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Final AP Language and Composition Exam Review

Rhetorical Analysis
Thesis statement: What is the author doing and how does he/she do it?
In order to purpose , the author uses rhetorical element 1, rhetorical element 2,
and rhetorical element 3 = h ow effectiveness .

Precede this with a sentence of contextualization. You should give a hook, and briefly tell what
is going on before you write your thesis.
For each rhetorical element, give a CDW. Make sure your quotes are not too long. Weave the
quotes clearly into your own sentences. Your warrant should end with a connection to how it
achieved the purpose.

Conclusions. Bring it up today. Why is this relevant? Why should we care about what the author
has said and how he/she has executed his/her speech.

To have a good rhetorical analysis you should

Have an introduction
Dont start with your thesis
Give an intro/hook to your topic
Heightened vocabulary
He used these 2 things in order to achieve purpose (purposes are big picture
ideals feminism, legacy, identity, etc)
1st Paragraph
Follow your thesis in order
Dont quote lines way too much. A few words are more effective than an entire
line.
Analyze with your own thoughts. Do not summarize their essay.
Diction & its effect (what do you think it does)
2nd Paragraph/3rd
Same as first paragraph but with a different rhetorical device. Save your
weakest point for this paragraph; your first and third paragraph can cover it up.
3rd paragraph should be the strongest. Leave your reader with a bang
Conclusion!
Dont forget to conclude and tie it to a bigger picture. Inverse of the introduction;
end with a hook that will wow your reader.
Overall
Do NOT leave it simple when you analyze. Dont just tell what happened. Dont
say she wrote it using emotion. How did she write it using emotion? What were
the effects of her using this? How can it connect to a greater theme/purpose?
Think about inclusive language, rhetorical imagery, diction, etc. How could it
have affected that specific audience?
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List of Rhetorical Devices (used to remember, visualize, or connect)

Hyperbole-exaggerating some part of a statement to give it emphasis/focus.
Understatement- force of a descriptive statement is less than what one would normally
expect. Shows how powerful an event/idea actually is through sarcasm.
Litote- similar to understatement, emphasizes its point by using a word thats opposite to
the condition. That store is not in the most convenient location.
Antithesis- make use of a contrast in ideas. We are men, not gods.
Hypophora- technique of asking a question, then proceeding to answer it. How do we
know this to be true? We have observed it in the lab
Rhetorical Question-a question you ask where the answer is merely implied. (typically
yes/no) In this age of modernity, can we truly condone such horrific acts?
Procatalepsis-similar to hypophora. Deals specifically with objections and usually does
so without even asking the question. Many customers think expensive products are
always good quality but this is not true. There are plenty of affordable products that are
of superior quality.
Distinctio-rhetorical form in which the writer elaborates on the definition of a word, to
make sure there is no misunderstanding. Gives the definition that sides with the writers
argument. Communism, by which I mean the socialist communism which comes after
the centralized state, has yet to be tried anywhere in the real world.
Analogy- down to earth version of simile. Both compare 2 things for a specific purpose,
but while the simile usually does so with a fair amount of stylistic flare, the analogy does
so for much more pragmatic reasons. Texting has become the playground as this is to
this.
Allusion-a reference to some fairly well known event/place/symbol The new war was
Vietnam all over again. You dont have to be Einstein to know what two plus two is.
Eponym- similar to an allusion, referring to a specific famous person to link his or her
attributes to someone else. A modern day Moses, he led his nation to a new beginning.
Sentenia- Simply a fancy term for a quotation, maxim, or wise saying. A word to the
wise is sufficient. We should do well to remember, however, that all is fair in love and
war.
Exemplum-providing examples to prove your point. Claim for example
Climax-a way of organizing ideas in your writing so that they proceed from least
important to most important. I came, I saw, I conquered.
Parallelism/Chiasmus- consists of using the same general structure for multiple parts of
a sentence, or multiple sentences, in order to link the words together. The
manor--designed for beauty and grace, built for durability & strength, and located for
privacy & safety--was the ideal home for those 3 children.
Anadiplosis/Conduplicatio- 2 forms of repetition that can help add structure to the
essays.
Anadiplosis: take last word of sentence/phrase and repeat it near the next
sentence/phrase.
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Conduplicatio: take an important word from anywhere & repeats it at the

