DOMAIN SPECIFIC (ELA) VOCABULARY
Study digital flashcards for ALL of these terms at:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2055918/2oj2 (click the link)
UNIT 1 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click
here: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093095/4qp5
Analyze (v) – to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of
Cite (v) - to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority
Comprehend (v) – to understand the meaning of; grasp with the mind
Demonstrate (v) – to manifest, exhibit, show
Determine (v) – to conclude or ascertain after reasoning
Evaluate (v) – to judge or determine the significance, worth or quality of
Infer (v) – to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence; to guess, speculate
or surmise
Interpret (v) – to bring out the meaning of
Paraphrase (v) – a restatement of a text giving the meaning in another form; rewording
Refute (v) – to prove to be false or erroneous
Summarize (v) – state or express in a concise form
UNIT 2 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093098/v7c7
Aesthetic (adj) – pertaining to a sense of beauty
Allegory (n) – narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic
trait, e.g. greed, vanity, bravery
Allusion (n) – a reference in a literary work to a person, place or thing in history
Analysis (n) – the separating of material into its constituent elements; a determination of the
essential parts; the act of analyzing (see verb)
Archetype (n) – a collective idea of character type: e.g. hero, outcast, scapegoat, star-crossed lovers
Argument (n) – a process of reasoning; series of reasons
Central idea (n) – the main point of a piece of writing
Character (n) – representation of a person, place or thing performing human activities
Protagonist (n) – the character the story revolves around
Antagonist (n) – the force against the protagonist
Static character (n) – a character that remains the same over the course of the story
Dynamic character (n) – a character that changes in some important way during the story
UNIT 3 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093102/j6o9
Characterization (n) – the choices an author makes to reveal a character’s personality, such as
appearance, actions, dialogue and motivations
Claim (n) – an assertion of something as fact
Counterclaim (n) – a claim made to offset another claim (also called opposing claim)
Comedy (n) – a series of amusing events
Concrete (adj) – concerned with realities or actual instances; not abstract
Connotation (n) – the idea suggested by a word or phrase; implied meaning of a word
Denotation (n) – dictionary definition of a word
Dialogue (n) – the conversation between characters
Evidence (n) – that which proves or disproves something; grounds for belief; proof; makes plain or
clear
Explicit (adj) – fully and clearly expressed; unequivocal; leaving nothing to inference or implication
UNIT 4 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093104/i18g
Expository text (n) – a text that explains
Fiction (n) – a class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration
Genre (n) – a category of form, content or technique, e.g. drama, fantasy
Figurative (adj) – not literal; involving a figure of speech
Metaphor (n) – a contrast of 2 unlike things
Simile (n) – a contrast of 2 unlike things using like or as
Hyperbole (n) – exaggeration
Personification (n) – giving non-human objects human characteristics
Flashback (n) – an interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of earlier occurrence
Foreshadow (n) – the author’s suggestions or hints about future plot elements
UNIT 5 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093116/2l2p
Imagery (n) – the author’s attempt to create a mental picture in the mind of the reader using the
senses
Inference (n) – the act of inferring (see verb)
Irony (n) – the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; an
incongruous situation
Dramatic irony (n) – a disparity of awareness between actor and observer; when
words/actions are understood by the audience by not the character
Situational irony (n) – a disparity of intention and result; when the result of an action is
contrary to the desired or expected effect
Verbal irony (n) – a disparity of expression; when a speaker says one thing but means another
Logical (adj) – reasonable; agreeing with principles of logic
Medium (n) – type, e.g. text, film
Narrative (n) – a story or account of events (can be fiction or nonfiction)
Nonfiction (n) – a class of literature comprising works dealing with facts and reality
UNIT 6 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093118/5ih8
Objective (adj) – not influenced by personal feelings or interpretations
Overstatement (n) – an instance of exaggeration
Plot (n) – the arrangement of ideas/incidents in a story
Exposition (n) – background information regarding the setting, characters, plot
Rising action (n) – the process the story follows as it builds to its main conflict
Climax/Crisis (n) – the significant turning point in the story that determines how it ends
Resolution/Denouement (n) – the way the story concludes
Suspense (n) – the tension the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the
unknown
Conflict (n) – struggle between opposing forces, e.g. man v. man, man v. society, man v.
nature, man v. self
Persuasion (n) – changing beliefs or actions through words
UNIT 7 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093123/j3x5
Point of View (n) – who tells the story and how it is told
Narrator (n) – the person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story
First-person point of view (n) – narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited
knowledge/vision
Second-person point of view (n) – narrator addresses the reader directly as though the reader
is part of the story
Third-person objective point of view (n) – a detached observer tells the story; does not
assume character’s perspective and is not a character in the story; reports events and lets the
reader supply meaning
Third-person omniscient point of view (n) – all-knowing narrator; knows what each character
is thinking and feeling (not just doing)
Unreliable narrator (n) – one who gives his/her own understanding of a story, instead of the
interpretation the author wants the audience to obtain
Premise (n) – a proposition supporting a conclusion
Rhetoric (n) – language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect
Ethos (n) – ethical appeal; believing the author because of his/her persona
Pathos (n) – emotional appeal
Logos (n) – persuading by the use of reasoning
UNIT 8 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093126/5j7z
Sarcasm (n) – a sharply ironical taunt; harsh derision (see irony)
Satire (n) – a literary composition in which human folly and vice are help up to scorn or ridicule
Setting (n) – the place, time, weather conditions, social conditions and mood/atmosphere of a story
Symbolism (n) – when an object is meant to be representative of something greater than the object
itself
Text Structure (n) – the way an author organizes information
Cause and Effect (n) – the results of something are explained
Chronological (adj) – information is organized in order of time
Compare and Contrast (v) – similarities and differences are discussed
Problem and Solution (n) – a problem is described and a solution is proposed
Sequence (n) – information is organized in steps or a process is explained in order
UNIT 9 – For digital flashcards for this unit, click here:
http://www.flashcardmachine.com/2093131/3w3u
Textual Evidence (n) – findings from the text that support a claim
Theme (n) – a unifying or dominant idea
Thesis (n) – a subject for an essay, usually 1 or 2 summative sentences
Tone (n) – the author’s attitude toward the subject
Tragedy (n) – drama dealing with somber theme, typically a conflict with an overpowering force or a
character flaw, that leads to destruction
Understatement (n) – an instance of weak representation