English 1 Vocabulary

Non‐Linear Plot Development

(flashback, foreshadowing, sub‐plots, parallel plot structures)

Critique

A detailed review; an evaluation

Clarity

Clear understanding

Reciprocal Pronouns

Each other, one another

Figurative Language

Language that is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense.

Linguistic

Pertaining to the use of language.

Fiction

Prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events.

Literary Non‐fiction

Text that includes literary elements and devices usually associated with fiction to report on actual persons, places, or events.

Denotative

The dictionary meaning of a word

Credibility

The quality of being believable or trustworthy.

Author's Purpose

The reason the author wrote a literary work, or shared information, events, motivations, etc. inside a literary work.

Thesis

The theme, meaning, or position that a writer undertakes to prove or support.

Demonstrate

To clearly explain, show or prove with examples, models, or experiments; to gather in public to support an opinion or cause

Sentence Variety

Using a variety of sentence patterns to create a desired effect.

Summary

a briefstatement that presents the main points in a concise form

Argument

a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

Sarcasm

a form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical

Affix

a linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form

Opinion

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

Specific Audience

a single person or group whose point of view is the same

Myth

a traditional story; in some cultures, a legend that explains people's beliefs

Paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth

Viewpoint

an attitude of mind, or the circumstances of an individual that conduce to such an attitude

Dramatic Conventions

any traditional or customary method of a specific genre

Foil

anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities

Theme

central message of a story

Synthesize

combine so as to form a more complex, product

Analyze

consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

Evaluate

examine and judge carefully

Expository

explanatory; serving to explain

Convey

how the author gets the point across

Rhetorical Devices

literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression/meaning/purpose

Inference

logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

Perspective

one way of looking at things

Transitions

passage from one subject to another

Elements of the Writing Process

planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing

Relevance

relation to the matter at hand

Textual Evidence

specific details or facts found in text that support what is inferred

Monologue

speech by one character

Soliloquies

speeches in which one actor speaks aloud revealing his or her inner thoughts

Elements of Poetry

stanzas; couplets; quatrains; metaphor; simile; personification; imagery; rhythm/meter; rhyme; alliteration; repetition

Etymology

study of word origins

Connotation

suggested or implied meaning of an expression

Textual evidence

supporting a statement with information from text

Poetry

the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.

Diction

the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning

Main Idea(s)

the central purpose of a passage; the primary message expressed by a passage

Imagery

the descriptive or figurative language used in literature to create mental pictures for the reader

Resolution

the falling action of a narrative; the events following the climax

Medium

the literary form an author chooses to use for communicating his/her message

Drama

the literary genre of works intended for the theater

Irony

the opposite of what is expected

Point of View

the perspective from which the story is told

Tone

the quality of a piece of writing that reveals the attitude of the author

Purpose

the specific reason a person has for writing: the goal of writing

Punctuation

the use of standard marks and signs in writing

Reflect

think carefully; meditate; contemplate

Revise drafts

to alter something already written or printed, in order to make corrections, improve, or update

Relate

to be connected in a certain way

Derived

to receive or obtain from a source or origin

Differentiate

to see the difference; to distinguish

Genre

type or category of literary work (e.g., poetry, essay, short story, novel, drama)

Persuasive

used to convice the reader of the writer's point of view

Graphics

visual illustrations or photographs in text

Dramatic Irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

Sensory Language

writing or speech that appeals to one or more of the five senses