What you need to STUDY for the UNIT 1 TEST!
AP Language and Composition—Mlakar
Be able to…

explain Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric: “Rhetoric is the faculty of finding all the available means
of persuasion in a particular case.”

Label the parts of the rhetorical triangle

Label the parts of the rhetorical diagram

identify the four lines of argument and the patterns of development

Define, identify or recognize the following terms:
Anglo-Saxon diction—word choice characterized by simple, often one or two syllable nouns,
adjectives and adverbs; Examples: make (rather than manufacture which is Latinate), help
(rather than facilitate which is Latinate), ask (rather than interrogate which is Latinate)
Audience—the people reading, hearing, witnessing, responding to a text
Connotation—the implied meaning of a word; the feelings associated with a word
Diction—word choice
Ethos –the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator
Exigence—the motivation behind a text (do not confuse this with purpose!)
Latinate diction—word choice characterized by multisyllabic construction, usually consists of a
root, derived from Latin, plus a prefix that qualifies the meaning of the root; Examples:
magnanimous, expedite, ameliorate, subaqueous
Logos—the appeal of a text based on the logical structure of its argument or central ideas
Pathos –the appeal of a text to the emotions or interests of the audience
Purpose—the goal a writer or speaker hopes to achieve with the text—for example, to clarify
difficult material, to inform, to convince, to persuade. Also called aim or intention.
Speaker—the person delivering a speech or writing the text (also known as rhetor).
There will be an extended response question that asks you to define “good writing.” You will need to
use at least 3 sources from this quarter to support your view. Review the following texts to remind
yourself of what we’ve learned about “good writing” this semester:
Mercury Reader
“We Are Our Own Metaphor”
Mary Catherine Bateston
Norton Anthology
“Politics and the English Language”
George Orwell
Handouts
“Why I Write”
Terry Tempest Williams
“Don’t You Think It’s Time to Start Thinking?
Northrop Frye
“Allegory of the Cave”
Plato
“The Writing Life”
Annie Dillard
“What Is Style?”
Mavis Gallant
“American Fat”
Russell Baker
“The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own
Manuscript” Donald M. Murray
“Democracy”
Carl Becker
“Writing”
William Stafford
“Democracy”
E.B. White
The following vocabulary will be found within the passages and multiple choice questions of two cold
reads.
Ample—generous; plentiful
Anecdote -- short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident
Audacity—fearless boldness
Beget—to produce; procreate
Caste-- a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege
colloquial – conversational; pertaining to common language
erudite—learned; highly intellectual
exuberant—joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic
malleable – capable of being altered or changed
nonchalant – having an air of indifference or lack of concern
prolific –abundant; plentiful
repel—reject; resist
slough—a place of deep mud or moral degradation
stalwart--strong
static—showing little change
tall tale – stories that exaggerate actual events
teem—to become filled to overflowing
tract-- a pamphlet or leaflet of political or religious propaganda