English and Writing Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards based on lecture notes about English grammar, theme in literature, point of view, characterization, conflict, sentence structure, thesis statements, topic sentences and poetry.

What is a noun?

Person, place, or thing.

What is a verb?

An action.

What is an adjective?

A describing word.

What is an adverb?

A word describing a verb.

What is a pronoun?

A replacement for a noun (he, she, them, we).

What is an interjection?

An exclamation (Oh! Ouch! Yay! Hooray!).

What are conjunctions and prepositions?

Words that connect (Above, over, under, across) (and, of, because).

When should you use commas?

To connect, introduce, and interrupt. Use 'and' by itself to connect 2 items. Use 'and,' for 3 or more items.

What is the theme of a story?

The main idea or underlying meaning of a story; the message the author wants to convey to the reader.

How can you identify the theme of a story?

Look for repeated ideas or symbols, consider the characters' actions and choices, think about the title and how it relates to the story, and reflect on what the main character learns.

What are some common themes in literature?

Coming of age, good vs. evil, the power of friendship, overcoming obstacles, and the importance of family.

What is a theme?

The overall message or lesson; often unstated and requires interpretation.

What is the main idea?

Often stated in the story.

What is point of view?

The way the author chooses to tell the story; the voice and scope of the narrator.

What is 1st person point of view?

The narrator is a character in the story and tells the story using the pronoun 'I'. Key Words: I, We, Mine, My.

What is 3rd person limited point of view?

The narrator describes the thoughts and feelings of one character, usually the main character.

What is 3rd person omniscient point of view?

The narrator knows and reveals the internal thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all the characters.

What is direct characterization?

The author directly tells you about a character.

What is indirect characterization?

The author shows what a character is like through their actions, thoughts, and dialogue.

Who is the protagonist?

The main character of the story; usually the 'hero' or who we root for.

Who is the antagonist?

Opposes the protagonist and creates conflict in the story.

What is a static character?

A character that does not change throughout the story; their personality, beliefs, and attitudes don’t change.

What is a dynamic character?

A character that changes during the story; their personality, beliefs, or attitudes are different by the end.

What is conflict?

A struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions. Without conflict there is no plot!

What is internal conflict?

A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions WITHIN a single character. Aka: Character vs. self.

What is external conflict?

Struggle between a character and an outside force. Aka: Character vs. Character, Character vs. Nature, Character vs. Society, Character vs. Technology, Character vs. The Supernatural.

What is Character vs. Character conflict?

A character struggles with another character. This could be physical, mental, verbal, or emotional.

What is Character vs. Nature conflict?

A character struggles with a force of nature (natural disaster, devastation, animal, etc.). Usually the character is struggling to survive.

What is Character vs. Society conflict?

A character or group of characters fight against the society in which they live. The character fights against social traditions or rules.

What is Character vs. Technology conflict?

A character struggles with machines or technology. Stories with this type of conflict are usually Sci-fi stories.

What is Character vs. the Supernatural conflict?

A character struggles with supernatural elements (gods, ghosts, monsters, spirits, aliens, etc.).

What are the parts of a simple sentence?

One independent clause, a subject and predicate, and expresses a complete thought.

What is a declarative sentence?

Makes a statement.

What is an interrogative sentence?

Asks a question.

What is an imperative sentence?

Gives a command.

What is an exclamatory sentence?

Expresses a strong emotion.

What do adjectives do?

Describes nouns.

What do adverbs do?

Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

What is an independent clause?

An independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence.

What is a dependent clause?

Dependent clauses are not complete sentences and cannot stand on their own.

What is a complex sentence?

One independent clause and at least one dependent clause, connected by a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.

Why should you use complex sentences?

That they add variety to your writing, show relationships between ideas, emphasize important information, and make your writing more interesting.

What is a compound sentence?

Combines two or more independent clauses; each clause can stand alone as a complete sentence; joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.

What does FANBOYS stand for?

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

When are semicolons used in compound sentences?

To join two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

What is a thesis statement?

Your main idea for the whole essay; tells readers what your paper is about; usually appears at the end of your first paragraph; makes a specific claim or point about your topic.

What are the parts of a good thesis statement?

Takes a clear position or makes a claim, is specific and focused, and uses clear language that 6th graders understand.

What is a topic sentence?

The first sentence of each body paragraph; like a mini-thesis for your paragraph; tells readers what the paragraph will discuss; connects back to your thesis statement.

What is poetry?

The artistic expression of how people see the world around them.

What is a line in poetry?

A row of words in a poem.

What is a stanza in poetry?

A group of lines in a poem; a verse of a poem.

What is rhyme scheme in poetry?

Rhyme pattern in a poem; marked with letters. Each rhyme is assigned a letter.

What is rhyme?

Repetition of similar or identical sounds.

What is end rhyme?

The last word on each line rhymes.

What is repitition?

Repeating words or phrases to emphasize ideas and/or emotions; creates a sense of rhythm.

In text structure what does Compare mean?

Same.

In text structure what does Contrast mean?

Different.