English II Academic Vocab

Conclude

To arrive at a final judgment or decision based on evidence

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning associated with a word

Convey

To communicate or express an idea or feeling

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word

Diction

An author's word choice

Effect

The result or outcome of an action

Emphasize

To give special importance to something

Excerpt

A short piece taken from a longer text

Explicit

Stated clearly and directly

Illustrate

To explain or clarify using examples of details

Mood

The emotional feeling created for the reader

Refine

To improve or make more precise

Reveal

To make something known or visible

Structure

The organization of a text

Style

The distinctive way an author writes

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Allusion

A reference to a well-known text, event or figure

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhymes in a poem

Dialect

A regional or social variation of language

Dialogue

Conversation between characters

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something characters do not

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to the senses

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Metaphor

A direct comparison between unlike things

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things

Shift

A change in tone, mood, perspective, or topic

Simile

A comparison using like or as

Symbol/Symbolism

Something that represents a deeper meaning

Theme

The central message or insight of a text

Science Fiction

A genre involving advanced science or technology

Utopia

A perfect or ideal society

Dystopia

A society marked by oppression or suffering

Fairy Tale

A fictional story with magical elements

Magical Realism

Realistic stories with magical elements treated as normal

Argument

A claim supported by evidence and reasoning

Bias

A personal preference or prejudice

Claim

A statement that can be argued or proven

Inform

To give facts or information

Counterargument

An opposing viewpoint to a claim

Main Idea

The most important point of a text

Persuade

To convince someone to believe or act

Hedonism

Belief that pleasure is the highest good

Humanism

Focus on human values and potential

Analyze

To examine closely and break into parts

Assess

To evaluate or judge

Authority

Credibility or expertise on a subject

Anthropomorphize

To give human traits to nonhuman things

Sound

How language creates rhythm or musical effects

Resistance

Opposition to control or injustice

Indifference

Lack of concern or interest

Community

A group of people sharing common traits

Allegory

A story with a deeper symbolic meaning

Bystander

One who observes but does not act

Upstander

One who takes action against injustice

Ballad

A narrative poem often meant to be sung

Enjambment

Continuation of a sentence beyond a line break

Free Verse

Poetry without consistent meter or rhyme

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds

Rhythm

The pattern of beats in writing

Stanza

A grouped set of lines in a poem

Verse

A line of poetry

Pun

Wordplay using multiple meanings

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about future events

Analogy

Comparison used to explain an idea

In Media Res

Beginning a story in the middle of action

Parallel Plot

Two storylines occurring simultaneously

Foil

A character who highlights another by contrast

Colloquialism

Informal, conversational language

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary for a field

Proverb

A short saying expressing wisdom

Vernacular

Everyday language of a group

Vignette

A brief descriptive scene

Flashback

Interruption of the present to show the past

Soliloquy

A character's speech expressing inner thoughts

Slang

Informal language used by a group

Euphemism

A mild term replacing a harsh one

Idiom

An expression with a nonliteral meaning

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas side by side

Paradox

A contradiction that reveals truth

Suspense

Tension created by uncertainty