ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY!
CLICK ON A LETTER BELOW TO SCROLL TO THE WORDS THAT BEGIN WITH THE LETTER. IF A LETTER IS NOT CLICKABLE, THERE ARE NOT ANY WORDS BEGINNING WITH THAT LETTER.
A
ACCOUNT
An account is a report or description of an event or experience.
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ACT
An act is the most major subdivision of a play, made up of scenes.
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ADVANCE
To advance means to bring into consideration or notice, suggest, or propose.
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ADVANTAGE
An advantage is a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.
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ADVOCACY
Advocacy is the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, an idea, or policy.
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ALLUDE
Allude means to mention without discussing at length.
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ALLUSION
An allusion is a reference made to something that is not directly mentioned.
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ANALOGY
An analogy includes similarities between like features of two things on which a comparison may be made.
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ANALYZE
Analyze means to break into smaller components for the purpose of study or examination.
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ANECDOTE
An anecdote is a short account of an interesting or humorous incident.
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ANIMATION
An animation is the result of imparting life, spirit, motion, or activity.
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APPROACH
An approach is a way of dealing with something.
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ARGUMENT
An argument includes words presented with the aim of persuading thought or action.
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ASPECT
An aspect is a distinct feature.
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ASSESS
To assess means to evaluate or estimate quality.
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AUDIO
Audio is related to humanly audible.
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AUTHOR'S PURPOSE
Author's Purpose is the author's reason for composing a text.
B
BASE WORD
A base word is a word part that can stand alone without a prefix and/or a suffix.
BEAUTY
Beauty is the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure/deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestation, a
meaningful design or pattern, or something else.
C
CATEGORY
A category is a class or division of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics.
CENTRAL IDEA
A central idea is the thought, concept, notion, or impression that is of greatest importance in the text or portion of the text. It may be implied or explicitly stated.
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CHARACTER
A character is a personality in a literary work.
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CITATION
A citation is the exact location of a quotation or reference from a text brought forward as support. It is more useful when it includes a line number, paragraph number, page number, and/or author.
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CLAIM
A claim is an assertion to the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.
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CLARITY
Clarity is the quality of being coherent or easy to understand.
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CLIMAX
The climax is the highest point of tension/interest in the plot.
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COMPARE
Compare is the act of noting similarities.
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COMPARISON
A comparison is the process of noting similarities and differences.
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CONCEPT
A concept is an idea, especially an abstract idea.
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CONFLICT
A conflict is the struggle between opposing forces or ideas.
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CONFLICTING
Conflicting means incompatible or clashing.
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CONVINCING
Convincing means having the quality of believability and credibility.
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CONNECTION
A connection is a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else.
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CONNOTATIVE
Connotative refers to the emotions (positive or negative) that are associated with words.
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CONTENT
Content refers to all that is contained/dealt with in a discussion or piece of writing; substance.
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CONTRAST
Contrast is the act of noting differences.
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CONTRIBUTE
Contribute means to be an important factor in; provide help to a cause.
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CONVEY
Convey means to communicate or make known.
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CULTURE
Culture refers to the behaviors and beliefs, characterizations' of a particular group of people.
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CUMULATIVE
Cumulative means increasing by successive addition.
D
DESCRIBE
Describe means to give an account in words (of someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events.
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DESCRIPTION
A description is a spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or event.
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DETERMINE
Determine means to conclude after reasoning; to figure out.
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DEVELOP
Develop means to cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
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DELINEATE
Delineate means to describe, portray, or list in details.
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DIAGRAM
A diagram is a plan, sketch, drawing, or outline designated to demonstrate or explain how something works or to clarify the relationship between the parts of a whole.
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DIALOGUE
Dialogue is the conversation between two or more persons/characters.
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DISADVANTAGE
A disadvantage is an unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness.
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DISCREPANCY
A discrepancy is a difference.
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DISTINCT
Distinct means separate or different from.
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DISTINCTION
A distinction is a difference.
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DISTINGUISH
Distinguish means to note differences.
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DRAMA
A drama is a play; a prose or verse composition telling a story that is intended to be performed by actors. ​
E
ELABORATION
Elaboration is the act of providing intricate and rich detail or the act of developing thoroughly.
EMERGENT
Emergent means related to an introduction.
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EMPHASIS
Emphasis is special attention.
