Essential Knowledge 8th
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- precise
- when a word is highly accurate in meaning
- comma
- place this between items and names in a series (except when referring to color or age.)
- comma
- use this after an introductory phrase or clause
- complex sentence
- contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause
- persuasive
- tries to convince the reader that the writer's point of view is the correct one
- sentence fragment
- a group of words that is punctuated as if it was a complete sentence but that does not contain both a subject and a verb or does not express a complete thought.
- fiction
- writing that is made up rather than true
- common noun
- names any one of a group of persons, places, things, or ideas
- exaggeration
- the use of overstatemetns for comic effect
- noun/verb
- Singular _________ takes singular ______________. Plural ________ take plural __________.
- specific
- using words that are definate or exact
- alliteration
- the repetition of the same consonant sounds or the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of word or in stressed syllables
- appositive phrase
- consists of an appositive and its modifiers
- visualizing
- when you create pictures in your mind while you read
- static character
- a character that remains the same throughout the entire story
- tone
- the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
- conflict
- a struggle between opposing characters or forces
- personification
- a figure of speech in which non-human objects are given human characteristics
- flashback
- an interruption in the present action of a plot to show events that happened at an earlier time
- active voice
- the voice a verb is in when it expresses an action done by its subject
- analyze
- when you examine carefully or critically
- 1-100
- when using numbers in writing, these numbers are written in word form
- action verb
- a verb that expresses either physical or mental activity
- contrast
- to compare differences
- comma
- use this before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, or, yet) when it joins independent clauses ina compound sentence
- flat character
- a character that is shallow or only has one personality trait
- support
- when you use this you prove your ideas with additional information and details
- articles
- the most frequently used adjectives are a, an, and the. These are called _______.
- rhythm
- the regular order of sounds or motions
- analogy
- the comparison made between two scenarios to show how they alike
- effect
- brought on by a cause or is the end result of an action
- sequencing
- the order in which your main ideas or events are placed
- modifiers
- make the meaning of another word more specific
- contraction
- a shortened form of two words
- subordinate clause
- this contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence
- capitalization
- the first letter in a sentence, a proper noun, and the word I is this
- comma
- use this to set off words of a direct address within a sentence
- describe
- to give a detailed account in writing
- questioning
- helps readers understand the text on a deeper level by eliminating confusion and stimulating interest in the topic
- role
- who or what you are as you write
- dynamic character
- a character that changes for the better by the end of the story
- repair strategies
- methods a reader uses when confusion disrupts the meaning of a text and they need to clarify their understanding
- evaluate
- when you judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of
- purpose
- the reason why the piece is written
- varied structure
- sentences that start differently
- earnest
- someone who is eager and/or serious
- dialogue
- conversation is referred to as this
- nonfiction
- writing that deals with real people, things, events and places
- round character
- a character with more than one personality trait
- define
- to state the meaning of a word
- double negative
- the nonstandard use of two negative words to express a single negative idea
- passive voice
- the voice a verb is in when it expresses an action done to its subject
- exemplify
- when you illustrate by giving example
- independent clause
- expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence
- dialogue
- always place punctuation (comma, exclamation point, question mark or period) at the end of this within the quotation
- thesis
- focus sentence of the whole paper which includes the topic and main ideas
- homophones
- two or more words that sound alike but have different spellings and different meanings
- topic
- what the prompt is asking you to write about
- text-to-world
- when you relate what you are reading to events, issues and people
- clause
- a group of words with a subject and a verb
- pacing
- the rate at which the writer introduces new ideas to the reader
- comma
- use this to set off words of a direct address within a sentence
- organization
- the internal structure of a piece
- simple sentence
- contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses
- conjunction
- a word used to join words or groups of words
- irony
- when the outcome is the exact opposite of what is expected (can be verbal, dramatic, or situational)
- summarize
- when you cover the main points, concisely; briefly you _____________
- expressive
- shoes the writers personal opinions, feelings, ideas
- semicolon
- a punctuation mark used to primarily join independent clauses that are closely related in meaning
- interjection
- a word used to express emotion
- schema
- what you know, your background knowledge, and the experiences that you bring to your reading
- pun
- a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings
- linking verb
- connects the subject to a subject word or word group that identifies or describes the subject
- main idea
- the topic; the main point of the story
- compound noun
- made up of two or more words used together as a single noun
- imagery
- writing or language that appeals to the sense and evokes images
- author's purpose
- the reason why the author wrote a piece of literature
- theme
- the main idea in a work of literature
- text-to-self
- when you relate what you are reading to your own experiences
- apostrophe
- a punctuation mark used to form the possessive case of nouns and some pronouns
- characterization
- the way a writer reveals his characters
- insight
- a clear deep perception/understanding of a situation or one's motives
- effective
- to produce what is desired in writing
- ideas
- what the writer brainstorms and the heart of the message
- passive voice
- the voice a verb is in when it expresses an action done to its subject
- pronoun
- a word used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns
- helping verb
- helps the main verb express action or a state of being
- compelling
- when the writing urges or calls you forth to do something
- verb
- should agree in number with its subject
- introduction
- the paragraph that grabs the reader's attention and provides the thesis statement
- context clues
- hints in a text that help you figure out the meaning
- sentence fluency
- language in a sentence with a steady rhythm and flow
- comma
- use this to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence
- determining importance
- when reading nonfiction the reader must decide and remember what is important from the material
- showing details
- details that are clear and specific that paint a picture in your mind
- strong verb
- the word that helps express the purpose of your paper, such as inform, persuade, or express
- rhyme
- a repetition of accented vowel sounds and all sounds following them in words that are close together in writing or poetry
- adverb
- tells where, when, how or to what extent (how much or how long.)
- cause
- the action that results in an effect, result, or consequence
- lead
- the attention grabbing first few sentences of an introduction
- comma
- this separates two or more adjectives preceding a noun
- fable
- a brief story told in prose or poetry (with animals or nature as the characters) that contains a moral or practical lesson
- engaging
- when something attracts and holds your attention
- setting
- the time and place of a story, play or poem
- clarify
- to make something more clear and understandable
- audience
- to whom you are writing
- conventions
- the mechanical correctness of a paper
- predicting
- when a reader makes an educated guess about what will happen next in the story
- phrase
- a group of words that is missing a subject OR a verb
- preposition
- a word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word
- compare
- to look at or state similarities and/or differences
- conclusion
- the last part of a writing piece that sums up the main points and includes the thesis
- symbolism
- something that stands for or suggests something else
- internal conflict
- the battle between a character and itself
- antagonist
- a character or force that opposes the protagonist
- benefit
- an advantage
- anecdote
- a brief story told in order to make a point
- suspense
- the uncertainty or anxiety that a reader feels about what will happen next in a story, novel or drama
- adjective
- modifies nouns or pronouns by tellling what kind, which one, how much, or how many
- informative
- this paper gives detailed information about a topic
- synthesizing
- when a reader weaves together what they have read with their own ideas to create new complete thoughts
- protagonist
- a character that is the hero; heroince
- verb
- a word used to express action or a state of being
- point of view
- demonstrates different ways of looking of things
- plot
- the series of events that make up a story
- inferring
- when a reader combines what they know (schema) with what they picture in their mind (visualizing) to make an educated guess about events in a book it is this
- mood
- a state of mind or emotion
- accurate details
- details that are factual/true
- cadence
- a measure of rhythmical flow
- drawback
- an undesirable feature; disadvantage
- comma
- use this after the salutation of a personal letter and after the closing of any letter
- number
- when a word refers to one person, place, thing or idea, it is singular in_______________. When a word refers to more than one person, place, thing or idea, it is plural in ____________.
- hyperbole
- a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
- transitions
- words used to connect main ideas
- word choice
- the vocabulary a writer chooses to convey meaning
- compound-complex sentence
- contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause
- noun
- a word or word group that is used to name a person, a place, a thing, or an idea
- comma
- use this set off a mild exclamation such as well, oh, or why at the beginning of a sentence
- simile
- a comparison of two unlike things using the words like, as or than
- subplot
- a minor plot that relates in some way to the main story
- stanza
- a division of a poem consisting of two or more lines arranged together as a unit
- explain
- means to make clear or understandable
- flow
- moving along smoothly without harshness
- poetry
- a kind of rhythmic, compressed writing that uses figures of speech and imagery designed to appeal to emotions and imagination
- voice
- the personal tone and flavor of the author's message
- adverb
- a word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb
- idiom
- a word, phrase, or expression that has meaning beyond the literal meaning
- format
- the organization, plan, style or arrangement of a writing piece
- foreshadowing
- the use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the story
- run-on sentence
- two or more complete sentences run on together as one
- comma
- generally used to separate wrods or groups of words so that the meaning of the sentence is clear
- text-to-text
- when you relate what you are reading to something else that you have read
- colon
- use this to between a list of items, especially after expressions like as follows or the following
- figurative language
- writing or language that is not meant to be interpreted literally
- apostrophe
- to form a contraction, use this to show where letters or numerals have been omitted
- connections
- when you able to relate what you read to personal experience, other stories, and world events
- contradict
- to assert or express the opposite of
- punctuation
- the standard marks and signs in writing to separate words into sentences, clauses, and phrases in order to clarify meaning
- appositive
- a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it
- proper noun
- names a particular/specific person, place, thing or idea
- climax
- the most suspenseful moment or turning-point in a story
- compound sentence
- contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clause
- external conflict
- a battle between a character and an outside force (such as man, nature, machine, and society)
- metaphor
- a comparison between unlike things without using specific words of comparison such as like, as or than