Language Arts Core Content Vocab

Language Arts Core Content Vocabulary—Bryan Station Middle School

Revised 8/08

abstract	Something that cannot be touched
act	A large division of a play
adjective	Part of speech; a word that describes a noun or pronoun
adverb	Part of speech; a word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb
allegory	Writing or picture in which characters or events stand for ideas (parable)
allusion	Reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of art or literature
alliteration	Repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words
analogy	A comparison between two dissimilar things to clarify a point
analyze	Take something apart to see how it works
anecdote	A short, interesting, or humorous story or incident
antecedent	A noun or pronoun to which a pronoun refers
antonym	A word that means the opposite of another
appeal (logical/ emotional/ethical)	Propaganda technique in which the writer urges the reader to agree with his/her opinion based on a logical, emotional, or moral/ethical reason.
argument	Taking a side on an issue and giving reasons to support it
article	Informs a large group of people about a specific topic
article	The adjectives a, an, and the
assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds with different consonant sounds
audience	Those people who read or hear what you have written
bandwagon	Persuasive technique that suggests that "everybody" is doing it, buying it, or believing it

bias	Leaning to one opinion for personal reasons
bibliography/works cited	A list of outside sources used in a piece of writing
brochure/pamphlet	An informational or persuasive text, often folded and utilizing text features, written especially for promotional purposes
build a scene	Snapshot + thoughtshot + dialogue
by-line	A printed line, usually under the title of an editorial or article, giving the writer’s name
cause/effect	Organizational pattern explaining the cause of something and the effects that result
chapters/acts/scenes/ episodes	Ways writers divide stories
character traits	Qualities or descriptive details about a character
characteristics	Qualities or descriptive details
characterization/ character development	The way a writer lets us know about a character. There are four ways: (1) the characters appearance (looks, face, clothing) (2) the character’s thoughts, speech, and actions (3) what others say about the character (4) things the writer directly says about the character Indirect characterization—readers infer details of characters based on clues in the text (#1, 2, 3 above) Direct characterization—author gives specific details of characters (#4 above)
characters	Person, animal, or imaginary creature in literature Major/main character—focus of the story Minor character—less important character Static character—does not change Dynamic character—changes over course of story
chronological order	Organizational pattern in which things happen in time order (the order in which they occurred)
citation	A single listing sources of an outside source of ideas and information used in a piece of writing
clarify	Stop occasionally to review what you understand in the reading
climax	The high point of interest or suspense, turning point
comprehend	Understand
compare	Point out similarities and differences
compare/contrast	Organizational pattern in which the text is organized by showing similarities and differences
conclude	End or wrap up
(draw a) conclusion	To make an assumption or inference based on information
conclusion (of a piece)	The end, which brings together the rest of the piece (for example, by summarizing, offering a resolution, or giving a call to action)
concrete	Something tangible (can be touched)
concrete poetry	Poem that is shaped like something to do with its topic
conflict	A problem or struggle between opposing forces. Two types: (1) external conflict—a character struggles against another character (person vs. person) or an outside force (person vs. nature, person vs. society, person vs. supernatural) (2) internal conflict—a character struggles with own emotions (man vs. self)
conjunction	Part of speech; a word that connects other words
connect	Find similarities between the reading and what has happened in your life
connotation	Words and feelings associated with a word
consonance	Repeated consonant sounds anywhere in words, not just at the beginning
context	Surrounding information that contributes to meaning
contraction	Shortened word based on dialect; an apostrophe is used to show that one or more letters have been left out
conventions	Spelling, capitalization, grammar/usage, and appropriate documentation in a piece of writing
convey	To tell or communicate
costumes	Clothes actors wear appropriate to their characters
couplet	Pair of rhyming lines
define	Give the specific details that make something unique
demonstrate	Provide examples to support a point
denotation	A word’s dictionary definition
describe	Give a picture in words
detail	A specific piece of information that gives support, evidence, or description
dialect	The way we talk based on where we live. Our dialect will sound different from Georgia or New York.
dialogue	Words that characters say in a story
direct quotation	Someone’s exact words
directions	A series of instructions for doing or finding something
divided quotation	Someone’s exact words are interrupted by the speaker tag
drafting	Using sentences and paragraphs to get ideas across
drama	Also called a play, this writing form uses dialogue to share its message and is meant to be performed in front of an audience.
editing	Looking for and fixing mistakes
editorial	Type of article in which the author provides his/her opinion supported by the facts
empathy	Being aware of and sharing another person’s feelings, experiences, and emotions.

