LT1 - Synonym
Date
Definition: A word that has the same
or nearly the same meaning as
another word.
Example: speech and voice; melody and
music; computer and Medi-Talker.
Use your Reading Counts book or class novel to
identify three pairs of synonyms.
LT2 - Antonym
Date
Definition: A word that means the
opposite of another word.
Example: voice and silence; verbal and
nonverbal; paralyzed and mobile.
Use your Reading Counts book or class novel to
find three pairs of antonyms.
LT3 - Exposition
Date
Definition: The very first part of the
plot in which the background
information, setting, characters are
introduced and explained.
What do we learn in the Exposition about
Out of My Mind? (3-5 lines)
LT4 - Rising Action
Date
Definition: The part of the plot in
which the conflict is revealed and the
plot begins developing.
Example: Melody meets Rose;
Melody gets her computer…
Give two additional examples of rising
action in your class novel.
LT5 - Climax
Date
Definition: Moment of great suspense in
the plot of a literary work; the turning
point of the story.
There are many interpretations of the climax of
Out of My Mind. Given the above definition, what
event do you consider to be the climax and why.
LT6 - Falling Action
Date
Definition: The falling action is the series of
events which take place after the climax
and lead to the resolution. The suspense
begins to lessen.
Example: In Out of My Mind, an example of
falling action is when Penny comes home
from the hospital.
Why does this event belong in the Falling Action?
Bonus: List another event from the Falling Action!
LT7 - Resolution
Date
Definition: The part of the plot where
the conflict is over and the loose ends
are all tied up.
Example: Melody is working on Miss
Gordon’s autobiography project. She is now
part of the regular school system and has a
voice through words.
As you can see language is very
powerful, what are three powerful
words to you?
LT8 - External Conflict
Date
Definition: A conflict that occurs between
a character and another (outside) force
such as nature, another person, illness, etc.
Example: Melody has cerebral palsy—she
can’t walk or talk…
Using your Reading Counts book, describe
an external conflict the character is facing
and why (3-5 lines).
LT9 – Internal Conflict
Date
Definition: A conflict that occurs
within a character’s mind such as a
decision that has to be made or a
problem with one’s self-confidence,
etc.
Example: Go to the Phillies’ game or
stay home and read, Out of My Mind.
Using your Reading Counts book, describe
an internal conflict the character is facing
and why (3-5 lines).
LT10 - Context Clues
Date
Definition: Information from the reading
that helps the reader to identify the
meaning of an unknown word.
“Mrs. V. told Melody that she needed to learn
to advocate for herself so that people
wouldn’t overlook her!”
In your own words, what does advocate mean?
Date
LT11 - Dynamic Character
Definition: A character that changes
significantly throughout the story (they
are different at the end than they were in
the beginning).
Describe how Melody is a dynamic character (35 lines).
LT12 - Static Character
Date
Definition: A character that stays the
same throughout the story.
Describe how Claire is a static character (35 lines).
LT13 - Fact
Date
Definition: Something that can be
proven to be true.
Example: The required summer
reading book was Out of My Mind.
Write your own, unique example here.
LT14 - Opinion
Date
Definition: A statement, belief that
cannot be proven.
Example: Out of My Mind is Sharon
Draper’s best book ever!
Write three opinions here.
LT15 - Fiction
Date
Definition: A story that is the product
of the author’s imagination, rather
than fact or truth.
Example: Unstoppable, Wonder, and
Out of My Mind
List three examples of your favorite fictional
stories here.
LT16 - Nonfiction
Date
Definition: Writing that tells about
real people, places and events.
Example: Melody’s favorite book is
“The Theory of Everything” by
Stephen Hawking.
List two examples of nonfiction.
Date
LT17 - Figurative Language
Definition: This cannot be taken
literally because it is written to
create a special feeling or effect.
Types of Figurative Language:
* Alliteration
* Hyperbole
* Idiom
* Imagery
* Metaphor
* Onomatopoeia
* Personification
* Simile
LT18 - Alliteration
Date
Definition: A phrase in which the
initial (first) consonant sound is
repeated.
Example: Melody made me mad!
Use your Reading Counts book or class novel
to find your own unique example.
LT19 - Hyperbole
Definition: An exaggeration used to
emphasize a point.
Example: After the Whiz Kids
championship round, Melody was so
hungry, she could eat a horse.
What point is being made?
LT20 - Idiom
Date
Definition: An expression that is
unique to a certain language and has
developed its meaning over time.
Example: Melody was disappointed
the flight was cancelled – but it was
raining cats and dogs!
What does this expression mean? Think of
and write down an idiom.
LT21 - Imagery
Date
Definition: Words that appeal to the
five senses and enhance the reader’s
experience.
Example: Melody knew the pitterpatter of the rain against the window
meant the flight would be cancelled.
What sense is the above example appealing
to?
LT22 - Metaphor
Date
Definition: A comparison of two unlike
things that does NOT use the words
“like” or “as.”
Examples: “Melody is a shining star on
the Whiz Kids quiz team.”
“After the championship round and a
hot lunch, Melody is a sleepy bear.”
Write a metaphor that might be found in
your Reading Counts book.
LT23 - Onomatopoeia
Date
Definition: Words whose sounds express
their meaning.
Example: “Freddy is almost 12. He uses an
electric wheelchair. He whizzes around the room,
screeching, ‘Freddy go zoom!’”
Find three examples of Onomatopoeia in the
above example. Write an example of
Onomatopoeia you might find in your RC book.
LT24 - Personification
Date
Definition: Giving human qualities to
something that is not human.
Example: Melody’s wheelchair had a
mind of its own.
Write an example of personification that
might be found in your Reading Counts
book.
LT25 - Simile
Date
Definition: A comparison of two unlike
things that uses the words “like” or
“as.”
Examples: “Melody was as sharp as a
tack during the championship round.”
Write an example of a simile that might be
found in your Reading Counts book.
LT26 - Flashback
Date
Definition: Used to present action
that occurs before the beginning of
the actual story (sometimes like
dreams or recall of the past).
Example: “My father brought home a small
stuffed cat for me when I was really little—less
than a year old…” ~Melody
Why do you think an author includes a flashback?
LT27 - Foreshadowing
Date
Definition: The device used by an author to
present hints or clues about future events in
the story.
Example: “I believe in me. And my family
does. And Mrs. V. It’s the rest of the world
I’m not so sure of…” ~ Melody
What is the author hinting at?
LT28 - Genre
Date
Definition: A category used to classify
literary works (i.e., science fiction,
mystery, historical fiction, realistic
fiction, fantasy, etc.).
Example: An example of Realistic
Fiction is Out of My Mind.
What is your favorite genre? Give an
example (2-3 lines).
LT 29 - Inference
LT20
Definition: An educated guess based on
facts paired with experience.
Example: I wheeled into the kitchen and my
mother took one look at my clothes and said,
“Melody, are you wearing THAT to school?" I could
infer not only by her question, but also from the
look on her face, that I should change.
What clues suggest that Melody should change?
LT 30 - Irony
Date
Definition: This is the use of words where
the meaning is the opposite of what is
expected to happen..
Example: At last Melody has a voice…but
not everyone around her is ready to hear it.
Explain why the above example is irony.