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Inference

To come to a reasonable conclusion based on evidence found in the text

Theme

Lesson or message in a story (Ex: Importance of friendship)

Plot

The series of events that form a story in a specific order

Exposition

Plot element - the beginning of a story in which setting and characters are introduced

Rising Action

Plot element - main conflict is introduced as the story gets interesting

Climax

Plot element - the turning point of a story

Falling Action

Plot element - conflict begins to get resolved

Resolution

Plot element - the very end of a story

Simile

make comparisons

using a linking word such as "like" or "as" (Ex: Her eyes shone like the stars.")

Metaphor

make a comparison without a linking word; instead of being like another, one thing is another (Ex: "Her eyes were shining stars.")

Alliteration

The use of the same sound to start several words in a row (Ex: The beautiful butterfly blew by the bay.)

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told--depends on who the narrator is and how much he/she knows

1st Person Point of View

The narrator is a character in the story (Ex: I went to the store.)

2nd Person Point of View

The narrator talks directly to the reader (Ex: You went to the store)

3rd Person Limited Point of View

The narrator is outside the story and only know the thoughts / feelings of one character (Ex: She was upset when she went to the store.)

3rd Person Omniscient Point of View

The narrator is outside the story and knows the thoughts / feelings of more than one character (Ex: They were upset when they went to the store.)

Genre

A genre is a category of passages, such as fiction and nonfiction. Each genre has a particular style, form, and content.

Summary

A summary is an overview of a text that captures the main points but does not give all of the details and does not include opinions.

Organization

The way in which a piece of writing is structured.

Text Structures

Organizational structures such as chronological order, sequential order, cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast, order of importance, spatial order, etc.

Author's Purpose

The author's intention for his or her piece. (Ex: to persuade, inform, explain, or entertain)

Author's Point of View

The opinion of the author. Your opinion may differ from the opinion of the author of a passage.

Evidence

Something that proves or demonstrates the truth of something else; reasons given to support author's claims

Fact

A statement that can be proven

Opinion

A statement that cannot be proven because it states a writer's belief or judgement about something

Chronological Order

Text Structure - author presents the order in which a series of events happened

Cause and Effect

Text Structure - author presents one thing happening as a result of another

Problem and Solution

Text Structure - author presents an issue and one or more ways to solve it

Compare and Contrast

Text Structure - author presents the similarities and differences between two things

Description

Text Structure - author presents facts/details about a single topic

Informational/Expository/Explanatory Text

forms of writing that inform the reader or explain something

Introduction

The beginning of a piece of writing -- sets up the main idea and may include a thesis statement

Conclusion

The end of a piece of writing -- sums up the main idea and provides an overall message to the reader

Formatting

Text feature that organize a piece of writing and present information in a clear way -- may include headings and subheadings

Writing Process

drafting, editing, proofreading

Claims

Ideas or opinions set forth by an author

Tone

The author's attitude toward his/her subject

Mood

The feeling creating by a piece of writing

Bias

When an author only one side of the facts, appeals to strongly to emotions, or unfairly addresses a topic

Relevant

the facts, details, or other information within a text must be related to the topic

Assonance

use of words with repetition of similar vowel sounds but are NOT rhyming words. Examples are 'cake' and 'lane' OR 'eat' and 'eel'

Pun

a word or phrase with more than one meaning that is used in a funny way.

Cohesion

refers to the flow of sentences and paragraphs from one to another.

Incident

something that occurs in a story and reveals aspects of characters, advance of plot, or provoke a decision in a story.

Claim

the main argument made by the author.

Objective Summary

a summary free from opinions or bias.

Credible/Credibility

believable; reliable; when a writer uses evidence and facts from the source to support his or her reasoning to persuade

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

Connotative/Connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests; the feeling the word gives you

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

Hyperbole

an exaggeration or overstatement

Idiom

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Metaphor

A comparison of two unlike things without using like or as.