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EMPHASIZE
Emphasize means to lay stress upon.
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ENGAGING
Engaging means having the quality of causing favorable attention or interest.
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EPISODE
An episode is an incident or event that is a part of a larger sequence.
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ESSENTIAL
Essential means absolutely necessary; extremely important.
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EVALUATE
Evaluate means to decide the value or worth after study.
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EVENT
An event is something that happens or happened.
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EVIDENCE
Evidence is facts or information used as support for whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
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EXPLAIN
Explain means to make something clear by describing it in more detail or by revealing relevant facts or ideas.
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EXPLANATION
An explanation is a statement making something clear by describing it in more detail or by revealing relevant facts or ideas.
EXPLICIT
Explicit means clearly stated.
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EXPOSITION
An exposition is writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or explain
F
FABLE
A fable is a short story, typically with animals as the characters, conveying a moral.
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FALLACIOUS
Fallacious means containing or involving a fallacy; illogical; erroneous.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figurative Language is language that contains or uses figures of speech. (E.G. simile, metaphor, personification, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, and idioms.)
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FIRSTHAND
Firsthand information is information directly from an original source.
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FIRST PERSON
First person is a method of storytelling in which the narrator is a character or observer in the story who conveys information to the reader for his/her singular perspective; the narrator uses I, me, we to relate thoughts, experiences, and observations.
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FOCUS
A focus is a center of interest.
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FOLKLORE
A folklore is the traditional beliefs, customs and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.
G
GRAPH
A graph is a diagram representing a connection or relationship among two or more things by a number of distinctive plots, lines, bars, etc.
I
IDENTIFY
Identify means to recognize and name.
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ILLUSTRATION
An illustration is an example or image serving to clarify or prove something.
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IMPETUS
An impetus is the cause of; stimulus.
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INCIDENT
An incident is an individual occurrence or event.
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INDEPTH
Indepth means thorough; detailed.
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INFERENCE
An inference is a logical assumption based on observed facts from the text and one's prior knowledge or experience.
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INTERACT
Interact means to act in such a way as to have an effect on another.
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INTEGRATE
Integrate means to combine.
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INTERACTION
An interaction is a reciprocal action, effect, or influence.
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INTERACTIVE
Interactive means of or related to an activity to respond to user activity.
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INTERPRET
Interpret means to explain, meaning.
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INTERPRETATION
An interpretation is an explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work.
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INTERRELATED
Interrelated refers to how ideas or concepts are connected to or associated with one another.
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INTRODUCTION
An introduction is the act of providing (someone) with a beginning knowledge or first experience with something.
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IRRELEVANT
Irrelevant means not connected with or related to the matter or topic. It is the opposite of relevant.
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IRONY
Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.​
J
JUDGMENT
A judgment is an informed and objective opinion formulated without bias.​
K
KEY DETAILS
Key details are important words or phrases.
L
LITERAL
Literal refers to the ordinary or usual meaning of words.
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LOGICAL
Logical means reasonable or to be expected.
M
MAIN IDEA
Main Idea is what the text is mostly about.
MEANING
Meaning refers to what is intended to be, or actually is expressed or indicated.
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MEDIUM
A medium is a means of communicating information.
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MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia means of or related to the use of more than one means of communicating information.
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MYSTERY
A mystery is anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
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MYTH
A myth is a traditional, ancient story, usually with heroes and Gods.
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NARRATOR
A narrator is the individual who relates or tells the story.
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NON-LITERAL
Non-literal language is language that contains or uses figures of speech.
O
OBJECTIVE
Objective means not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.
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OPINION
An opinion is a belief or conclusion held with confidence, but not substantiated by proof.
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ORAL
Oral means spoken or verbal.
P
PATTERN
A pattern is repetition of an element or elements in a work.
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PERSUASIVE
Persuasive refers to having the quality of changing one's belief and/or actions.
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PLOT
A plot is the pattern of events of a literary work, which includes; an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
POEM
A poem is a composition, usually in verse, that may be characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm.
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POINT OF VIEW
Point of View is the opinion, perspective, position, or viewpoint on a topic or issue.
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PORTRAYAL
Portrayal is a representation or description.
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POWERFUL
Powerful is a characteristic of eliciting a strong reaction not necessarily toward a desired end.
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PREFIX
A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a root or base word.
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PREMISE
A premise is a basis, stated or assumed, on which reasoning proceeds.