ending	Conclusion of a piece of writing. Six types of endings: 1. loop ending—ends at the same place it begins 2. surprise ending—has a twist that takes the reader by surprise 3. summary—repeats main points of the story trying to tie up loose ends 4. happy ending—leaves the reader with no feeling of sadness 5. sad but true ending—we are sad, but it has to be that way 6. mysterious ending—leaves the reader with a big question mark, leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination
evaluate	Form opinions about what you have read
evaluation	Your opinion, supported by facts
evidence	Proof or support
expert opinion	Persuasive technique that uses the thoughts/opinions of someone who is knowledgeable in a specific field
explain	Give reasons
explode a moment	Taking one action moment, imagining the action in slow motion, and describing it in lots of tiny details
explain a process	To detail step-by-step directions
exposition	Part of the plot that introduces characters, setting, and the basic situation/conflict
extended metaphor	Directly compares the same two things more than once
fact	Something known to be true; can be proven
falling action	Part of the plot when the central conflict ends
fiction	Writing that tells an imaginary story
figurative language	Imagery in which you don’t literally mean what you say
flashback	The story is interrupted to show an event that happened in the past
focus	A specific idea
footnotes	Citations or additional information found at the end of text
foreshadowing	A hint to something that might happen in the future
free verse poetry	Poetry with no rules; it has no rhyme scheme and no set rhythm
genre	Types of literature (reading and writing)
generalization	Broad statement about an entire group
glossary	A specialized list of definitions
haiku	Japanese poetry that usually presents a picture of nature. Three lines in length: 1st line = five syllables; 2nd line = seven syllables; 3rd line = five syllables
homonym	A word that has more than one meaning
hook	Something that grabs a reader’s attention
hyperbole	Figurative language in which there is an extreme exaggeration
idea development	Writer develops and supports main ideas and deepens the audience’s understanding
identify	Point out specific persons, places, things, or characteristics
idiom	Phrase that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its words
imagery	Snapshot detail that helps the reader understand the poem’s meaning
index	An alphabetical list of topics and page numbers
indirect quotation	A rewording of someone’s exact words
inference	A logical guess or conclusion based on evidence
informational reading	Reading to discover facts
insight	The ability to look beyond surface details
instructional writing	Writing to teach
interjection	Part of speech; word or phrase used to express strong emotion or surprise
interpret	Give the meaning or significance of something
irony	A technique that uses a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its normal meaning
jargon	Specialized vocabulary, often work-related
lead	First paragraph(s) of a writing piece meant to lead the reader into the piece of writing. It should be attention-getting. Six types of leads: 1. big potato (diamond) lead—jump into the middle of your story and leave your reader wanting more 2. snapshot lead—create a picture in your reader’s mind 3. thoughtshot lead—start with a thought inside a character (or you) 4. talking lead—start with a line or two of dialogue 5. misleading lead—set up expectations then surprise the reader 6. set-up lead—set up the action for the whole story in a few sentences
letter	A handwritten or typewritten communication, usually transmitted by mail Friendly letter—expresses emotions and ideas Social letter—expresses appreciation or communicates information about a specific event Business letter—informs a business that you need its services, or tells how well or badly a service was performed
limerick	A short poem, five lines, rhyme scheme of AABBA and has a specific rhythm
line breaks	Places in poetry where the poet thoughtfully, deliberately decides to move to the next line in a poem.
