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.
ACT
An act is the most major subdivision of a play, made up of scenes.
ADVANCE
To advance means to bring into consideration or notice, suggest, or propose.
ADVANTAGE
An advantage is a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy is the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, an idea, or policy.
ALLUDE
Allude means to mention without discussing at length.
ALLUSION
An allusion is a reference made to something that is not directly mentioned.
ANALOGY
An analogy includes similarities between like features of two things on which a comparison may be made.
ANALYZE
Analyze means to break into smaller components for the purpose of study or examination.
ANECDOTE
An anecdote is a short account of an interesting or humorous incident.
ANIMATION
An animation is the result of imparting life, spirit, motion, or activity.
APPROACH
An approach is a way of dealing with something.
ARGUMENT
An argument includes words presented with the aim of persuading thought or action.
ASPECT
An aspect is a distinct feature.
ASSESS
To assess means to evaluate or estimate quality.
AUDIO
Audio is related to humanly audible.
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.
CHARACTER
A character is a personality in a literary work.
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.
CLAIM
A claim is an assertion to the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.
CLARITY
Clarity is the quality of being coherent or easy to understand.
CLIMAX
The climax is the highest point of tension/interest in the plot.
COMPARE
Compare is the act of noting similarities.
COMPARISON
A comparison is the process of noting similarities and differences.
CONCEPT
A concept is an idea, especially an abstract idea.
CONFLICT
A conflict is the struggle between opposing forces or ideas.
CONFLICTING
Conflicting means incompatible or clashing.
CONVINCING
Convincing means having the quality of believability and credibility.
CONNECTION
A connection is a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else.
CONNOTATIVE
Connotative refers to the emotions (positive or negative) that are associated with words.
CONTENT
Content refers to all that is contained/dealt with in a discussion or piece of writing; substance.
CONTRAST
Contrast is the act of noting differences.
CONTRIBUTE
Contribute means to be an important factor in; provide help to a cause.
CONVEY
Convey means to communicate or make known.
CULTURE
Culture refers to the behaviors and beliefs, characterizations' of a particular group of people.
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.
DESCRIPTION
A description is a spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or event.
DETERMINE
Determine means to conclude after reasoning; to figure out.
DEVELOP
Develop means to cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
DELINEATE
Delineate means to describe, portray, or list in details.
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.
DIALOGUE
Dialogue is the conversation between two or more persons/characters.
DISADVANTAGE
A disadvantage is an unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness.
DISCREPANCY
A discrepancy is a difference.
DISTINCT
Distinct means separate or different from.
DISTINCTION
A distinction is a difference.
DISTINGUISH
Distinguish means to note differences.
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.
EMPHASIS
Emphasis is special attention.
EMPHASIZE
Emphasize means to lay stress upon.
ENGAGING
Engaging means having the quality of causing favorable attention or interest.
EPISODE
An episode is an incident or event that is a part of a larger sequence.
ESSENTIAL
Essential means absolutely necessary; extremely important.
EVALUATE
Evaluate means to decide the value or worth after study.
EVENT
An event is something that happens or happened.
EVIDENCE
Evidence is facts or information used as support for whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
EXPLAIN
Explain means to make something clear by describing it in more detail or by revealing relevant facts or ideas.
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.
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.
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.)
FIRSTHAND
Firsthand information is information directly from an original source.
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.
FOCUS
A focus is a center of interest.
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.
ILLUSTRATION
An illustration is an example or image serving to clarify or prove something.
IMPETUS
An impetus is the cause of; stimulus.
INCIDENT
An incident is an individual occurrence or event.
INDEPTH
Indepth means thorough; detailed.
INFERENCE
An inference is a logical assumption based on observed facts from the text and one's prior knowledge or experience.
INTERACT
Interact means to act in such a way as to have an effect on another.
INTEGRATE
Integrate means to combine.
INTERACTION
An interaction is a reciprocal action, effect, or influence.
INTERACTIVE
Interactive means of or related to an activity to respond to user activity.
INTERPRET
Interpret means to explain, meaning.
INTERPRETATION
An interpretation is an explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work.
INTERRELATED
Interrelated refers to how ideas or concepts are connected to or associated with one another.
