Cumulative Vocab Review: Lists 1-5

Verify

Make sure or demonstrate that something is true, accurate, or justified.

Cite

refer to a text as support (more useful when it includes the line number, page number, paragraph number, and/or author)

Negate

nullify; making ineffective

Evidence

facts or information used as support for whether a belief or proposition is true or valid

Inference

a logical assumption based on observed facts from the text and one’s own knowledge and/or experience

Advocate

to publicly support or recommend

Objection

the action of challenging or disagreeing with something

Contradict

to be in conflict with

Central idea

the thought or concept that is of the greatest importance in the text or portion of the text; it may be implied or stated (main point)

Setting

where the story takes place

Compose

to write or create

Determine

to figure out

Development

growing and becoming more mature, advanced, or elaborate

Emerge

to come into existence; become known

Essential

absolutely necessary; extremely important

Identify

recognize and name; point out

Paraphrase

put in your own words

Summary

a brief (short) statement that contains the essential ideas (most important points) of a longer passage

Topic

the central subject of the text

Objective not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; just facts

Plot

the pattern of events in a story (narrative) or drama/ play

Refine

to improve by making small changes/ make more precise

Shape

the act of providing more information on an idea, including establishing relevance/ context

Theme

unifying or dominant idea; lesson/ message

Stanza

one of the major divisions of a poem composed of two or more lines; paragraph of a poem

Complex

consisting of many different traits, issues, or motivations

Connotation

the emotions (positive or negative) that are associated with words

Denotation

the literal or primary meaning of a word (dictionary definition)

Tone

the author’s attitude toward the subject of the text

Mood

the emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader

Author’s purpose

the author’s reason for writing a text

Claim

an assertion of truth of something typically one that is disputed or in doubt

Structure

the arrangement of and relationship between the parts or elements

Advance

accomplish; to bring into consideration or notice; suggest; propose

Point of View

opinion, perspective, position

Mystery

anything that is kept a secret or remains unexplained or unknown

Tension

suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement

Surprise

to elicit or bring out suddenly or without warning

Compare

to note similarities

Contrast

to note differences

Rhetoric

the author’s use of language; persuasive speaking or writing

Emphasize

to lay stress upon; give special importance to

Argument

a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong

Predict

using evidence from a text to say what may happen next, what events may unfold or how a character may behave

Formulate

to express in precise form; to develop all the details of a plan for doing something

Evaluate

to decide the value or worth after study

Metaphor

a comparison between two things without using like or as

Simile

a comparison of two things using like or as

Hyperbole

deliberate exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or comic effect

Pun

a joke based on words with the same pronunciation, but different meanings; “play on words”