irony
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the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny
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Jargon
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strictly speaking, the special vocabulary of a trade or profession. also means inflated, vague, meaningless language of any kind.
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Juxtaposition
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the placement of two words, phrases, images, etc.
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Mood
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The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood; similar to tone and atmosphere
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Objective and Subjective
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Kinds of writing that differ in emphasis. Objective: emphasis falls in the topic; Subjective: falls on the writers view of the topic
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Onomatopoeia
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Sound words: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, bang, murmur
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parallelism
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parallel construction or parallel structure; ex: \"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times\"...\"it was the epoch of believe, it was the epoch of incredulity...\"; this attracts the readers attention, adds emphasis and organization.
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parody
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a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. (Think youtube parody!!)
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passive voice
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the form of the verb when the sentence subject is acted upon: The report(subject) was published(passive verb) anonymously.
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persuasion
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a mode of writing intended to influence people's action by engaging their beliefs and feelings.
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Point of View
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in an essay, a physical position or the mental angle from which a writer beholds a subject
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Prose
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the most typical form of language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure (as in traditional poetry)
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Refutations and Confutations
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arguments used to go against another author's/speaker's points
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Repetition
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Careful repetition of key words or phrases can give them greater importance.
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Rhetoric
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The study of using language effectively
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Rhetorical question
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a question posed for effect, one that requires no answer.
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Rhetorical Modes: exposition
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expository writing; is to explain and analyze information by presenting the idea
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Rhetorical Modes: argumentation
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is to prove the validity of an idea or point of view by presenting sound reasoning discussion and argument that throughly convinces the reader
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Rhetorical Modes: description
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is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described.
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Rhetorical Modes: narration
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is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events.
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Sarcasm.
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involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.
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Satire
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style of writing; a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc
