Plot-events that happen in a story
Conflict-struggle within story
Setting-where and when story takes place
Theme-what story teaches us about life
Inference-reading between the lines; making a guess using info from text and your
background knowledge
Resolution-how story ends
Characters-people or animals in the story
Climax-most exciting part in a story
External Conflict-struggle between character and an outside force (another character,
weather, etc)
Internal Conflict-struggle within a character
First Person Point of View- tells story from own perspective; uses words such as I,
my, me
Third Person Point of View-written about another person uses words such as he, she,
his, etc.
Character Traits-qualities of the character ex.shy, determined, etc
Subject-what story is about
Summarize-tells about a story’s main events in your own words
Generalization-general conclusion made from examples in a story
Opinion- personal beliefs or attitudes
Motives-a character’s reasons for doing something
Fact- information that can be proven to be true
Fiction – made up story
Myth – stories about gods and heroes that people told to give human shape to the
world around them
Fable – a very old teaching story (teaches you something about life)
Legend – exaggerated stories based on history
Folktale – a story that has been passed down over the years by word of mouth
Novella – shorter than a novel, but longer than a short story
Biography – the story of a person’s life written by another person; written from third
person point of view
Autobiography – a writer’s account of his or her own life, written from the first person
point of view
Main Idea – the most important idea in a nonfiction piece
Sequence – the order of events in a story
Tone – the attitude a writer takes toward and audience, a subject, or a character
Symbol-person, place, thing or action that stands for something else
Example-heart stands for love
Symbolism- using symbols in writing. Most of the time you have to infer the symbolism,
they do not come out and tell you
Simile-compares 2 things using “like” or “as”
Example: She is as quiet as a mouse.
Metaphor-compares 2 things without using “like” or “as” instead generally uses “is”
Example: She is a quiet mouse.
Personification-gives human qualities to something non-human
Example: The tree danced in the wind.
Onomatopoeia- sound affects that suggest meaning (buzz, roar, zip, pow, bang, boom)
Hyperbole-extreme exaggeration
Example: I was so hungry I could eat a horse.
Assertion- statement or claim
Citation- Evidence that backs up an assertion
Imagery- writing that creates images in readers’ mind. Often uses figurative language
(simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia)
Synonym-Word that means the same
Ex-good and well
Antonym-Word that means the opposite Ex-good and bad
Organizational Pattern- Way a paper is organized
Cause-reason something happens
Effect-what happens from a cause
Author’s Purpose- reason why author wrote a piece-to persuade, entertain, inform,
etc.
Persuasion- writing that tries to change your mind about something
Propaganda- attempt to persuade people
Foreshadowing- use of clues or hints to let you know what may happen later on in the
story
Irony- a difference (contrast) between what you think will happen and what does
happen Ex- King’s dancers that do not dance at Justin Timberlake’s concert!!
Compare-to say how 2 things are the same
Contrast-to say how 2 things are different
Alliteration- repeating of the same sounds in words that are close together
Ex-busy as a bee
Statistics: information expressed as numbers. Can be presented in charts or graphs.
Ex: 3 out of 4 students prefer chocolate ice cream to vanilla.
Quotations: comments from people who have something to say about a topic.
Subplot- a smaller plot (story) within a larger story.
Convey- to show or tell
Claim-state something as a fact
Source-where information is coming from, a book, webpage, person, etc.
Excerpt- a passage or paragraph taken from a book
Support-gives aid or assistance; helps
Context Clues- Parts of a text around an unknown word that helps you figure out the
meaning of the word
Indicate- to show, to say, to state
Significant-important
Appropriate-fits the purpose
Conclude-to make a decision
Sequence-order of things
Historical Fiction- Fictional writing (made up) that occurs back in history
Persuasive Article- an article trying to persuade (convince) someone to do something
Letter to Editor- a letter sent to an editor of a newspaper about a concern they have
Informative Report- a report (paper) giving information on a topic