Sawyers ELA Word to Know REALLY WELL
Tone
*writer-centered* the attitude a writer takes towards the subject or the reader; the author's use of this impacts or effects the mood created in the story
Text Structure or Organizational Patterns
The author's method of organizing or structuring a text. If information or stories are not presented in a logical order, they make no sense to the person reading it and the message it lost, which is why authors use them when they write. You do it too when you write, even if you don't think about it. There are five main types: description, cause/effect, problem/solution, compare/contrast, sequence/order of importance. The sixth is proposition and support, which is really just persuasive text.
Idiom
a silly statement that has a different meaning than what it literally says; a "mama-ism"; for example: He got cold feet. Use context clues to help you interpret the meaning when you are unsure.
Dialect & Why Authors Use Them
can be thought of my the speaker or character's accent in the work of literature; authors generally use them to 1.)tell the reader something about the character, like where he is from, 2.)to help the reader place the historical or cultural setting of the text, and 3.) to make the story seem more authentic or real to the time period
Genres
different types of literature, the word used when you want to know what category the book falls under (aka: fiction, expository, persuasive, literary nonfiction, poetry, etc.)
Suffix
one or more sounds or letters placed after the root or base word. It changes the spelling of the word, but not the meaning. Ex. Run + ing = running
Prefix
one or more sounds or letters placed before the root or base word. It changes the meaning, but not the spelling. Ex. Pre + write = prewrite
Fact
something that can be proven true, it supports an idea an author has in a logical manner, if they are stated in a paragraph they are NOT the main idea, but supporting details
Antagonist
the character or force in conflict with the protagonist (could be nature, society, another character, or even himself)
Setting
the time and place of a story
Author's Purpose:
The reason the author is sharing the information. All text will generally fall into one of five categories: PIEED (Persuade the reader, Inform the reader, entertain the reader, explain something to the reader, or describe/share something with the reader) While the text you read will fall into one of these categories, the answer choices may use different verb-synonyms as choices. For examples, the answer choices mah not say " to persuade the reader". Instead, it may say "to convince the reader". Lin=kewise, instead of "to inform the reader", the test may use the verb "to show the reader". You need to pay attention to the verbs and narrow down the choices. Then, apply the choices you have narrowed it down the information in the text and select your best choice.
Informal Voice & Why Authors Use Them
This type of voice maintains the casual, colloquial style of Conversational Voice but depersonalizes the narrator. Most writers use this type of voice to draw a reader in without creating an intimate relationship with the narrator. This can be done from the First, Second, or Third Person POV and serves to invite the reader into the world of the story.
Casual or Conversational Voice & Why Authors Use Them
Writers often use this type of voice to quickly establish a relationship between the narrator and reader. Conversational Voice gives the reader the impression that someone is speaking directly to him or to another character. Usually, with Conversational Voice, the narrator employs common, dressed-down language to communicate easily and freely, as if chatting with a friend.
Formal Voice & Why Authors Use Them
Writers use Formal Voice, a highly literary style, to set off the events in a story from commonplace or everyday events. The effect of Formal Voice is to make what transpires in a story seem special. It also gives writers a chance to flex their muscles and use words that rarely find their way into common speech. Formal Voice can be distancing for the reader. It can also be poetic.
Sensory Imagery
a writer's use of words which connect to a reader's sense of sight, touch, taste, smell, or hearing in order to create an image in the reader's mind so they can better understand the character, setting, plot, or theme
Support
the word means to strengthen; to uphold or maintain as a foundation; When you see it: think about what part of the text helped you figure out what needed explaining OR made the author's words more believable and look for those items in your answer choices. This will usually be a detail, which is stated in the text, that can be found within the text, under the statement which you are asked to support.
Emphasize or Emphasis
this means to stress the importance of; when authors want to let the reader know something is important they do this to their message, one common way to do this would be to repeat it, like when they use a refrain in poetry
Exaggeration
to enlarge a fact beyond what is actual or true or to be dramatic about a topic, it helps the reader understand the tone, mood, purpose, character, or plot
Synthesize
to form a conclusion by combining all parts
Reveal
to make known or show; think about this: "What did the author tell you?"
