Springboard Level 5 Unit 1
Vocabulary List
1. Identity (n) - Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
_______
2. Culture (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Subculture (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Reminisce (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Perspective (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Infer (v) / Inference (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
7. Stereotype (n or v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Generalization (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
9. Assimilate (v) / Assimilation (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
10. Ethnocentrism (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
11. Cultural Norms (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
12. Eloquence (n) / Eloquent (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
13. Facilitate (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
14. Cringe (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
15. Predicament (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence
______________________________________________________________________________
16. Futile (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
17. Resonate (v) / Resonance (n) Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
18. Bi-laterally (adv) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
19. Flippant (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
20. Taunt (v) Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
21. Optimistic (antonym = Pessimistic) (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
22. Stoic (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
23. Attire (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
24. Illuminate (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
25. Negate (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
Springboard Level 5 Unit 1
Literary Elements and Writing Techniques
1. Anaphora
2. Alliteration
3. Audience
4. Authorial Intention / Purpose (to inform, to explain, to teach, to describe, to amuse, to
entertain, to censure, to complain, to criticize, to persuade, etc.)
5. Connotative (vs. Denotative)
6. Diction
7. Dialogue
8. Figurative Language

Imagery (& Images) including what is meant by the phrases ‘Vivid Language’,
‘Sensory Detail’ and an understanding of how images can reveal deeper meanings,
characterize, etc.

Metaphor

Simile
9. Foreshadow / Foreshadowing
10. Monologue
11. Narrator (including Unreliable Narrator, 1st, 2nd, 3rd person)
12. Persona
13. To provide Contrast
14. Represent / Symbolize
15. Rhetorical Device
16. Setting (including how it can establish historical context through cultural components)
17. Syntax (including ability to create effects through use of sentence structure)
18. Stanza
19. Tone (including identification of shifts in tone/perspective) Examples: playful, informal,
serious)
20. Theme
21. Verbal Irony
22. Voice (including Code Switching and Register)
Springboard Level 5 Unit 1
Grammatical Skills Unit 1
1) Knowledge of the Format of the New S.A.T, particularly with regard to the ‘Writing
Skills’ questions (Error Identification and Sentence Improvement in particular)
2) Parts of Speech
Focus on:
 Nouns
 Adjective and Adverb (avoid errors in adjective and adverb confusion)
 Pronouns (Case & Number Agreement + Reciprocal Pronouns)
 Verbs (action vs. linking, use of present tense to write about literature)
 Prepositions
3) Clauses and Sentence Structure



Differentiate between dependent and independent clauses and complex and
simple sentences.
Define important grammatical terms used to discuss sentence structure
(subject, predicate, subject complement, predicate adjective, predicate
nominative)
Identify prepositional phrases, appositives, adverbial clauses and
adjective/relative clauses
4) Punctuation


Recognize common punctuation marks and identifying their correct
usage/function.
Correctly punctuate sentences that contain adverbial subordinators (because,
although, since) or conjunctive adverbials (consequently, however, etc…).
5) Avoiding Wordiness


Use active over passive voice when possible
Write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs
Springboard Level 5 Unit 1
Writing Skills & Assignments: Unit 1
1) Analytical / Literary Essay (The Color of Water) – Focus on organization (hook,
thesis, etc.) and use of textual support.
2) Creative Writing: Poetry (Where I’m From / Heritage)
3) Personal Narrative/ Memoir (Focus on development of personal voice/tone)
4) Oral Monologue (Focus on developing a creative and distinctive voice)
5) Independent Reading Assessment (Monologue or Poem from the point of view of the
main character – Further details will be given later)
Independent Reading Project
Research indicates that the best way for you to improve your reading skills is to engage often in
independent reading for extended periods of time. Throughout the year you will be reading
independently outside of class. Most of the time, you will be assigned a specific text to read
independently, and your reading will be followed by whole class discussions and/or assignments.
For the first unit, however, you may read a novel, memoir, or collection of essays or short stories
by an author of your choice. If you choose to read short stories, all should be from a single
author.
The guidelines for your independent reading are:



The text should be short enough for you to read it outside of class within
three weeks, and engaging enough for you to be motivated to read it.
The text you choose MUST have a first person narrator who conveys a
strong voice.
Texts should have an identifiable cultural context perhaps including, but not
limited to, such elements as food, sports, hobbies, religion, clothes, family,
music, art, education, gender, ethnic identity, etc.
You must either choose one of the following titles, or choose your own title (one that fits the
above criteria) and have it pre-approved by me. Projects written about titles not on this list and
not pre-approved WILL NOT be accepted.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (graphic novel)
Chicana Falsa by Michelle Serros
How to Be a Chicana Role Model by Michelle Serros
Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon (a drama)
A Separate Peace by John Knowles (novel)
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt (memoir)
The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell (memoir)
Always Running by Luiz Rodriguez (memoir)
Yello-Oh Girls! By Vicki Nam
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (novel)\
If you do not see anything on this list that piques your interest, and you cannot come up with a
title on your own, come see me and we can brainstorm together.
You must complete your independent reading by October
9th. At this time I will explain the assessment to you.
Springboard Level 5 Unit 2
(Use www.Learnersdictionary.com)
Vocabulary List
1. Vibrant (adj.) - Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Pondering (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
3. Glut (v) Glutton (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
4. Pandora’s Box (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
5. Philosophizing (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
6. Empathy (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
7. Stereotype (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
8. Brittle (adj.) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
9. Bleached (adj.) – Springboard Page _____
________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
10. Sentry (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
11. Gaggle (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
12. Ebullience (n) Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
13. Niches (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
14. Cacophony (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
15. Disdain (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your sentence
________________________________________________________________________
16. Connoted (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
17. Banter (n) Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
18. Waylaid (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
19. Camaraderie (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
20. Eccentricities (n) Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
21. Editorialize (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
22. Cultural Conflict (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
23. Connubial (adj.) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________Your
sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
24. Resum´e (n) Resume (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
25. Emigrate (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
26. Subculture (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
27. Promiscuously (adverb) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
28. Unintelligible (adj.) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
29. Intoning (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
30. Cacophony (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
31. Alienation (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
32. Assimilate (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
33. Fellowship (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
34. Provocative (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
35. Anoint (v) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
36. Alumnae (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
37. Ethnic (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
38. Pieties (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
39. Reconciliation (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
40. Indelible (adj) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
41. Consolation (n) – Springboard Page _____
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
Springboard Level 5 Unit 2
Literary Elements and Writing Techniques
1. Humor
2. Satire
3. Exaggeration
4. Irony
5. Understatement
6. Synthesis
7. Diction
8. Syntax
9. Allusion
10. Persona
11. Argument
12. Juxtaposition
13. Theme
Implied
Explicit
14. Contrasting Expression
Springboard Level 5 Unit 2
Grammatical Skills Unit 2
1. Sentence types:
Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound-complex
2. Conjunctions:
Coordinating
Subordinating
Correlative
Conjunctive adverbs
3. Verbal Phrase
4. Gerund
5. Infinitive
6. Participle
Present
Past
7. Declarative Sentence
8. Rhetorical Sentences
9. Verb Tense
10. Active verbs and Passive verbs
11. Subjunctive Form
12. Restrictive and Unrestrictive Phrases