Freshman Honors English Semester 1 Exam Study Guide

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards created for the Freshman Honors English Semester 1 Exam, covering key terms, definitions, and concepts.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in writing.

Cohesion

The quality of being logical and consistent; the way sentences and paragraphs connect.

MLA Format

A standard style of formatting academic papers, including title, headings, and citations.

Header

The section at the top of each page that typically includes the page number and author's last name in MLA format.

Spacing

The amount of space between lines of text and margins in a document.

Plagiarism

The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as your own.

Thesis

A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be proved in an essay.

Topic Sentence

A sentence that outlines the main idea of a paragraph.

Transition

Words or phrases that connect ideas in writing to improve flow.

Closing Sentence

A sentence that summarizes or concludes the main idea of a paragraph.

Thesis Restated

A restatement of the thesis in the conclusion paragraph of an essay.

In-text Citation

A citation that appears in the body of an academic work, referencing its source.

Dropped Quote

A quote that is presented without an introduction; considered improper.

Act (etymology)

A root meaning 'to do, to drive'.

Aero (etymology)

A root relating to air or gas.

Ambul (etymology)

A root meaning 'to walk'.

Andr (etymology)

A root meaning 'man' or 'male'.

Ann/enn (etymology)

Roots that refer to 'year'.

Aqua (etymology)

A root meaning 'water'.

Art (etymology)

A root relating to skill or craft.

Aud (etymology)

A root that pertains to hearing.

Biblio (etymology)

A root meaning 'book'.

Bio (etymology)

A root meaning 'life'.

Cardi (etymology)

A root related to the heart.

Centr (etymology)

A root meaning 'center'.

Chron (etymology)

A root meaning 'time'.

Cogn (etymology)

A root meaning 'to know'.

Corp (etymology)

A root meaning 'body'.

Cred (etymology)

A root meaning 'to believe'.

Homo (etymology)

A root meaning 'same' or 'similar'.

Phob (etymology)

A root meaning 'fear'.

Ceive/cept (etymology)

A root meaning 'to take' or 'to seize'.

Luc (etymology)

A root meaning 'light'.

Luna (etymology)

A root meaning 'moon'.

Mania (etymology)

A root meaning 'madness' or 'obsession'.

Morph (etymology)

A root meaning 'form'.

Aerophobia (etymology)

An excessive fear of flying.

Xenophobia (etymology)

Fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange.

Claustrophobia (etymology)

Fear of confined or enclosed spaces.

Agoraphobia (etymology)

Fear of open spaces or crowded places.

Acrophobia (etymology)

Fear of heights.

Annotation

A note of explanation or comment added to a text.

Socratic Seminar

A method of teaching in which students engage in dialogue about a text.

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs.

Thematic Statement

A statement that expresses the underlying theme of a piece of writing.

Direct Characterization

The author explicitly describes a character's traits.

Indirect Characterization

The author reveals a character's traits through their actions, thoughts, and interactions.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story.

Genre

A category of literature defined by similarities in form or style.

Symbol

An object, character, figure, or color used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in a story.

Protagonist

The main character in a story, often facing conflict.

Antagonist

A character who opposes the protagonist.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

External Conflict

Conflict between a character and an outside force.

Internal Conflict

Conflict within a character.

Motif

A recurring theme or idea in a literary work.

Tragedy

A dramatic work that presents the downfall of a character.

Tragic Hero

A protagonist who experiences a downfall due to a tragic flaw.

Tragic Flaw

A character trait that leads to the protagonist's downfall.

Monologue

A long speech by one character in a play or story.

Dialogue

Conversation between characters.

Pun

A play on words, often for humorous effect.

Peripeteia

A sudden change in fortune or circumstance in a play.

Epeisodion

A section of a Greek play where actors perform.

Stasimon

A choral ode in a Greek tragedy.

Archetype

A typical example of a person or thing, often serving as a model.

Novella

A short novel or a long short story.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence.

Author's Purpose

The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain.

Non-fiction

Prose writing that is based on facts.

Tone

The attitude of a writer toward a subject or audience.

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.

Apostrophe (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to indicate possession or omitted letters.

Comma (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence.

Semicolon (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to connect closely related ideas.

Colon (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to introduce a list or explanation.

Dash (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to indicate a break in thought or sentence.

Hyphen (punctuation)

A punctuation mark used to join words or separate syllables.

Italic (punctuation)

Slanting text used to emphasize words or indicate titles.

Parentheses (punctuation)

Punctuation marks used to enclose information that is not essential.

Ellipsis (punctuation)

A series of three dots indicating omitted text.

Sic (punctuation)

An indication that the quoted text is being reproduced exactly as it appeared.

Stickler (punctuation)

A person who insists on a strict observance of rules.

Characters (in literature)

The individuals that populate a story.

Characters in 'Two Old Women'

Identify specific characters and their roles in the plot.

Plot in 'Two Old Women'

The narrative structure and key events in the story.survival

Setting in 'Two Old Women'

The time and place where the story occurs.

Symbols in 'Two Old Women'

Objects or elements in the story that represent larger themes.

Thematic statements in 'Two Old Women'

Underlying messages conveyed through the narrative.

Characters in 'Oedipus Rex'

Identify specific characters and their roles in the play.

Plot in 'Oedipus Rex'

The narrative structure and key events in the play.

Setting in 'Oedipus Rex'

The time and place where the play occurs.

Theme in 'Oedipus Rex'

The central ideas explored in the play.

Motif in 'Oedipus Rex'

Recurring themes or concepts in the narrative.

Significance of monologues in 'Oedipus Rex'

The importance of long speeches for character development.

Oedipus' main flaws

The character traits leading to his downfall.

Dramatic irony in 'Oedipus Rex'

Situations where the audience knows more than the characters.

Peripeteia in 'Oedipus Rex'

A reversal of fortune experienced by the protagonist.

Epeisodion in 'Oedipus Rex'

The segment of the play featuring dialogue between characters.