AP Lang - Syntactical devices, Syntax for Purpose

20 flashcards · English · by Harrison Holbrook

1. Emphasis

   Effect: Creating a sense of finality, restating and idea, emphasizing or highlighting an idea Structure: Short, simple, declarative sentences. Two similar sentences connected by a colon, sentences that set off information with an em dash

2. Balance

   Effect: Set up parallel constructions to indicate equality or balance Structure: Sentence with two independent clauses connected with or without a comma and coordinating conjunction in the same gramatical style, list seperated by commas and a coordinating conjunction to indicate equality

3. Relationship

   Effect: Illustrating a causal relationship between ideas (how, where, when, why, and to what extent) Structure: Sentence with a subordinate clause set off with a comma

4. Clarification

   Effect: Further describing, modifying, or clarifying a noun Structure: Sentence with an adjective clause introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that) to indicate specificity

5. Detail/Description

   Effect: Provide helpful, but nonessential, information or detail Structure: Sentence with an adjective clause introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that) to indicate specificity

6. Exemplification

   Effect: Illustrate with either examples or clarification Structure: Sentence with examples (e.g.,) or a clarification (i.e.) in parenthesis

7. Connection

   Effect: Creating intimacy or connection between reader and writer, often with a parenthetical aside Structure: Sentences with information or detail placed within parenthesis

8. Omission

   Effect: Excerpting relevant consectuvive information that has been omitted from another source Structure: Sentences with ellipses (...) that indicate omitted information or words

9. Provocation/Reflection

   Effect: Posing a reflective or intriguing question without providing an answer to provoke thought Structure: Rhetorical Question

10. Qualification

    Effect: Qualifying an argument or claim by indicating circumstances where an argument would not apply Structure: Sentences with subordinate clauses followed by a comma

11. Punctuation

12. Periods (.)

    Create a sense of finality signals the end of a thought

13. Question Mark (?)

    Provokes the reader to think, respond, or reflect

14. Exclamation point (!)

    Emphasizes an emotion creates excitement

15. Comma (,)

    Illustrates equality of ideas when used for coordination (balance) Indicated inequality or qualifcation when used for subordination Clarifies or describes Indicates a pause in thought

16. Semicolon (;)

    Indicates that connected clauses are closely related or equal

17. Colon (:)

    Clarifies or restates information from the prior clause Introduces examples or information

18. (Em) dash (--)

    Emphasizes an example or detail Creates anticipation Clarifies through exemplification Indicates a shift or interruption

19. Ellipses (...)

    Indicates omission Indicates passage of time

20. Parenthesis ()

    Provides extra information, clarifies Indicates an aside to connect with the audience