MCAS Vocab Review

Narrative

Story/Passage/Text

expository

Informational/Nonfiction/Passage/Text

Literary devices (figurative language)

simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbol

Poetry

A type of literature that expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a story in a specific form (usually using lines and stanzas) imagery, sensory details, symbolism

Characteristics

A distinguishing feature or quality; character traits

point of view (perspective)

1st, 2nd, 3rd person (the vantage point the story is told from)

Dialogue

Conversation between characters

Plot

Sequence of events in a story

Setting

The time and place of a story

Theme

the OVERALL MESSAGE of a piece of writing
(bravery, broken dreams, friendship, family, perseverance, love)

Note:
Theme/central message are often used for narrative/fiction

Main idea/central idea are more commonly associated with expository/nonfiction text

conflict

A struggle between opposing forces. Man vs. Man, Man vs. society, Man vs. himself and Man vs. nature.

internal conflict

A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character (man vs. self)

external conflict

struggle between a literary or dramatic character and an outside force such as nature or another character, which drives the dramatic action of the plot

reading selections

(synonyms)
Excerpt
Article
Passage
Selection
Text

Analyze

text-based; often used when students are asked to pull supporting evidence/details from the text using direct quotes

Summarize

give a brief statement of the main points of (something).

who, what, when, where, why

Compare

Finding similarities

*discuss BOTH similarities and differences when it is used alone (without "contrast")

Contrast

Find differences

Evaluate

to assess, judge, or examine

Cite

the act of taking a quote/ repeating exact words

Determine/Conclude

to conclude; arrive at an idea or answer

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

author's purpose

The reason the author has for writing. ( Inform, persuade, & entertain)

Topic

what the text is about

Mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Essay Writing

THESE ARE TEXT-BASED AND TYPICALLY ASK STUDENTS TO ANALYZE OR EXPLAIN...

Ex. "Write an essay that explains how two texts help the reader to understand a theme common to both; use information from both texts to support your explanation."

Narrative Writing

THESE ARE CATEGORIZED AS NARRATIVE AND ASK STUDENTS TO CREATE...

Ex. "Write a narrative that continues the story, including supporting details* from the story."

Ex. "Write a narrative from another character's point of view."