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PROPEL
Propel means to drive or cause to move forward or onward.
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PROSE
Prose is the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse.
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PROVOKE
Provoke means to incite or stimulate to action.
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PURPOSE
Author's purpose answers the question, "Why did the author compose the text?"
Q
quantitative
Quantitative refers to involving or relating to considerations of amount or size.
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QUOTE
Quote means to repeat or copy words (of another), usually with acknowledgement of the source.
R
RECOUNT
Recount means retell.
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REFERENCE
Reference means to mention.
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REFINE
Refine means to improve by making small changes.
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relevant
Relevant means closely connected or appropriate to the matter or topic.
RESOLUTION
A resolution is the conclusion of the conflict.
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REVEAL
Reveal means to disclose; unveil; tell.
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RHETORIC
Rhetoric refers to the author's use of language.
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RISING ACTION
Rising action is the action that leads to the climax used to build suspense.
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ROOT
A root is a word part to which a prefix and/or suffix may be added to create a word.
S
SARCASM
Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
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SATIRE
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or exaggeration in exposing, denouncing, deriding, or exposing and criticizing people's stupidity or vices.
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SCENE
1. A scene is a subdivision of a play.
2. A scene is a single event that occurs in a particular time and place.
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SEARCH TOOL
A search tool is a tool used to locate information on the internet.
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SECONDHAND
Secondhand information is information that is not from the original source.
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SEMINAL
Seminal means highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development.
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SEQUENCE
A sequence refers to the following of one thing after another.
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SERIES
A series is a number of things or events of the same class coming one after another.
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SETTING
The setting is where the story takes place.
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SHAPING
Shaping is related to providing more information on an idea, including establishing relevance/context.
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SIGNAL
A signal is something that gives notice or warning.
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SIGNIFICANT
Significant means important; of consequence.
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SIMILE
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using like or as.
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SIMILAR
Similar means alike.
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SPECIFIC DETAILS
Specific details are particular words or phrases.
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STANZA
A stanza is one of the major divisions of a poem; composed of two or more lines usually characterized by a common meter, rhyme, and number of lines.
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STORY
A story is a narrative account, either real or fictitious, told in prose.
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STRONG
Strong means able to perform a specified action well and powerfully.
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STRUCTURE
Structure refers to the arrangement of and relationship between the parts of elements.
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STYLE
Style refers to the way in which something is said.
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SUBJECT
A subject is a person, place, thing, or idea.
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SUCCESSIVE
Successive means following in uninterrupted order.
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SUFFICIENT
Sufficient means adequate or enough for the purpose.
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SUFFIX
A suffix is a word part added to the end of a root or base word.
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SUMMARY
A summary is a brief statement that contains the essential ideas of a longer passage.
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SUPPORT
Support means to hold up or serve as a foundation.
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SURPRISE
Surprise means to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning.
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SYNTHESIS
Synthesis means to combine the constituent elements of separate material into a single or unified entity.
T
TECHNICAL
Technical language is language that treats subject matter in a manner peculiar to a particular field.
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TENSION
Tension is suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
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TEXT FEATURE
A text feature is a unique characteristic of a text that emphasizes an important idea or detail.
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THEME
Theme is an unifying or dominant idea.
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THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis statement is a controlling sentence of the argument or exposition.
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THIRD-PERSON LIMITED
Third-person limited is a method of story telling in which the non-participant narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented only externally.
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THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT
Third-person omniscient is a method of story telling in which the non-participant narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story.
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THOROUGH
Thorough (related to writing) means written with great care and completeness.
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TIME LINE
A time line is a graphic representation showing the passage of times as. line.
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TONE
Author's tone is the author's attitude toward the subject of the text.
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TOPIC
The topic is the subject of the text.
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TRACE
Trace means to find or discover by investigation.
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
Traditional Literature is ancient stories or poems of many cultures that originated orally or through story telling tradition; often attributed to different groups and cultures, but have no known original authors.
U
uncertain
Uncertain means not known; questionable.
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UNDERSTATEMENT
An understatement is the presentation of something as being smaller or less good or important than it actually is.
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UNTOLD
Untold means to not be revealed.
V
VALID
Valid means having some foundation; based on truth.
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VIDEO
Video refers to televised images.
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VISUAL
A visual is done, maintained, or executed by sight.
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