Here is a list of ten important rhetorical devices that will likely show up on your AP Language exam:
Analogy π Β - Comparing two things based on structure; used to explain a complex idea in simpler terms. (Example: The movie was a roller coaster ride of emotions).
Antithesis β β - Two opposite ideas are parallelly constructed in a sentence to show contrast. (Example: Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.)
Diction π - Using specific word choice to achieve an effect (Example: using thy/thee/wherefore to imply a Shakesperean mood)
Ethos π - Appealing to expert testimony or authority (Example: 9 out of 10 dentists recommend X Toothpaste)
Juxtaposition π π’ - Placing two ideas together for contrast (Example: I thoroughly hate loving you.)
Logos π» - Appealing to reason/logic (Example: According to a meta-analysis of thousands of Americans, more than 90% of people sleep with their eyes closed.)
Pathos π - Appealing to emotion (Example: Our country is the motherland!)
Rhetoric π - Use of spoken or written word to convey ideas (Example: Nearly anything in AP Lang is 'rhetoric')
Syntax π‘ - The way sentences are grammatically structured, such as length (Example: I was frightened for my life, as the footsteps grew louder and louder, closer and closer. Then it was silent. I whimpered.)
Tone π£ - The author's attitude towards a subject (Example: Can someone tell me what is going on instead of keeping secrets? - signifies an annoyed tone)
This is not a complete list, but these ten figurative devices can serve as a guiding tool for your AP English Language exam preparation.
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π§ Exam Skills
πExam Review - Synthesis Essay
πExam Review - Rhetorical Analysis Essay
π¬Exam Review - Argument Essay
π§ Multiple Choice Questions
πBig Reviews: Finals & Exam Prep
πUnit 4 β How writers develop arguments, intros, & conclusions
πUnit 5 β How a writer brings all parts of an argument together