ELA Standards Key Terms

setting

time, location, and social situation

foreshadow

Clues in a story that suggest later events

dialogue

Conversation between characters

analysis

a detailed examination of the components of a subject to understand its meaning and/or nature as a whole

compare

In a general sense, this is to measure or note the similarities and differences between or among objects, people, etc.; however, when used together with contrast, this refers to the highlighting of the ways in which two or more objects, people, etc. are alike or similar.

inference

a conclusion derived from logical reasoning following an investigation of available evidence

poem

a literary work, generally composed in verse and using figurative language, typically composed using a set structure (i.e., organizational rules)

point of view

a narrator's, writer's, or speaker's position with regard to the events of a narrative; one's stance on events or information given his/her orientation (physically and/or mentally) to the events or information; the vantage point from which one relates the events of a story or makes an argument

perspective

a particular attitude or way of considering a matter.

event

a thing that happens; an occurrence

text

anything that students can read, write, view, listen to, or explore, including books, photographs, films, articles, music, art, and more

textual evidence

evidence found within a particular text used to support or explain conclusions, opinions, and/or assertions about the text itself

explicit, explicitly

stated clearly and directly, leaving no room for confusion or interpretation

tone

the attitude an author takes toward the subject or topic of a text, generally revealed through word choice, perspective, or point of view

purpose

the reason for a particular action or creation (e.g., literary work or speech); the reason for which something exists (e.g., to persuade, to inform, to express, and/or to entertain)

theme

the subject or underlying meaning that a literary text directly or indirectly explains, develops, and/or explores

central idea

the unifying concept within an informational text to which other elements and ideas relate