ELA Finals

Nonfiction

A genre of literature based on facts, actual events, or real people

Fiction

A genre of literature created from an authors imagination

Point of View

The perspective from which the story is told

1st person

The narrator is a person in the story, telling the story from their own point of view (I, me, my)

3rd person limited

Narrates a story from the perspective of a specific character (He, she, they)

3rd person omniscient

Where the narrator knows all the thoughts, actions. and feelings of all the characters

Mood

A long-lasting emotional state that is less intense and specific than on emotion

How does the author create mood?

By writing descriptive words and using imagery for the readers

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject of a work

How does connotation impact tone?

Emotions can lead the reader to understand the attitude the author has towards his/her subject

Setting

The time and place of a literary work

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

External conflict

Person vs. Person

Person vs. Nature

Person vs. Fate

Person vs. Society

Internal conflict

Person vs. self

Theme

The message about life or human nature that is conveyed by a literary work

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that the character does not. This could be for a humorous or suspenseful effect

Hyperbole

An exaggeration for emphasis or effect

Metaphor

Comparing two unlike things without using “like” or “as”

Personification

Giving animal or inaminate objects human qualities

Similie

Comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”

Hook

An opening statement (which is usually the first statement) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader’s attention to that they want to keep reading

Claim

A statement that is presented as a truth to support an argument

Opposing claim

An argument that directly contradicts the main claim or thesis statement of an argument

Reasons

The cause of an event or situation or something that provides an excuse or explanation

Explanation/Analysis

A statement about how or why something is the way it is

Parenthetical Citations

Gives credit in parentheses to a source that you’re quoting or paraphrasing

Fact

A thing that is known or proved to be true

Opinion

A belief or judgment that falls short of absolute conviction, certainty, or positive knowledge

Call to Action

An event or situation that prompts a character to take a specific action and embark as a journey or adventure

Pathos

When a writer uses words that appeal to emotions. Makes the audience feel emotion like anger or sadness

Logos

When a writer uses words that appeal to reason or logic. This device uses statistics or facts to prove a point

Ethos

When a writer uses words that appeal to credibility or authority. Makes the audience trust them. This could be celebrity endorsements.

Author’s Purpose

His reasons for or intent in writing (Persuade, Inform, or Entertain)

Medium

The way in which a piece of writing is delivered

Narrative

Telling a story using plot with characters, setting, dialogue, ect.

Compare/Contrast

Analyzes the simularities and differences between two or more subjects

Descriptive

Aims to create a vivid or detailed picture of a person, place, object, event, or experience in the readers mind

Know how to define a word based on it’s context

Reading the surrounding words and sentences to find clues about what the word might mean