AP Lang / Comp Vocab List 1 - 5
Vague or Unspecific / cannot be experienced by the senses / no defined form
What is Abstract?
A passage with two or more possible meanings, often created when using abstract language
What is an Ambiguity?
A parallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas.
What is an Antithesis?
A diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience (see rhetorical triangle).
What is an Aristotelian Triangle?
The intended recipients of a text (be it a visual, spoken, or written text)
What is an Audience?
A folk saying with a lesson; "A rolling stone gathers no moss"
A comparison between to seemingly dissimilar things; metaphors and similes are two versions of this.
What is an Analogy?
A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it" or "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"
What is an Aphorism?
An emphatic statement; declaration. This supported by evidence is an argument.
What is an Assertion?
Prejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue.
What is Bias?
A story where characters or things can be qualities / concepts; & the interaction reveals a truth
What is an Allegory?
The repletion of words at the beginning of successive clauses
What is an Anaphora?
A poetry term used to describe when the speaker in a poem is speaking to someone not present, to the reader, to an inanimate object, or to an abstract concept.
What is an Apostrophe?
A belief or statement taken for granted without proof. These can form premises of an argument.
What is an Assumption?
A long list in poetry or prose used for poetic or rhetorical effect.
What is Catalog(ue)?
The reputation of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables.
What is an Alliteration?
A short account of an interesting event.
What is anecdote?
The use of words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language.
What is an Archaic Diction?
Leaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses.
What is an Asyndeton?
When some words are used twice in succession, but the second time the order of the words are revised.
What is Chiasmas?
An indirect reference, often to another text or an historic event
What is an Allusion?
The repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen contrast.
What is an Antimetabole?
A statement put forth and supported by evidence. The statement must not be blatantly, but one that requires explanation and evidence to prove.
What is an Argument?
The speaker's position on a subject revealed through his or her tone.
What is an Attitude?
Identifying a part of a piece of writing as being derived from a source, and including enough information that said source can be referenced.
What is Cite/Citation?