Rockmart High School
AP Language Summer Reading 2013
Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood
Instructor: Matt Johnson – mattjohnson@polk.k12.ga.us
Nonfiction is the dominant genre you will read in AP Language and Composition as a junior. Whereas your
study of fiction and literature brings your focus to elements of figurative language, our study of nonfiction will
focus on rhetoric and style. With this in mind, complete the following for Capote’s text:
1. Read In Cold Blood and complete a dialectical journal of your reading. A dialectical journal is an
organized approach to identifying and analyzing key moments in the text. In this case, these moments
will be elements of style, rhetoric, or figurative language provided in the attached list of terminologies.
You are allowed to deviate outside of this list for your journal annotations to include other rhetorical,
literary, and figurative elements if you wish.
2. Complete a total of 20-25 journal entries that span throughout the entire text. This text does not have
typical chapter divisions, but one entry from every 15-20 pages would evenly distribute your focus.
3. Follow the organization and example provided below taken from another nonfiction selection.
4. For the terminologies provided, you are expected to understand their definition and usage. Expect an
assessment over these terms as well during the first week of school.
AP LANGUAGE: INTRODUCTORY TERMINOLOGIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Alliteration- the repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Allusion- a reference contained in a work.
Amplification- involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize what otherwise
might be passed over.
Analogy- a literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed that what applies to the parallel
situation also applies to the original circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items.
Anaphora- the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines.
Anecdote- a story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate to a point.
Antistrophe- repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
Antithesis- the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To
be or not to be…” “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country…”
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Aphorism- a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. (If the authorship is
unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the
author’s point.
Apostrophe- a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as
liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he
writes, “Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee.”
Appositive- a noun or noun substitute placed next to (in apposition to) another noun to be described or defined by the
appositive.
Atmosphere- the emotional mood 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. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the
atmosphere. Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events.
Attitude- the relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience..
Conceit- a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly
dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison being made.
Diction- is the choice of words used in speaking or writing. It is frequently divided into four levels: formal, informal,
colloquial, and slang. Formal diction is found in traditional academic writing, such as books and scholarly articles; informal
diction, generally characterized by words common in conversation contexts, by contractions, and by the use of the first
person (I), is found in articles in popular magazines.
Ellipsis- indicated by a series of three periods, the ellipsis indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text. It
could be a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole section. Be wary of the ellipsis; it could obscure the real
meaning of the piece of writing.
Epizeuxis- repetition of one word (for emphasis).
Euphemism- a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or
uncomfortable. “He went to his final reward” is a common euphemism for “he died.” Euphemisms are also often used to
obscure the reality of a situation. The military uses “collateral damage” to indicate civilian deaths in a military operation.
Generalizations- are assertions or conclusions based on some specific instances. The value of a generalization is determined
by the quality and quantity of examples on which it is based. Bob Greene in “Cut” (p.57) formulates ma generalization-being cut from and athletic team makes men super achievers later in life--on the basis of fiver examples. For such a
generalization to have validity, however, a proper statistical sample would be essential.
Hyperbole- extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement.
Imagery- the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature.
Irony-an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen. It involves
dialog and situation, and can be intentional or unplanned. Dramatic irony centers around the ignorance of those involved;
whereas, the audience is aware of the circumstance.
Metaphor-a direct comparison between dissimilar things. “Your eyes are stars” is an example.
Mood- this term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with
verbal units and a speaker’s attitude. The indicative mood is used for only factual sentences. For example, “Joe eats too
quickly.” The subjunctive mood is used for a doubtful or conditional attitude. For example, “If I were you, I’d get another
job.” The imperative mood is used for commands. For example, “Shut the door!” the second meaning of mood is literary,
meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage,
mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
Parallelism- also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning “beside
one another.” It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural
similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase.
A famous example of parallelism begins Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of
incredulity…” The effects of parallelism are numerous, but frequently, they act as an organizing force to attract the reader’s
attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm.
Personification- the assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts (Wordsworth personifies “the sea that
bares her bosom to the moon” in the poem London 1802.).
Polysyndeton- the repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses.
Simile- an indirect comparison that uses the words like or as to link the differing items in the comparison. (“Your eyes are
like the stars.”)
Tone- the author’s attitude toward his subject.
Understatement. The opposite of hyperbole; it is a deliberate minimizing done to provide emphasis or humor. In William
Least Heat Moon’s “Nameless, Tennessee” (p. 164), Miss Ginny Watts explains how she asked her husband to call the doctor
unless he wanted to be “shut of” (rid of) her. Her husband, Thurmond, humorously uses understatement in his reply: “I
studied on it.”