beginning of the next sentence/phrase.
Metabasis-device used to sum up a body of work that has come before, so you can
move onto another point. Gives you a chance to remind readers exactly what you are
doing and the most crucial areas you have covered. I have discussed cars and
factories, but we still have to look at long term atmospheric trends.
Parenthesis-a device used to insert an aside or additional information into the main
focus of your writing. You can use commas (,) & dashes (--). This continues for many
years--some would say for longer than it should have--before a new brand of politicians
put an end to it.
Apostrophe-writer breaks out of the flow of the writing to directly address a
person/personified object. So we near our conclusion, and i must ask you, my wise
reader, to bear with me for one more small discussion.
Enumeratio-refers to act of supplying a list of details about something. I went to the
mall, the park, the river, the salon, and finally, home.
Antanagoge- way of ordering points to downplay negative points so that the reader feels
less strongly about it. Downplay a negative point next to a positive one. Youre ugly, no
offense.
Epithet-involves attaching a descriptive adjective to a noun to bring a scene to life or
evoke a particular idea or emotion.
The farmers anxiously scanned the mocking sky
A healing wind blew
Fat Albert
Asyndeton/Polysyndeton
Asyndeton: defines 2nd term as a clarification of the first. Leaves out
conjunctions in a list or in between clauses. It was a great prize, a reward for
years of service.
Polysyndeton: increases urgency or power. Puts a conjunction between every
item. It is hair and face and eyes and mouth combined to the form the form of an
image of absolute power.
Zeugma
A device where unexpected items in a sentence are linked together by a shared
word. Can encompass subjects linked together by a verb, pronouns by nouns,
direct objects by verbs, adjectival phrases by etc.
With mastery of this device, join 2 words and the ranks of skillful writers. The
runner lost the race and his confidence. The man ran a hundred miles, but out
of time.
Synecdoche/Metonymy-both are closely related terms, they deal with the part of
something, or something closely related, to refer to a larger whole.
Synecdoche: use of a part of something to represent a whole. The captain
shouted, All hands on deck!
Metonymy: allows you to refer--to something closely related to the actual object.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
 pg. 4

Hyperbaton-you arrange the words in your sentence in an unexpected order. Word

order, unusual but artistic. You have to admit it was a long year, but bearable.
Aporia-used to express doubt about an idea. Its possible that this device should not
come next, but well give it a try. Gives a personal opinion about something, or to
express ignorance.
Anaphora- device in which the writer repeats the word or phrase at the beginning of
multiple clauses or sentences. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to
pluck up what is planted, etc.
Epistrophe-close to anaphora same word/phrase is repeated at the end of multiple
clauses or sentence. When I thought I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a
child but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Symploce-combines anaphora and epistrophe. We enjoy life when we know ourselves
to be free of temptation and sin, but we enjoy life also when we give completely to
temptation and sin.
Amplification-writers repeats something theyve just said, while adding more detail and
information to the original description. It was a cold day, a wicked day, a day of biting
winds and a bitter forest.
Personification-giving human-like qualities to nonhuman objects
Parataxis- involves listing a series of clauses without conjunctions Think of a topic,
write it down, jot down your ideas, write your essay.
 pg. 5

Synthesis Essay
Essay based on 7 sources
Similar to persuasive essay--youre making a claim and then backing it up with data NOT from
your own mind, but from sources given to you. Generate your own thesis/argument, used cited
sources to support you. Your sources are your data. Not your claims. Technically you are only
required to cite 3 of the 7 sources, but it is a good idea to cite 4. However you cite (if you cite
something as Source A or as Smith) you need to stay consistent with your method throughout
the entire paper.

Multiple Choice
1. Reading Comprehension
a. Yon usually identify them from phrases like according to and refers. To
succeed on these kinds of questions, your best strategy is to go back and re-read
the part of the passage the question is asking about. Do so carefully, and when
you then answer the question, focus on what the passage is actually saying
outright. Dont infer on reading comprehension question
b. Lines 23-26: But books are not about schedules, author Stephanie Nolen
argues; rather, they are about submerging yourself...about getting consumed.

c.
d. Answer: A
2. Implication
a. Implication is what the author seems to say without actually coming out and
saying it directly. You can identify implication questions from phrases like best
supported, implies, suggests, and inferred. Turn and look back at the
relevant part of the passage before you answer. Then ask yourself: Which
interpretation put forth by the answer choices does the passage *most* support?
You have to choose an implication that is actually supported by the passage

b.
c. First, we need to find where in the passage names for hurricanes and tornadoes
are discussed. We can find this in lines 14-17: A tornado, although more violent
 pg. 6

than a much longer lasting hurricane, has a life measured in minutes, and
weathercasters watch it snuff out as it was born: unnamed.
d. Answer: C
3. Overall Passage and Author Questions
a. Overall passage and author questions want you to identify key, overarching
elements of the passage or author's views, like the purpose of the text, the
authors audience, the authors attitude toward the subject, and so on. These
questions are identifiable because they wont refer back to a specific place in the
text but will instead ask general questions that apply to the entire excerpt. It
might be helpful to jot down a couple overall impressions of the excerpt right after
you read it, to refer back to when faced with overall passage questions.

b.
c. Answer: D
4. Relationships between parts of text
a. Require you to identify or describe a relationship between two specific parts of
the text. This could be paragraphs or shorter line segments, or a specific part of
the passage compared to the rest of the passage or the passage as a whole. My
advice for answering these questions is similar to my advice for most
questions--go back and read the parts of the passage in question! You may want
to jot down an overarching impression of what each part of the text is
accomplishing or saying as you do, which should help you compare them and
identify the relationship.