literal	Exactly what the words say
literary device	Non-literal words or phrases used for description or effect (for example, similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration)
literary reading	Reading for the purpose of entertainment
literary writing	Writing that artfully communicates with the reader about the human condition; includes poems, short stories, and scripts
loaded words	Words that carry hidden emotional meaning
lyric poetry	Poetry that expresses the poet’s feelings and emotions with strong musical quality
main idea	The focus of a selection; what the selection is mostly about
make-up	What is used to enhance facial features or to change actors’ appearances on stage
manual	Instruction book
materials	Resources
memoir	Personal/expressive writing that focuses on the significance of the relationship of the writer with a particular person, place, animal, or thing
memorandum	An informal letter meant to be used within a group of people
metaphor	Figurative language in which two different things are directly compared
misinformation	False facts
monologue	Long speech by one actor
mood	The feeling a piece of literature creates in a reader
moral	The lesson a story teaches
motivation	The reason a character does something
narration	The telling of the story
narrative poetry	Poetry that tells a story
narrator	Teller of the story
non-fiction	Writing that is true
non-literal	Words that don’t really mean what they say
noun	Part of speech; a person, place, thing, or idea
novel	A book length, fictional prose story. Because of its length, a novel’s characters and plot are usually more developed than those of a short story.
ode	A poem written to honor or praise someone or something
onomatopoeia	Words that sound like the noise they represent
opinion	Something a person believes to be true
organization	Putting your writing in an order that helps the reader to understand
organizational patterns	The order that information is presented in a piece of writing: Problem/solution-the text is organized by identifying the problem & solution (s) Cause/effect-the text is organized by explaining the cause of something and explaining its effects. Sequential (present/future)-the text is organized by the order in which it should occur. Chronological (past)- text is organized by the way in which something happened Comparison – text is organized by showing similarities and differences
paraphrase	To rewrite thoughts and ideas in your own words
passage	Reading selection; piece of text
personal narrative	True story about an event in your life
personal/expressive writing	Writing about your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings
personification	Figurative language in which an animal is given human characteristics
persuasive reading	Reading to convince the reader to either do something (or not) or to agree with his/her opinion.
persuasive techniques	Writing techniques used to convince the reader to do something (or not) or to agree with his/her opinion
piece (writing)	A complete text of writing with a specific audience, purpose, and form
plagiarism	Using someone else’s words/work without citation
play	Also called drama, this writing form uses dialogue to share its message and is meant to be performed in front of an audience.
plot	Sequence of events in a story Exposition—introduces the characters, setting, basic situation/conflict Rising action—develops the conflict, includes complications Climax—high point of interest or suspense; turning point Falling action—end of the central conflict Resolution—loose ends are tied up
plural	More than one
poetic technique/poetic device	Figurative language or sound device used in a poem (for example, similes, alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole…)
poetry	A literary work that uses concise, colorful, often rhythmic language to express ideas or emotions
point of view	The perspective from which a story is told First person—narrator is a character within the story and refers to him/herself with the pronoun "I" Omniscient third person—the narrator knows and tells about what each person thinks and feels Limited third person—the narrator relates the thoughts and feelings of only one character, and everything is viewed from that character’s perspective
possessive noun	A person, place, or thing that owns something else
practical/workplace reading	A selection that tells us how to do something or when and where something is happening.
prediction	An educated guess on what will happen
prefix	Word part added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning
preposition	Part of speech; shows the relationship between two nouns
prewriting	Thinking and planning--coming up with a subject to write about, a purpose, and an audience; gathering ideas and details, and making a plan for presenting ideas and details
prioritize	To list in order of importance
problem/solution	An organizational pattern in which the author organizes information by explaining a problem and possible solutions.
