AP Language and Composition: Vocabulary Guide
Welcome to the world of words! Throughout AP Language and Composition, you will be expected to learn
and apply many new vocabulary words. A strong vocabulary is crucial for both reading and writing, so it is
essential that you expand your vocabulary this year. Enjoy the process; words are fun!
Helpful Tips
1. You’ll be expected to complete weekly vocabulary homework as well take unit exams. The words are
listed by unit for you, and many units correspond to what we will be learning in class.
2. This guide is organized by parts of speech (verbs, nouns, and adjectives).
3. When necessary and important, other forms of the vocabulary word are listed. If other forms are not
listed, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We only list different formats that we think you may not
know or that you are likely to encounter.
4. Each word is used in a sentence for you. Pay attention to these sentences to help you use the word.
5. We highly recommend looking up the words to further your understanding of how they are used. In
fact, Merriam-Webster (m-w.com) has a fascinating section called “Seen and Heard” where users
write in where they encountered the word. Reading through this section helps you see all the
different ways the words can be used.
6. The usage guide on the next page will give you helpful hints about how to use the various words.
7. As you learn vocabulary, some words will become part of your receptive vocabulary (words we
recognize) and others a part of your expressive vocabulary (words we use). Both are important, but
developing expressive vocabulary is usually much harder. As you study vocabulary, make a conscious
effort to engrain some words into your expressive vocabulary by using them often. Keep a list of these
words in the back of this packet so you can remember to keep using them.
Vocabulary Application Creations
Learning Target: I can acquire and use vocabulary words that enable communication at
an advanced level.
Directions: Each week, you are expected to learn one group of vocabulary words (ten
words) from your vocabulary guide. Eventually, we will take unit exams covering all of
these words. For weekly homework, though, you need to pick five of the ten words in
the group to master using the activities below. You may mix and match from this list as
much as you’d like (and you may cover multiple words with one activity), but don’t
repeat the same activities week to week*. No matter what activities you choose, make
sure that you clearly show an understanding of each word’s meaning.
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Pick a picture and write a caption for the picture using a
vocabulary word.
Write new dialog for a cartoon using a vocabulary word.
Use a word in a sentence that clearly shows an understanding of
the word’s meaning.
Write a story using one or more vocabulary words.
Write a paragraph using one of the modes of writing that contains
one or more vocabulary words.
Write a dialog using vocabulary words.
Make an advertisement using vocabulary words.
Research the etymology of a word and write a short paragraph
explaining how the meaning came about.
Come up with a clever way to remember each word.
Using the vocabulary words, write a paragraph using different
types of sentences. Experiment with different sentence lengths,
types, and beginnings.
Write transition sentences using the vocabulary words. Use
various transition words and techniques.
Write schemes and tropes that use the vocabulary words.
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Using the vocabulary words, create sentences that could
potentially be used in a rhetorical analysis. Focus on “does”
analysis (the author-verb sentences).
Pick sentences from professional writers or excellent AP essays to
model. Using the vocabulary words, write sentences about various
topics, but model the style and format of other sentences. Focus
particularly on expanding sentences with details.
Review the different types of sentences. Using the vocabulary
words, write sentences of the different types and label them.
Experiment with refutation and concession. Write a persuasive
paragraph that uses these techniques and also uses the
vocabulary words.
Pay attention to current events since they can be great evidence
to use in your essays. Using the vocabulary words, write
sentences that describe these events.
*When possible, try to match your activity with what we are working on in class.
Vocabulary Usage Guide
1. Knowing the part of speech is crucial to using the words correctly. Nouns and verbs and adjectives all
fulfill different roles in a sentence.
2. Adjectives and adverbs are different and are not interchangeable. If you want to use an adjective as
an adverb, sometimes you only have to add LY, but that is not always the case. Use the dictionary to
help you see how to convert a certain adjective to an adverb (and not all adjectives can be made into
adverbs, either).
Example:
Adjective: The sagacious boy was on the trivia team.
Adjective: He was sagacious.
Adverb: He answered the questions sagaciously.
3. Verbs can be tricky because of direct and indirect objects. Paying careful attention to the example
sentences should help you see how to use the verbs. If you look up verbs in the dictionary, you may
see some labeled as transitive and some as intransitive. These distinctions are important for usage.
Transitive Verb: Requires a direct object.
Example: She brought apples. He assuaged her fear.
Intransitive Verb: Does not require an object
Example: He ran. She capitulated.