b.
c. Answer: A
5. Interpretation of Imagery/Figurative Language
a. This type of question is concerned with the underlying meaning or implication of
imagery or figurative language used in the excerpt. What is the author trying to
accomplish with this particular phrase or this metaphor? It is critical that you go
 pg. 7

back and read the part of the passage that the question refers to, or you will be
completely lost on these questions (more so than on most others). You may want
to re-read a few lines before and after as well so you can get a sense of the
imagery in context.
b. It is an idle question to ask if his books will be read a century hence: if they were
all burnt as the grandest of Suttees on his funeral pile, it would only be like
cutting down an oak after its acorns have sown a forest.

c.
d. Answer: C
6. Purpose Part of the Text
a. Think about what point the author is trying to make in that specific moment, and
how that would serve their larger argument. All parts of a given text will serve the
larger argument if they are well-constructed, so if it seems like an interpretation of
the text presented in the answer choices doesnt work with the main argument,
eliminate it.

b.
c. Answer: A
7. Rhetorical Strategy
a. Essentially, youll be identifying the particular argumentative move that the
author is deploying to try to convince the audience of their position.
 pg. 8

b.
c. Thecharacterofhisinfluenceisbestseeninthefactthatmanyofthemenwho
havetheleastagreementwithhisopinionsarethosetowhomthereadingof
SartorResartuswasanepochinthehistoryoftheirminds.Theextentofhis
influencemaybebestseeninthefactthatideaswhichwerestartlingnovelties
whenhefirstwrotethemarenowbecomecommon-places.Andwethinkfew
menwillbefoundtosaythatthisinfluenceonthewholehasnotbeenforgood.
ThereareplentywhoquestionthejusticeofCarlylesestimatesofpastmenand
pasttimes,plentywhoquarrelwiththeexaggerationsoftheLatter-Day
Pamphlets,andwhoareasfaraspossiblefromlookingforanamendmentof
thingsfromaCarlyliantheocracywiththegreatestman,asaJoshuawhoisto
smitethewicked(andthestupid)tillthegoingdownofthesun.Butforanylarge
nature,thosepointsofdifferencearequiteincidental.Itisnotatheorist,butasa
greatandbeautifulhumannature,thatCarlyleinfluencesus.
d. Answer: E
 pg. 9

Literary Devices from Multiple Choice:

Paradox - contrary to expectations, existing belief or perceived opinion -
Your enemys friend is your enemy Wise fool I must be cruel to be kind.
Parallel Syntax (aka Parallelism) - repetition among adjacent sentences or clauses;
provides emphasis to a center theme or idea the author is trying to convey
I came, I saw, I conquered.
Abstract Diction - Abstract diction or abstract imagery is the language (words and
phrases) we use to describe qualities that cannot be perceived with our five senses
(sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing).
calling something pleasant or pleasing is abstract, while calling something yellow
or sour is concrete
Oxymoron - two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect
Open secret beautiful mess
Parallel Structure - the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence
Ellen likes hiking, attending the rodeo, and taking afternoon naps.
Inverted Syntax - when lines do not follow traditional sentence patterns, for example
when the subject and verb or the object and subject are reversed.
How difficult this is! To me alone there came a thought of grief.
Catalogue - a long list of things, people, or events
Glory be to God for dappled things
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches wings;
Landscape plotted and piecedfold, fallow, and plough;
And ll trdes, their gear and tackle and trim.
Polysyndeton - bound together several coordinating conjunctions are used in
succession in order to achieve an artistic effect.
and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights or
windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything
all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside
Mango Key and she was right only she was full of water. (repeats and)
Allusion - brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical,
cultural, literary or political significance
Hey! Guess who the new Einstein of our school is?
Anaphora - Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more
sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's
point more coherent.
We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we
shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and
growing strength in the air
Chiasmus - two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of
their structures in order to produce an artistic effect
Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.
 pg. 10

You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to
forget.
Antithesis - the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by
word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs.
The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.
Idiomatic language - set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words; the
expression is not interpreted literally
I worked the graveyard shift with old people, which was really demoralizing,
because the old people didnt have a chance in hell of ever getting out.
Achilles heel
All ears
Beats me
Best of both worlds
free-for-all
Inversion - normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve a particular effect of
emphasis
the soldier strong
Worlds between
Shouts the policeman
What a beautiful picture it is!
A loose sentence - starts with an independent clause or main clause, which is simple
and straight, provides main idea and then adds subordinate elements or modifiers.
Added clauses to further describe a preceding clause.
I found a large hall, obviously a former garage, dimly lit, and packed with cots.
Juxtaposition - two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side
by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and
contrasts. useful device for writers to portray their characters in great detail to create
suspense and achieve a rhetorical effect.
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, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the
spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had
nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct
the other way
In this entire novel, the Haves and Have nots are put side-by-side to define the
severe disparity and discord in the French society that paved the way for the
revolution.