Words to Know STAAR READY! Conflict the problem in the story Resolution how the problem is solved or fixed; the ending or final outcome of the story Main Idea what a piece of writing (or paragraph) is mainly about Summary (summarize) a short paragraph that tells the main events from the beginning, middle, and end of a story (BME) Procedural a type of writing that tells how to do something; usually uses sequential order as its text structure Convey to tell Foreshadow when an author uses clues to help the reader to figure out what events will happen later in the plot Inference/infer when a reader uses clues from the text plus what they already know to draw a conclusion Justify to prove; to show something is right Context clues clues in the text that help the reader determine (figure out) the meaning of an unknown word Genre a type of literature Dialogue a conversation between two characters; quotation marks are placed around what is being said; Hello, said Bill. Caption small text found near a picture that provides important information about the picture
Free verse poetry that does NOT contain patterns of rhyme Poetic Structure the way a poem is written (line length, stanzas, repetition, etc.) Stage directions instructions for actors and stage crew; usually written in italics Author s purpose the reason the author has for writing (Persuade, Inform, Entertain) Diagram a drawing that shows or explains something; usually includes labels and captions Moral an important lesson that teaches the reader about right and wrong Sensory details words or phrases that create imagery by using the five senses Imagery a collection of words that help the reader visualize(see) the story better Plot the events that make up a fictional story Rising action the part of the story where problems arise, leading up to the climax Climax the turning point of the story; the most exciting point of the story Falling action the part of the story that comes after the climax, or turning point Setting where a story takes place Text structure the way that a story is organized 1. description- provides lots of details about a topic 2. sequential order- sequence; in order 3. chronological order- put events in correct order based on the time in which they happened 4. problem and solution- shows development of problem and its solution 5. compare and contrast- shows all the ways that two or more things are similar and different 6. cause and effect- the author describes the causes and what happened (effects)
Literary devices writing that authors use to make their writing better (figurative language; imagery ) Drawing conclusions using what you already know to figure out what people will do or say Fiction a type of writing based on imagination and not fact Nonfiction writing that is factual (true); describe people and places that are real and events that really happened Historical fiction fiction that involves an event in history; contains historical facts, events, or people, but is not true Drama a story written to be performed by actors; a play Rhyme scheme a poet s plan for the pattern of rhyme in a poem (AABB) Contradict to disagree; to say the opposite Mislead give the wrong idea; to lead someone in the wrong direction Exaggerate to say something that is larger or greater than it really is; to stretch the truth Cause the reason WHY something happens (be- cause of. Effect the WHAT happens Reveal to show; make visible Characterization the process by which the writer reveals the personality of the character through what they look like, how they act, who they are friends with, how they handle situations Antonym a word opposite in meaning to another word (e.g. good and bad) Synonym a word with a meaning that is the same as another word (mad and angry)
Idiom phrase or expression that has its own meaning different from each individual word; not literal (ex. kick the bucket) Flashback When a part of the story goes back in time Feature a special article or story in a newspaper or magazine Figurative Language language that helps a reader to visualize the characters, setting, and events from a text in a better way Simile - compares two unlike things by using the words like or as: The summer heat is like a big, thick blanket. Hyperbole - is the use of exaggeration to make a point: I have a pile of homework a mile high. Alliteration - The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (e.g., winter wind). Metaphor compares two unlike things, but by saying one thing IS another. He's a tiger. Personification - gives human characteristics to non-human things, as in "The summer heat wrapped its arms around us." Onomatopoeia- the use of words that imitate sounds Playwright the author of a play Scene a division of a play or an act of a play; often changes the setting Blog a website on which an individual or group of users records opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis. Supporting Details statements that support your main idea or theme by explaining, describing, defining, or otherwise giving information about it. Graphic Features/Text Features features with text that help to clarify or explain the text (labels, captions, illustrations, headings, diagrams, charts, tables, etc.) Myth a fictional story that uses supernatural beings (gods), ancestors, or heroes to teach a moral or explain the mysteries of the natural world Point of View the perspective from which the story is told, who is telling the story
First person told from the viewpoint of one of the characters using the pronouns I, we, my, our Third person omniscient the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of every character using the pronouns he, she, they, them Third person limited the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only ONE character using the pronouns he, she, they, them Theme the idea or statement that the author is trying to tell you; THE MESSAGE Conclude to reach a decision or form an opinion about something based on the textual evidence Italicize print that is written in italics (slanty letters) usually to emphasize tone or something important Visualize to create an image in your mind while reading; author uses great sensory details to allow reader to create mental pictures Mood when authors use words to make the reader feel a certain emotion Imply strongly suggest Footnote notes that are placed on the bottom of the page to help the reader with more information about the topic Verify to prove