Unit Lists
Unit 1
Unit 2
Group 1: Current Events Synthesis
Group 6: More “Does” Verbs
Apprise
Assert
Attest
Extenuating
Impetus
Accede
Assent
Augment
Castigate
Commiserate
Impugn
Jurisprudence
Juxtapose
Partisan
Tantamount
Group 2: “Does” Verbs
Affirm
Assuage
Cajole
Corroborate
Disclose
Group 7: Tone (Adjectives)
Dispel
Espouse
Exemplify
Recapitulate
Scrutinize
Group 3: Rhetoric
Cacophony
Connotation
Discourse
Euphony
Evoke
Adamant
Affable
Ambivalent
Austere
Caustic
Curt
Evasive
Glib
Insipid
Pedantic
Group 8: Persuasion
Incite
Panache
Paradigm
Peruse
Substantiate
Group 4: Diction
Ambiguous
Bombastic
Brusque
Effusive
Florid
Demur
Elucidate
Engender
Expound
Mollify
Ardent
Concede
Debunk
Disabuse
Dissuade
Fallacious
Quibble
Tenable
Unequivocal
Urbane
Group 9: More Fun Verbs
Jargon
Mawkish
Ornate
Pretentious
Staccato
Abate
Acquiesce
Ameliorate
Bode
Cogitate
Group 5: Words Related to Language
Group 10: Imagery
Affected
Aphorism
Brevity
Hackneyed
Malapropism
Aesthetic
Idyllic
Iridescent
Limpid
Luminous
Misnomer
Paradox
Pithy
Terse
Trite
Coalesce
Deprecate
Emanate
Epitomize
Heed
Lyrical
Opaque
Sonorous
Temperate
Tepid
Unit 3
Unit 4
Group 11: Argument Prompts
Group 16: American Dream
Enervate
Exacerbate
Exculpate
Fidelity
Foster
Cupidity
Disparity
Fortuitous
Hapless
Hedonist
Forbearance
Litany
Tenuous
Transient
Ubiquitous
Impetuous
Panacea
Purloin
Stasis
Volition
Group 12: Research/ Writing
Group 17: Argument Prompt Review
Authenticate
Ascribe
Missive
Mores
Pastiche
Alleviate
Berate
Discredit
Elicit
Innocuous
Pontificate
Prevaricate
Repudiate
Ruminate
Verbatim
Group 13: Random Nouns
Acuity
Adage
Behemoth
Certitude
Impunity
Group 18: Satire/ Humor
Microcosm
Nicety
Remuneration
Trepidation
Vanguard
Group 14: Debating
Accost
Allege
Broach
Capitulate
Censure
Chide
Dissemble
Jocular
Parody
Perspicacity
Quip
Sophomoric
Undermine
Vituperate
Wry
Group 19: Archaic English
Duplicity
Galvanize
Paucity
Preponderance
Tangential
Group 15: More Debating
Bias
Circumvent
Condone
Conjecture
Effrontery
Insular
Judicious
Pejorative
Tenet
Veracity
Antipathy
Antiquated
Archaic
Befuddle
Beget
Beneficent
Esoteric
Expedient
Trammels
Vestige
Group 20: Random Adjectives
Equivocate
Incongruous
Lucid
Unassailable
Virulent
Abstemious
Amorphous
Fastidious
Formidable
Gratuitous
Histrionic
Lucrative
Macabre
Specious
Tacit
Unit 5
Unit 6
Group 21: From Multiple Choice Exams
Group 26: Random Nouns
Array
Aside
Condemn
Conjecture
Discrepancy
Alacrity
Anathema
Aplomb
Enigma
Facade
Empirical
Forego
Methodology
Notion
Precarious
Intimation
Penchant
Prowess
Sycophant
Vernacular
Group 22: More from Multiple Choice
Group 27: And MORE Multiple Choice Terms
Affront
Digress
Disillusioned
Euphemism
Exposé
Decry
Detached
Diatribe
Disparage
Efface
Idiosyncratic
Implicit
Introspection
Reprehensible
Tangible
Group 23: Random Nouns
Genial
Imperative
Negate
Petulant
Treatise
Group 28: Random Verbs
Accolade
Acrimony
Clemency
Contempt
Enmity
Felicity
Impudence
Lassitude
Litigation
Pique
Group 24: Random Verbs
Abrogate
Adjudicate
Aggrandize
Bereave
Commend
Culminate
Disseminate
Elude
Enjoin
Eschew
Absolve
Adulterate
Entice
Garner
Imbue
Incur
Kindle
Languish
Mitigate
Obfuscate
Group 29: Random Adjectives
Amicable
Arduous
Cursory
Discursive
Garrulous
Inane
Indelible
Innate
Irascible
Laconic
Group 25: Random Adjectives
Group 30: Random Assortment
Adept
Altruistic
Amiable
Banal
Circuitous
Indigent
Levity
Lurid
Malinger
Obviate
Diffuse
Egregious
Extrinsic
Fervid
Idiomatic
Palliate
Perfunctory
Pedestrian
Provincial
Uncouth
My Expressive Vocabulary Words
Word
Definition
Word
Definition