ENG - 2026 General Notes

Clause

A basic unit of sentence structure which has a subject-verb pair, and may also include an object (but doesn't have to)

Connotation

The cultural, emotional associations we have with certain words, objects, etc.

Mood

The atmosphere/feeling created in the text and conveyed to the audience

Tone

The author's attitude to the text

Verb

An action OR state of being (includes is, am, were, was, are, etc.)

Independent Clause

A clause that works on its own, expresses a complete idea, and may have co-ordinating conjunctions within it

Co-ordinating Conjunction

A conjunction that connects two ideas of equal importance (FANBOYS)

Dependent Clause

A clause which has a subordinating conjunction, which makes the clause dependent on another clause for meaning, as it doesn't express one complete idea

First Reading of an Unfamiliar Text: Process

1. Read the title, contextual note, and question (Metadata)

2. Read the main text to look for main ideas/topics (Divide the body text into paragraphs)

Second Reading of an Unfamiliar Text

- Done for analysis

- Identify and annotate LF's

- Identify important word choices and their connotations

- Explain how LF's work together to contribute to the main ideas of the text

Conflict

Struggle/Challenge to overcome which drives a story

- Reveals and changes characters

- Essential to storytelling

Note

For the introduction to a UF Response, have a thesis statement (Q rephrased into A) and state key points

Sentences

- Simple Sentence = 1 clause

- Complex Sentence = 2+ clauses connected by subordinating conjunctions

- Compound sentences = 2+ clauses connected by co-ordinating conjunctions

- Compound-Complex Sentence = 3+ Clauses connected by both types of conjunctions

When Writing Figurative Language...

1. Identify what feeling or effect you want to create

2. Find something else that has the same feeling or quality that you want to bring out

3. Use together in writing

Irony

A contrast/contradiction between appearance and reality, expectation and outcome (dramatic irony), and what is said and what is meant (verbal irony)