ENGLISH 10H
UNIT 1A EXAM TERMS AND MATERIAL
Questions 1-8: You will read a short story and answer questions based on the text.
Questions 9-14: You will read a poem and answer questions based on the text.
Questions 15-19: Will cover tone and types of phrases.
Short Answer 20: Will cover syntax, tone, and voice.
Symbols
Definition: anything (object, animal, event, person, or place) that represents itself but also stand for something else
on a figurative level.
Ex: A dove is a symbol for peace.
Ex: A heart is a symbol for love.
Diction
Definition: The writer’s choice of words and phrases; an element helps convey voice and tone.
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Consider how diction can be used to establish time or a historical context.
Main theme
Definition: A writer’s central idea or main message about life.
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Remember this is a general life message, meaning not specific to a character or summary of a text.
Examples:
1. Sacrifices bring reward.
2. Some things turn out better than we expect.
3. Friendship is dependent on sacrifice
4. Love is worthy of pursuit.
Connotative vs. Denotative
Connotative: The emotion or feelings attached to a word beyond its literal definition.
Ex: Home is a place where one experiences love and comfort
Ex: Cheap vs. Economical—same denotation but “cheap” implies someone is stingy or selfish with his or her money
while “economical” implies someone is smart with his or her money.
Denotative: The literal definition of a word.
Ex: A home is a place where someone lives.
Thesis statements
Definition: the main idea or point of an essay or article.
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This is the focus of the essay as a whole.
Remember it must be supported within the essay.
Usually it will be a general statement.
Textual Evidence (CQC)
Claim Quote Commentary (Analytical Paragraphs)
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Textual evidence is used to support the claim.
Generally this will be a quotation or example from the text.
ENGLISH 10H
Simile
Definition: A comparison of two or more unlike things using the words like or as.
Ex: I feel like a fish out of water.
Ex: She is as quiet as a mouse.
Shift in tone
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Be able to identify shifts in tone.
Re-read “Ethnic Hash” (pg. 11 in SB), and analyze the shift in tone of the narrator. It begins as uncertain and
insecure and later becomes confident and self-assured as she discovers her cultural identity.
Pay close attention to diction (words or phrases) that help identify tone.
Types of Phrases
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Look over types of phrases notes and worksheet for examples.
o Gerunds, Participial, Infinitives, prepositions and appositives.
Gerunds: Phrase beginning with an -ing verb and serves as a noun.
Participials: Phrase that begins with a past or present participle and functions as an adjective.
Infinitives: Phrase that begins with an infinitive verb (to + base verb form) and functions as a noun,
adjective or adverb.
Preposition: Begin with a preposition (at, by, in, at, to, etc.) and usually act as an adjective or adverb.
Appositive: Renames or identifies another noun or person.
Syntax
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Definition: The arrangement of words and the order of grammatical elements in a sentence or the way in
which words are put together to make phrases, clauses or sentences.
Example: using hyphens, using repetitive opening phrases, using dependent clauses or prepositional
phrases, etc.
Voice
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Definition: the way a writer or speaker uses words and tone to express ideas as well as his or her
persona or personality.
Example: The author uses an informal voice to make his character more likeable.