ELA unit test oct 2026

Author's point of view

The author's attitude or approach toward a subject.

Weighted words

Strong, emotional words that influence how the reader feels about a subject.

Conjunction

A word that connects parts of a sentence and shows how ideas or events are related.

Coordinating conjunction

Connects words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Subordinating conjunction

Connects a dependent clause to a main (independent) clause. Examples: after, although, because, before, even though, so that, since, though, unless, until, when, where, while.

Adjective

A word that describes a noun or pronoun.

Coordinate adjectives

Adjectives that describe a noun equally. Put a comma between them. Example: a kind, cheerful friend

Cumulative adjectives

Adjectives that build on one another to describe a noun. Do not put commas between them. Example: three small pink flowers

Adverb

Describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It can tell how, when, where, how often, or to what extent.

Symbol

A person, animal, object, place, or situation that represents something else, often an abstract idea. Example: a dove can symbolize peace.

Suffix: -ity

Means a state, quality, or condition. Example: individuality means the quality of being an individual.

Central idea

The main point or message of a text. Supporting details explain and develop it.

Suffix: -ment

Can mean an action, process, or the result of an action. Example: government relates to the act or process of governing.

Characterization

The process a writer uses to develop a character and reveal the character's traits.

Direct characterization

The author directly states a character's traits. Example: Kendall was brave.

Indirect characterization

The author shows a character's traits through words, thoughts, actions, appearance, and other characters' responses.

Connotation

The feeling or association that goes with a word, beyond its dictionary meaning. Example: home can suggest warmth and comfort.

Denotation

The exact, literal dictionary definition of a word.

Memoir

A type of nonfiction autobiographical writing in which an author tells about experiences from his or her own life.

First-person point of view

The narrator is involved in the events and uses words such as I, me, my, we, and our.

Independent clause

A group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence. Example: I finished my homework.

Dependent clause

A group of words with a subject and verb that does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. Example: because I finished my homework

Theme

A story's message about life or human nature, often a lesson the author wants the reader to understand.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.

Repetition

The repeated use of a sound, word, image, phrase, sentence, rhyme, or rhythm for emphasis or effect.