7th Grade STAAR Vocabulary

point of view

the perspective from which the events in a story, poem, or play are told

provide

give

key idea

important idea

mood

the way the author makes the reader feel through certain words or details

contribute to

help create

conflict

the main problem in a story, poem, or play

personification

when the author gives human qualities to an object, animal, or idea

theme

the central idea, message, or moral of a story, poem, or play

hints at

suggests

whether

if

stanza

a group of lines in a poem

chronologically

in order according to time

contrast

to find differences between things

significant

important

compare-and-contrast structure

an organizational pattern that shows similarities and differences between two or more people, places, events, or ideas

effective

achieving a desired goal or result

infer

conclude

reveal

show

scene

a division of an act in a play

stage directions

instructions for actors and stage crew, usually set in italics

resolution

way the problem in the story, poem, or play is solved

emphasize

give special attention to something

descriptive organizational structure

an organizational structure that describes people, places, events, or ideas

cause-and-effect organizational structure

an organizational structure that tells why something happens

advantage-and-disadvantage organizational structure

an organizational structure that discusses the positives and negatives

chronological organizational structure

an organizational structure that discusses the events in the order in which they should occur

illustrate

show

detail

give details about

indicate

show

falling action

the part of the story, poem, or play after the climax but before the ending

convey

communicate

reveal

tell

rising action

the part of the story, poem, or play before the climax

indicate

show

playwright

person who wrote the play

develop

create

intended

planned

primarily

mainly

demonstrate

show

simile

a comparison of two things that are not alike using the words like or as

imagery

when the author uses details and descriptions that appeal to the reader's senses

exhibit

show

presented

described

relate

explain

visualize

imagine

dialogue

conversation between characters

interaction

relationship

organized

the structure of a passage or section of a passage

diagram

a drawing intended to explain how something works

claim

the writer's position on an issue or problem

sensory language

writing that appeals to one or more of the senses

inform

tell

speaker

the narrator of a poem

contribute

give

argument

the writer's position on a topic

setting

where and when the story takes place