AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY DICTION AND SYNTAX ​

1. Tropes – figurative language ( metaphors, personification, metonymy, irony, hyperbole etc.) ​ ​ - figure of speech dealing with the MEANING of words– cliché; not literal

2. Schemes –figure of speech dealing with the ORDER of words or its sounds, letters, syntax ​ ​ (parallel structure, antithesis, alliteration, repetition etc.)

3. Rhetoric – the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively; Language that is ​ ​ elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous

4. Aristotelian Triangle - speaker- audience-subject (purpose) : writer - reader -subject ​ ​ ​ writing and speaking involves a 3-way relationship

5. Ethos – an argument based on the ‘authority’ of the person: morality-intelligence-honesty etc. ​ ​

6. Pathos – an argument based on emotional appeal : evoking sympathy or empathy; using ​ ​ imagination or imagery

7. Logos – an argument based on logic, reason, facts etc. ​ ​

8. Connotation – the meaning suggested by the word; its emotional meaning example: chicken ​ ​

9. Denotation – the dictionary (literal) meaning example: chicken ​ ​

10. Propaganda – the manipulation of ideas, facts, or allegations, spread deliberately to further ​ ​ one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; a public action having such an effect

11. Polemical – A controversial and/or passionate argument, especially one refuting or ​ ​ attacking a specific opinion or doctrine. Some famous polemicists are: Michael Moore, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde. ​

12. Apologists- are those who defend their beliefs against polemicists. ​ ​ ​ ​

13. Irony – a contradiction between what is said and what is meant; incongruity between action ​ ​ and result.

14. Colloquialism – a local or regional dialect (“y'all" or "gonna" ) not used in formal speech. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

15. Dialect – A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ grammar, or vocabulary,especially a way of speaking that differs from the standard variety of the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ language.

16. Vernacular – the language (spoken) of a particular group, profession, region ​ ​

17. Tone – the attitude the writer takes toward his character or the subject being discussed (see ​ ​ other handout for words to describe tone)

18. Alliteration – the repetition of consonant sounds ​ ​

19. Allusion – an implied, indirect, or direct reference to a person, place, event, or another ​ ​ passage of literature for comparison to help readers understand

20. Anaphora – repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, ​ ​ clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on the end. We shall fight in France…We shall never surrender.”

21. Epistrophe - repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, usually ​ ​ for extreme emphasis. The government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

22. Chiasmus- A verbal pattern which reverses the order of words but doesn’t necessarily use ​ ​ all the same words. -"I am stuck on Band-Aid, and Band-Aid's stuck on me." ​ ​ ​ ​ - "Never let a fool kiss you--or a kiss fool you."

23. Antimetabole – (a type of chiasmus but using exact words) A verbal pattern in which the ​ ​ second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the words in reverse grammatical order. Repetition in reverse order: "Fair is foul and foul is fair." ​ ​ "Starkist doesn't want tuna with good taste, Starkist wants tuna that tastes good!" “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

24. Antithesis – The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses. "One ​ ​ ​ ​ small step for a man, one giant leap for all mankind." “Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

25. Zeugma - the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words, in such a way that it ​ ​ applies to each in a different sense, or makes sense with only one. Can be used for humor or for a profound effect. Farmers in the valley grew potatoes, peanuts, and bored. The kleptomaniac ​ illusionist stole the show and my wallet. "You held your breath and the door for me" This is ​ the city of broken dreams (and windows). He lost his coat and his temper .On his recent fishing expedition, he caught ten trout and a cold.

26. Asyndeton - lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. ​ ​ Sometimes it is used for conciseness, speed, give an unfinished feel, or just the opposite, stress inclusion and completeness.We shall pay any price,bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.

27. Archaic Diction – archaism – the use of older, outdated words and expressions. ​ ​

28. Hortative - a sentence meant to encourage, to cheer someone on, or a call to action “Keep ​ ​ going!” “ You can do anything.”

29. Imperative – a sentence that gives instruction or advice or command. “Ask not what your ​ ​ country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” “Chew with your mouth closed.”

30. Interrogative - a sentence that asks a question. ​

31. Inversion - the different arrangement (syntax) of words from the normal subject-verb ​ ​ arrangement. “Little did I know, he was arrested.” “Running from the cops, fear covered his face.”

32. Juxtaposition – placing two words, ideas, pictures etc. side by side, usually opposite words ​ ​ for a deeper effect. Oxymoron is a type of juxtaposition.

33. Oxymoron – a paradox develop through the juxtaposition of words. ‘home office’ ‘working ​ ​ vacation’

34. Metonymy – substitution of one word for another which it suggests. “The pen is mightier ​ ​ than the sword.” “He is a man of the cloth.” Think concepts and ideas (intangible)

35. Synecdoche- (A form of metonymy.) Understanding one thing with another; the use of a ​ ​ part for the whole, or the whole for the part. “All hands on deck.” “Get your butt over here.” Think real parts (tangible).

36. Parallelism – similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses ​ ​ “We will go, we will fight, we will win.” “To laugh at death, to cry at life, to die at peace.”

37. Cumulative Sentence – An independent clause, followed by subordinate clauses or ​ ​ phrases that add more detail. “I will not be defeated, no matter how many men, weapons or bombs they have.”

38. Periodic Sentence – A sentence whose main clause is held until the end. “ No matter how ​ ​ many men, weapons, or bombs they have, I will not be defeated.”

39. Personification- Giving human-like qualities to an inanimate object or idea. “The sun smiled ​ ​ down at us.”

40. Rhetorical Question – Figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect ​ ​ rather than for the purpose of an answer.

41. Synesthesia- describing a sensual impression using a different sense or transferring one ​ ​ sensory function on to another. “Her voice sounds like money.” “Warm Sound” “Yellow cocktail music played throughout the house.”

42.Anecdote - A personal story or brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a ​ ​ point

43. Apostrophe – used to address an absent or imaginary person or non-living entity (God, ​ ​ the wind, death ) as if it was present and able to respond. “Twinkle, Twinkle little star,” “O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth,” “Death be not proud though some have called thee mighty…”

44. Litotes - a negative statement expressing sarcasm or understatement. For instance, ​ ​ instead saying someone has learning difficult you might say, “she is not the brightest bulb,” or “this dinner is not bad.”

45. Euphemism - the polite (politically correct) way to express oneself. Don’t say he died, say ​ ​ he passed away; she is portly (instead of fat), he is in a correctional facility, not jail!