Post on 01-Apr-2015
R – Z Words
The “end” of the alphabet, but not the “end” of our focus on these
words!!!!!
realism
• a 19th century literary movement in Europe and the US that stressed accuracy in the portrayal of life, particularly involving characters with whom middle-class readers could easily identify
• Directly contrasts with romanticism
rhetoric
• One of our favorite terms • The art of using language effectively
• The entire process of written communication
• Comes from the Greek word for “orator” and involves the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently and persuasively
rhetoric
(there’s always more....)
• Involves the writer’s purpose
• The audience
• The message and the way it is explored
• The writer’s persona, style and tone of expression, and.....
• The form it is presented in
Rhetorical modes
• Exposition
• Description
• Narration
• Argumentation
Rhetorical question
• One that is asked merely for effect and does not expect a reply; the answer is assumed
Romanticism
• A literary, artistic and philosophical movement of the 18th century that highlights imagination, emotion and freedom and focuses on subjectivity, individuality, the love and worship or nature and a fascination with the past
sarcasm
• From the Greek word meaning “to tear flesh”
• Harsh, caustic personal remarks to or about someone
• Less subtle than irony
• When well done, sarcasm can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it’s simply cruel
sarcasm
“Well, that was graceful!!!”
satire
• A work based solely on ridicule that targets and criticizes human vices and follies without necessarily offering a solution
• A style of writing rather than a purpose
• Can utilize irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement and sarcasm
simile
• An explicit comparison, normally involving like or as or as if; for example “The sky looked like an artist’s canvas.”
speaker
• The voice of a work
• An author may speak as himself or herself or as a fictitious persona
stereotype
• A character who represents a trait that is usually attributed to a particular social or racial group and who lacks individuality
• represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
style
• An author’s characteristic manner of expression
• The unique way an author present her/his ideas
• Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to a particular style
style
• Some authors’ styles are so idiosyncratic that their work is quickly recognizable
style
• scientific, • ornate, • plain, • emotive• flowery• explicit
• commonplace,• incisive• laconic• bombastic• rambling• succinct
Subject complement
• Collective term for predicate nominative and predicate adjective
• This term is occasionally used on m/c questions on the AP test
subjectivity
• A personal presentation of events and characters, influenced by the author’s feelings and opinions
Subordinate clause
• Also called a dependent clause
• Contains both a subject and verb but, unlike the independent clause, it cannot stand alone since it does not express a complete thought
syllogism
• Term from Greek meaning “reckoning together”
• Syllogistic reasoning is often used in argumentation/persuasion
• A deductive system of formal logic that presents two major premises (one major and one minor) that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion
• For example....
syllogism
• All men are mortal.
• Socrates is a man.
• Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Symbol/symbolism
• Something that stands for something else
• Usually, a symbol is something concrete – such as an object, action, character or scene – that represents something more abstract.
synecdoche
• A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent a whole, such as using “boards” to mean “a stage” or “wheels” to mean “a car.”
• It is sure hard to earn a dollar these days.
• Put Beethoven on the turntable and turn up the volume.
syntax
• What adults pay on top of the cost of the item for alcohol or tobacco products...
• In AP, it is the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but think of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to individual words.
syntax
In analyzing syntax, try to determine what kind of sentences an author uses, then determine how the author’s choices amplify meaning or why they work well for the author’s purpose
Syntax will appear on both sections of the AP test
theme
• Central idea or message of a work; the insight it offers into life
• Usually theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative works
thesis
• The main idea of an author’s writing
• It present the author’s assertion or claim.
• The effectiveness of a presentation is often based on how well the writer presents, develops and supports the thesis.
tone
• The author’s attitude toward his/her subject
• Easier to determine in spoken language than in written language
• Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying tone.
• Can rarely be described with one word, but here are some possibilities.....
tone
• playful• serious, • businesslike• sarcastic• angry• sharp• bitter• dreamy• restrained• cold• urgent
• joking• poignant• detached• childish• mocking• objective• vibrant• somber• provocative• sentimental• complimentary
tone
• condescending• sympathetic• contemptuous• apologetic• humorous• horrific• nostalgic
• zealous• irreverent• benevolent• seductive• candid• pitiful• didactic
Relax – here’s a handout with the list!!!!
transition
• A word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.
transition
• And• But• Or• For• Nor• So• Yet
• Numerical (first, second...)
• Sequential (then, next...)
• Additional• Illustrative (for example)• Contrast/comparison• Affirmation (of course,
indeed)
understatement
• The opposite of exaggeration or overstatement or hyperbole
• A technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended
Understatement
• Understatement is a staple of humor in English-speaking cultures, especially in British humor. For example, in Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life,” a suburban dinner party is invaded by Death, who wears a long black cloak and carries a scythe. He is the Grim Reaper; the party is over; the guests must all go with him. "Well," says one party guest, "that's cast rather a gloom over the evening, hasn't it?"
understatement
• In another scene, an Army officer has just lost his leg. When asked how he feels, he looks down at his bloody stump and responds, "Stings a bit.“
voice
• The way a written work coveys an author’s attitude
• The total “sound” of a writer’s style
• Grammatically, it is the relationship between a sentence’s subject and its verb (active voice and passive voice):
I baked a pie (active)
The pie was baked by me (passive)
voice
• Do you have a voice? In your columns, you certainly do. And as a class, we can recognize some of our classmates’ writing because we have “heard” them read their columns, but we have also come to “know” their writing because it sounds like them, even on paper!
• Discuss!!!!!!
wit
• Not to be confused with “twit,” which is used extensively in Monty Python, wit is intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.
• A witty statement is humorous and suggests the writer’s verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks.
• Wit usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement.
• Oscar Wilde was witty!!!!!
zed
• The British word/term for the last letter of the alphabet
• A very useful word in Scrabble
• I had to have a “Z” word, and this was the best choice........
The very, very, end