Paraphrase
to simplify or shorten something in your own words
Falling Action
events that follow the climax and lead to the resolution conflicts begin moving towards resolution
Denouement, Resolution, or Conclusion
the end of the story loose ends of the plot are tied up the remaining questions are answered here for the reader conflicts are resolved
Inciting Incident
the event that sets the story in motion makes the rest of the story possible
Exposition
the first part of the plot characters, setting, and basic situation are revealed
Rising Action
the main part of the story moves the plot along where complications arise
Mood
*reader-centered* the overall feeling or atmosphere created by a work of literature (influenced by the setting); the general atmosphere created by the author's words; how the reader feels because of what the writer says
External Conflict
*takes place between a character and something outside the character *outside forces = nature, an event/situation, or another character
Internal Conflict
*takes place inside a character's mind or heart *sometimes involves a decision
Magic Helper
A stylistic element used by authors (usually in traditional literature) to move the plot along and get a character out of trouble
Compare & Contrast
A text structure or organizational pattern used in writing by authors by placing together characters, situations, or ideas to show common or differing features in literary selections. Key Words to identify it are: however, on the other hand, but, yet, nevertheless, on the contrary (for contrast aka differences) and both, in the same way, while, similarly, as, also, like, likewise (for compare aka similarities)
Sequence or Order of Importance
A text structure or organizational pattern used in writing by authors where the author presents information in the order in which events take place or by their importance. Sequences are told through dates, times, or numbers. Processes are explained through steps or stages. Key Words to identify it are: first, second, later, next, as soon as, after, then, finally, meanwhile, last, during, when, by the time, over time, until, step, stage, method, procedure, how to
Problem & Solution
A text structure or organizational pattern used in writing by authors where the author typically presents a problem and possible solutions to it. Key Words to identify it are: problem, solution, because, cause, since, as a result, in order to, so that
Cause & Effect
A text structure or organizational pattern used in writing by authors. Causes stem from actions and events, and effects are what happen as a result of the action or event. Key Words to identify it are: accordingly, affect, as a result, and, because, consequently, hence, in short, may be due to, reasons, results, then, therefore, thus
Rule of Three
An element of style use by authors (usually in traditional literature) to increase the tension in the story and move the plot along; it builds the suspense
Modest
to be humble, free from showy or extravagance, this is a trait or quality used to describe a character that is conservative or humble
Description
This structure presents the causal relationship between a specific event, idea, or concept and the events, ideas, or concept that follow. Sometimes authors will give a definition is given to explain a new, difficult, or special term, which will clue you in that they are describing. Key Words to identify it are: consists of, is a term that, involves, is called, is characterized by, that is, occurs when, exists when, are those that, entails, means, for example, such as, for instance, for example, to illustrate, *Look for the topic word (or a synonym or pronoun) to be repeated Example: Repression is the mind's power to block fearful thoughts, impulses, and memories. For example, a person may repress or forget painful childhood memories. (Note: In the first sentence, the definition of repression is given. The second sentence provides an example of repression to help you better understand the meaning.)
Onomatopoeia
Words that create sounds and carry meaning; they sound like they are spelt and convey a meaning that would be harder to describe than to use the sound. Examples: boom, clap, bang It is used primarily because describing sounds with words can be difficult for an author. For example, if an author is writing a story and someone fires a gun, they are faced with the problem of explaining to the reader how the gun sounded. An author could choose to say the gun sounded loud, but that does nothing to give the reader a better picture of the action. Instead, the author could use simile or metaphors like, "the gun sounded like thunder," to describe the action, but for more variety and for a more efficient way to provide an image, he could make use of onomatopoeia. For example, instead of using a simile comparing the gun to thunder, the author could say that the gun made a "bang." The word "bang" mimics the sound a gun produces, providing an instant, unmistakable auditory image in the reader's mind. They are used to help readers create images and keep them entertained.
Simile
a comparison of two unlike things using like or as; she is as pretty as a flower or he is as tall as a giraffe
Dialogue
a conversation between two or more characters in a text; it is where quotation marks are used in writing to show someone is speaking to another character
Intention
a plan, a purpose, or a goal someone wishes to achieve; authors have a purpose when they write and this word is used to ask you what the author's purpose is when they write - you should
Reaction
a response to an action (otherwise known as the effect to a cause)
Conflict or Problem
a struggle between opposing forces or characters; *without conflict, a story would be boring! *a story can have several conflicts *the main conflict is central to the plot and is usually resolved by the resolution *the main conflict is started by the initial incident that sets the story into motion There are two main types of conflict: external & internal, which are broken down into four different types of conflict: Man vs. Self (internal) *a struggle between a character and his feelings, conscience, or fear Man vs. Man (external) *a struggle, mental or physical, between two characters *other characters may be the antagonist Man vs. Nature (external) *a struggle between a character and mother nature *mother nature = weather, animals, insects, sickness, epidemics Man vs. Society (external) *a struggle between a character and the laws or beliefs of a group *could involve poverty, politics, social norms, expectations, or values
Hyperbole
an extreme exaggeration For example: my mother exploded in anger or it took him forever to get back to me. These exaggerations are an example of this type of figurative language if they cannot actually be true, which is what makes them "extreme". For instance, in the example "my mother exploded in anger", the mother did not actually explode, nor do people really explode from getting mad or upset. It cannot actually happen, which is what makes it a hyperbole. YOU MUST ALSO KNOW WHY IT IS USED ON STAAR ALSO AND BE ABLE TO READ AND DECIDE WHICH WAY THE AUTHOR IS APPLYING IT TO THE PARTICULAR STORY YOU ARE WORKING WITH. Answers: Writers often use them to add humor to their writing, using them makes it more entertaining to read, and, more frequently, they are used to stress the emotions being felt by the speaker or characters so the reader is better able to understand what the author is trying to convey in the passage
Personification
non-human things are given human qualities; for example: the flowers reached across the table or the book spoke to me YOU MUST ALSO KNOW WHY IT IS USED ON STAAR ALSO AND BE ABLE TO READ AND DECIDE WHICH WAY THE AUTHOR IS APPLYING IT TO THE PARTICULAR STORY YOU ARE WORKING WITH. Answers: Human-like qualities in objects allow readers to better envision what is going on in the story. If an author says, "The pages in the book spoke directly to John with their heartfelt words," the reader may better envision John experiencing an emotional reaction as he reads. It is also more entertained. Additionally, he better understands the message and information the author is presenting or sharing with the reader.
