English 100 Notes - Conversation, Textual Aids, Plot, Theme, Listening, and Expression

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes.

Debate

A competitive, two‑way conversation; the goal is to win an argument.

Dialogue

A cooperative, two‑way conversation; the goal is to share information and build relationships.

Discourse

A cooperative, one‑way conversation; the goal is to deliver information from speaker/writer to listeners/readers.

Diatribe

A competitive, one‑way conversation; the goal is to express emotions and browbeat or persuade those who disagree.

Active listener

An engaged listener who shows interest, responds, and asks questions to keep the conversation going.

Textual aids

Educational materials that provide support for understanding texts, often graphical outlines or images.

Graphic organizer

A visual display that helps organize information and show relationships between ideas.

Cause-and-effect

A relationship showing how one event (cause) produces another event (effect); used in organizers to link ideas.

Flow chart

A sequence diagram that shows the order of steps or events.

Venn diagram

A diagram used to identify similarities and differences between two or more items.

Plot

The organization of a work’s main events; a sequence of events that involves change and conflict.

Exposition

The part of a story that introduces characters and setting and establishes the main situation.

Rising action

The series of events leading to the climax, including development of the conflict.

Climax

The turning point or highest point of tension in the story.

Falling action

Events after the climax where conflicts begin to resolve and loose ends are tied up.

Resolution

The ending or conclusion of a story, where the outcome is explained.

Protagonist

The main character who faces the central conflict.

Antagonist

The character or force in conflict with the protagonist.

Static character

A character who remains the same throughout the story.

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes change throughout the story.

First‑person point of view

Telling the story from the narrator’s own perspective using I/we.

Third‑person limited

A narrator who is not a character and reveals only one character’s thoughts/feelings.

Third‑person omniscient

An all‑knowing narrator who can describe every character’s thoughts and feelings.

Theme

The central idea or message about life or humanity that the author conveys.

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces in a story, creating suspense and tension.

Character vs. Character

A conflict where two or more characters are in opposition.

Character vs. Nature

A conflict where characters contend with natural forces (e.g., storms, disease).

Character vs. Society

A conflict where characters oppose societal rules or norms.

Character vs. Self

An internal struggle within a character.

Marginal listening

Passive listening; hearing sounds but often not paying attention.

Attentive listening

Listening with focused attention and noting how points relate to main ideas.

Analytical/Critical listening

Evaluating truth of ideas and claims and deciding what to accept.

Appreciative listening

Listening for enjoyment or appreciation of sound, voice, or style.

Affirmation

Positive statements that express truth or support for a claim.

Affirmative expressions

Phrases that reinforce agreement, such as 'that’s right' or 'you are right'.

Adverbs of affirmation

Words like really, truly, certainly, undoubtedly used to strengthen affirmation.

Expressions of negation

Phrases used to deny or oppose a claim (e.g., 'Pardon me, but…', 'Maybe you’re right, but…').

Negative expressions

Words that negate or contradict (e.g., never, nobody, nothing).

Debate

A competitive, two‑way conversation; the goal is to win an argument.

Dialogue

A cooperative, two‑way conversation; the goal is to share information and build relationships.

Discourse

A cooperative, one‑way conversation; the goal is to deliver information from speaker/writer to listeners/readers.

Diatribe

A competitive, one‑way conversation; the goal is to express emotions and browbeat or persuade those who disagree.

Active listener

An engaged listener who shows interest, responds, and asks questions to keep the conversation going.

Textual aids

Educational materials that provide support for understanding texts, often graphical outlines or images.

Graphic organizer

A visual display that helps organize information and show relationships between ideas.

Cause-and-effect

A relationship showing how one event (cause) produces another event (effect); used in organizers to link ideas.

Flow chart

A sequence diagram that shows the order of steps or events.

Venn diagram

A diagram used to identify similarities and differences between two or more items.

Plot

The organization of a work’s main events; a sequence of events that involves change and conflict.

Exposition

The part of a story that introduces characters and setting and establishes the main situation.

Rising action

The series of events leading to the climax, including development of the conflict.

Climax

The turning point or highest point of tension in the story.

Falling action

Events after the climax where conflicts begin to resolve and loose ends are tied up.

Resolution

The ending or conclusion of a story, where the outcome is explained.

Protagonist

The main character who faces the central conflict.

Antagonist

The character or force in conflict with the protagonist.

Static character

A character who remains the same throughout the story.

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes change throughout the story.

First‑person point of view

Telling the story from the narrator’s own perspective using I/we.

Third‑person limited

A narrator who is not a character and reveals only one character’s thoughts/feelings.

Third‑person omniscient

An all‑knowing narrator who can describe every character’s thoughts and feelings.

Theme

The central idea or message about life or humanity that the author conveys.

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs.

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces in a story, creating suspense and tension.

Character vs. Character

A conflict where two or more characters are in opposition.

Character vs. Nature

A conflict where characters contend with natural forces (e.g., storms, disease).

Character vs. Society

A conflict where characters oppose societal rules or norms.

Character vs. Self

An internal struggle within a character.

Marginal listening

Passive listening; hearing sounds but often not paying attention.

Attentive listening

Listening with focused attention and noting how points relate to main ideas.

Analytical/Critical listening

Evaluating truth of ideas and claims and deciding what to accept.

Appreciative listening

Listening for enjoyment or appreciation of sound, voice, or style.

Affirmation

Positive statements that express truth or support for a claim.

Affirmative expressions

Phrases that reinforce agreement, such as 'that’s right' or 'you are right'.

Adverbs of affirmation

Words like really, truly, certainly, undoubtedly used to strengthen affirmation.

Expressions of negation

Phrases used to deny or oppose a claim (e.g., 'Pardon me, but…', 'Maybe you’re right, but…').

Negative expressions

Words that negate or contradict (e.g., never, nobody, nothing).

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'The cloud was shaped like a cotton ball').

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things, stating one thing is another (e.g., 'The classroom was a zoo').

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language, appealing to the five senses.

Symbolism

The use of objects, people, or ideas to represent something else beyond their literal meaning.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues given by the author about what will happen later in the story.

Irony

A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens, often used for emphasis or humor.