INTRODUCTION
An introduction is the act of providing (someone) with a beginning knowledge or first experience with something.
IRRELEVANT
Irrelevant means not connected with or related to the matter or topic. It is the opposite of relevant.
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.
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.
MEDIUM
A medium is a means of communicating information.
MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia means of or related to the use of more than one means of communicating information.
MYSTERY
A mystery is anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.
MYTH
A myth is a traditional, ancient story, usually with heroes and Gods.
N
NARRATOR
A narrator is the individual who relates or tells the story.
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.
OPINION
An opinion is a belief or conclusion held with confidence, but not substantiated by proof.
ORAL
Oral means spoken or verbal.
P
PATTERN
A pattern is repetition of an element or elements in a work.
PERSUASIVE
Persuasive refers to having the quality of changing one's belief and/or actions.
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.
POINT OF VIEW
Point of View is the opinion, perspective, position, or viewpoint on a topic or issue.
PORTRAYAL
Portrayal is a representation or description.
POWERFUL
Powerful is a characteristic of eliciting a strong reaction not necessarily toward a desired end.
PREFIX
A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a root or base word.
PREMISE
A premise is a basis, stated or assumed, on which reasoning proceeds.
PROPEL
Propel means to drive or cause to move forward or onward.
PROSE
Prose is the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse.
PROVOKE
Provoke means to incite or stimulate to action.
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.
QUOTE
Quote means to repeat or copy words (of another), usually with acknowledgement of the source.
R
RECOUNT
Recount means retell.
REFERENCE
Reference means to mention.
REFINE
Refine means to improve by making small changes.
relevant
Relevant means closely connected or appropriate to the matter or topic.
RESOLUTION
A resolution is the conclusion of the conflict.
REVEAL
Reveal means to disclose; unveil; tell.
RHETORIC
Rhetoric refers to the author's use of language.
RISING ACTION
Rising action is the action that leads to the climax used to build suspense.
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.
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.
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.
SEARCH TOOL
A search tool is a tool used to locate information on the internet.
SECONDHAND
Secondhand information is information that is not from the original source.
SEMINAL
Seminal means highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development.
SEQUENCE
A sequence refers to the following of one thing after another.
SERIES
A series is a number of things or events of the same class coming one after another.
SETTING
The setting is where the story takes place.
SHAPING
Shaping is related to providing more information on an idea, including establishing relevance/context.
SIGNAL
A signal is something that gives notice or warning.
SIGNIFICANT
Significant means important; of consequence.
SIMILE
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using like or as.
SIMILAR
Similar means alike.
SPECIFIC DETAILS
Specific details are particular words or phrases.
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.
STORY
A story is a narrative account, either real or fictitious, told in prose.
STRONG
Strong means able to perform a specified action well and powerfully.
STRUCTURE
Structure refers to the arrangement of and relationship between the parts of elements.
STYLE
Style refers to the way in which something is said.
SUBJECT
A subject is a person, place, thing, or idea.
SUCCESSIVE
Successive means following in uninterrupted order.
SUFFICIENT
Sufficient means adequate or enough for the purpose.
SUFFIX
A suffix is a word part added to the end of a root or base word.
SUMMARY
A summary is a brief statement that contains the essential ideas of a longer passage.
SUPPORT
Support means to hold up or serve as a foundation.
SURPRISE
Surprise means to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning.
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.
TENSION
Tension is suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
TEXT FEATURE
A text feature is a unique characteristic of a text that emphasizes an important idea or detail.
THEME
Theme is an unifying or dominant idea.
THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis statement is a controlling sentence of the argument or exposition.
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.
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.
THOROUGH
Thorough (related to writing) means written with great care and completeness.
TIME LINE
A time line is a graphic representation showing the passage of times as. line.
TONE
Author's tone is the author's attitude toward the subject of the text.
TOPIC
The topic is the subject of the text.
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.
UNDERSTATEMENT
An understatement is the presentation of something as being smaller or less good or important than it actually is.
UNTOLD
Untold means to not be revealed.
V
VALID
Valid means having some foundation; based on truth.
VIDEO
Video refers to televised images.
VISUAL
A visual is done, maintained, or executed by sight.