Text Features
parts of the text that draw your attention to something important in the text; examples would include: captions, table of contents, glossary, photographs, bold or italic words, titles, subheadings Why do author's use them? Print features help the reader pay attention to important words. Graphic aids help the reader visualize or make pictures in his/her mind. Informational aids help the reader understand new or important information. Organizational aids help the reader find information or connect the ideas.
Complications
problems that arise as characters struggle to reach their goals
Opinion
something that cannot be proven, but people use as a way to convey their thoughts on a subject, these should never be a part of a summary
Protagonist
the main character
Theme
the message or lesson the author wishes to teach the reader. The "take away" of a story, meaning what you can take with you and learn from the writing. It MUST be a sentence, not a word or two. The sentence MUST be universal, which means that ANYONE, ANYWHERE could learn it and "take away" the message regardless of age, origin, or circumstance. A common misconception for theme questions is that readers often apply them to their own life and do not make them universal statements that would apply to everyone OR they apply them to the main character's life and what he/she learned through the course of the story, instead of what the reader should have learned by reading the story. The should be sentences without subjects almost that sound a lot like these examples: 1) It is better to be safe than sorry. 2) Never underestimate the power of love. 3) Better to die with honor than live in shame.
Third Person Limited Point of View
the narrator is an outside observer that focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character
Refrain
the part of the poem that is being repeated so the speaker can emphasize or stress the message (the message being the words that are being repeated usually)
Refrain
the part of the poem that is repeated, like the chorus in a song They will ask you WHY an author uses refrain. You need to understand that author's repeat things to stress their importance in order to get the message across to the reader. Usually, the answer to this question will begin with the verb "emphasize or emphasis" because repetition is used for emphasis!
Point of View
the perspective the story is being told from; there are four types: first person, second person, third person limited, and third person omniscient. You need to know the definitions of all three. More importantly, you need to understand how the story changes when the point-of-view changes by applying the definitions to the story. Possible Changes: Change from 1st to 3rd Omn: If a story changes from 1st to third omniscient, we are no longer have the biased perspective of only one character and how they see their situation. The story would be told so we could see the thoughts of all the characters, allowing us to form our own opinions of the situation. Change from 3rd Omn/Lim to First Person: We no longer would have a narrorator telling us an outside view (3rd lim) and/or the thoughts of all the characters (3rd omn). Instead, we would only see the story through the eyes of main character, who would now be telling the story.
Evidence
the proof needed to reinforce a thought or opinion on a subject
Alliteration
the repetition of the same sounds; for example: sally sell sea shells Repetition is used to make things more memorable or fun. Since this type of figurative language is basically a type of repetition, it makes sense the reason for using it is the same as the reason one would use repetition. Therefore, you see this type of figurative language used in places like poetry or advertising, such as slogans, because it rolls off the tongue. People find it catchy and use it, say it, remember it better!
Plot
the sequence of events that make up a story; includes the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
the story is narrated by someone who is not apart of the story and the reader is able to get the opinions and thoughts of ALL the characters in the story
First Person Point of View
the story is told by the main character, so the reader is only able to know what they are thinking and interpret everything in the story (like other characters) through his/her opinion; allows the story to be biased because people see things differently through their own perspectives
Climax
the turning point of a story; the "ah-ha" moment when you know how the story will end and the conflict(s) in the story will start to come to an end. The turning point of a story can be a hard thing to grasp, so the easiest way to understand this word is to think about the point in the story where the main conflict of the protagonist (the main character) cannot get any worse and the conflict comes to a head. Once this part of the story happens, things will start to resolve and be fixed in some way. If you find that part of the story, you have identified it properly! A common misconception is to consider this the most exciting part of a story. While that usually works for books meant for younger children, it is something we need to move away from as we grow. The most exciting part of a story is objective and stories become more complicated as you grow. They also become about topics that are dull in nature as they relate to real-life, so you may never see something you consider to be exciting.
Central Message
this is basically like the theme of fiction texts, but usually used for expository or informational text questions. For expository (informational) text, it ties the main ideas to the author's purpose for writing the text. Usually, you can get this right by "thinking like an author" and identifying the thesis statement present in the introduction. If the term is used for fictional text, then you need to identify the theme of the work.
Conclude
to arrive at a judgment or opinion, what you decide - these decisions should be logical and with the text in mind