procedure	A series of steps to complete a task
pronoun	Part of speech; a word that takes the place of a noun
propaganda	The use of facts, ideas, or claims to persuade people to support a particular opinion or course of action; intended to provoke strong feelings in those who read it
proposal	A detailed plan for doing a project, solving a problem, or meeting a need
props	Items carried on stage by actors
publishing	Last stage in the writing process in which the writer makes a final, clean copy of a piece of writing and shares it with an audience
purpose	The specific reason a person has for writing
questioning	Asking questions in your head while reading
references	Notes that direct a reader to another source; outside sources used in a piece of writing
reflect	To form or express thoughts about
reflective writing	Writing that includes the writer’s examination of his/her writing skills, abilities, approaches, and products
repetition	Use of words, phrases, or lines more than once or emphasis or effect
research	Finding information
resolution	Part of the plot where the solution to the conflict of the story is presented
resources	Things used for help or support
review/critique	A piece of writing that evaluates a thing, idea, or situation
revision	Changing a piece of writing to improve the ideas
rhetorical questions	Persuasive technique that uses questions for effect, not for answering
rhyme scheme	Pattern of rhyme in a stanza or poem
rhythm	Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
rising action	Part of the plot that develops the conflict; complications are presented
root words	Word base from which words are formed
scan	To glance through a text quickly, usually to find information you need
scene	Divisions of a play that make up an act
script	Written or typed text of a play, motion picture, etc.
selection	Reading passage; piece of text
sensory details	Specific details that are usually perceived through the senses
sentence fluency	Writer creates sentences that are complete, correct, controlled, and varied in structure and length
sequence	The text is organized in the order in which things should occur
set	Items on stage in a dramatic performance
setting	Place and the time frame in which the story takes place.
short story	Shorter than a novel, this piece of literature can usually be read in one sitting. Because of its length it has only a few characters and focuses on one problem
shrink a century	Author compresses time in a paragraph or two
sight rhyme	Looks like it should rhyme, but doesn’t (we count it as rhyming—ex. "again" and "pain"
simile	Figurative language that compares two things using the word like, as, or than.
singular	One
skim	To read a passage quickly in order get the general idea
slang	Informal or casual words, specific to a group or generation
small detail	Breaking down the big idea into specific, descriptive images
snapshot	Freezing a moment in time and writing the small details of setting, action, and characters using the five senses
sound device	Poetry techniques that create musical qualities in the poem
speaker tag	Identifies the speaker in dialogue
specialized vocabulary	Technical language specific to a topic
speech	A public talk or address
stage directions	Instructions in parentheses to show emotion or action in a script
stanza	A division in a poem; named for the number of lines it contains; couplet—two, triplet—three, quatrain—4, cinquain—5, sestet—6, septet—7, octave—8
statistics	Persuasive technique using numbers, charts, and graphs that look convincing but may be misleading
subject	Who or what the sentence is about
suffix	An affix or word part added to the end of a word to form a new word or change its part of speech
summarize	Tell the important points in a shortened form
supporting details	Information that explains the main idea; may also give examples
suspended belief	Accepting an author’s ideas despite knowing otherwise
suspense	The reader’s feeling of growing tension and excitement
symbol	An object that represents an idea or concept
symbolism	Representing an idea using a concrete or real object
synonym	A word that means the same or nearly the same as another
table of contents	A list of section titles and pages at the beginning of a piece of writing
task	A job to be completed
teaser	Small part of the story told to encourage the reader to continue
testimonial	Persuasive technique in which a statement is given by someone who has had personal experience with a specific product, person, place, thing, or idea
text	Reading selection or passage
text feature	Parts of a piece of writing that give information outside of the paragraphs (subheadings, bullets, fonts, white space, layout, charts, diagrams, labels, pictures, captions).
theme	Message about life or human nature that is "hidden" in the story
thoughtshot	Freezing a moment in time and writing the small detail of thoughts, feelings, and emotions of your character (or yourself)
tone	The writer’s attitude toward his or her subject. It can be serious, sarcastic, objective, etc.
transactive writing	Informative/persuasive writing that presents ideas for information for authentic audiences to accomplish realistic purposes like those you will encounter in your life
transition	Words or phrases that connect or tie ideas together
verb	Part of speech; a word that expresses an action or a state of being
visualize	Try to imagine what characters, places, or events look like
voice	A writer’s distinctive, personal tone
white space	Space in a poem that have no words. This is what makes a poem look like a poem.
word choice	Language appropriate to the content, purpose, and audience
works cited	A list of outside sources used in a piece of writing.
writing process	A series of stages or steps that a writer goes through to develop ideas and to communicate them clearly in a piece of writing