PSSA Vocabulary
Terms
undefined, object
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- voice
- the fluency, rhythm, and liveliness in writing that makes it unique to the writer
- tone
- the attitude of the author toward the audience and characters, such as serious or humorous
- homophone
-
a word pronounced the same but has different meaning
hair/hare - personification
-
an object or idea is given human qualities or human form
The wind whistles. - metaphor
-
the comparison of 2 unlike things in which no words of comparison (like or as) are used
He is a speedy rocket. - narrative passage
- text in any form that recounts or tells a story
- characterization
- the method an author uses to reveal his character and their various personalities
- compare
- place together characters, situations, or ideas to show common or differing features in literary selections
- genre
- A category uses to identify literary works
- style
- How an author writes; an author's use of language and its effects and appropriateness to the author's intent and theme
- evaluate
- examine and judge carefully
- point of view
-
the way in which an author reveals characters, events, and ideas in telling a story
the vantage point from which the story is told - rubric
- a set of scoring guidelines for judging student work on performance-based tasks
- paraphrase
- restate text or passage in other words, often to clarify meaning or show understanding
- Advanced
- superior academic performance
- context clues
- information from reading that identifies a word or group of words
- informational passage
- a nonfiction selection
- simile
-
a comparison of 2 unlike things in which a word of comparison is used-like or as
as quiet as a mouse - alliteration
-
the repetiton of initial consonant sounds in words
Mike made a milkshake. - narrative
- a story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in writing
- fluency
- the clear, easy written or spoken expression of ideas
- antonym
-
a word that is the opposite of another word
short/tall
- theme
- major idea; the topic of the writing
- irony
- the use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or usual meaning
- literary elements
- the techniques used in literature, such as characters, setting, plot and theme
- synonym
-
2 or more words that have a similar meaning
large/huge - figurative language
- language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling
- idioms
-
an expression that can't be understood if taken literally
You're driving me up a wall. - Proficient
- satisfactory academic performance
- hyperbole
-
an exaggeration
I cried a bucket of tears. - graphic organizer
- a diagram or pictoral device that shows relationship
- Below Basic
- inadequate academic performance
- Basic
- marginal academic performance