Comparing two unalike things using like or as.
Simile
The author describes the details of a topic.
Descriptive
This is the message of a story.
Theme
The most important part of the story where the heroes face their conflict.
Climax
Noun
A person, place or thing
The children in the orphanage might have starved had it not been for the benevolence of the nuns, who sacrificed their own small salaries to provide food for the children.
Kindness
I forgot to bring my backpack to school but at least I remembered my homework.
I forgot to bring my backpack to school, but at least I remembered my homework.
Comparing two unalike things without using like or as.
Metaphor
The author compares two or more things, listing the advantages and disadvantages.
Compare and Contrast
This is a one sentence description of a story.
Gist
Where the story takes place.
Setting
Verb
A word that describes the action in a sentence
After weeks of avoiding him, Annie finally found the courage to tell David that she wasn’t interested in him; and even though David was heart broken, he appreciated her candor.
Honesty
The coldest months of the year are December January and February.
The coldest months of the year are December, January, and February.
Giving something that is not a person human traits.
Personification
The author presents an issue and discusses how to fix it.
Problem and Solution
These are two words that mean the same thing.
Synonyms
The events that occur in the first half of the story as it gets more interesting.
Rising Action
Adjective
A word that describes a noun
Due to the scarcity of food in her territory, the mother lioness had to roam far from safe ground to find a meal for her child.
Rareness
Wow I almost left my pencil and paper in my locker.
Wow, I almost left my pencil and paper in my locker.
Exaggerating something to evoke strong emotions.
Hyperbole
The author lists a series of steps in order.
Sequence/Sequential Order
This is the main challenge the characters in a story face.
Conflict
The events that occur near the end of the story as it winds down.
Falling Action
Adverb
A word that describes a verb
When John saw his report card, he was excited because he had all As and an A- in Biology; but when his fastidious mother saw his report card, she shook her head in disappointment.
Careful
Before I went to the movie I remembered to call my friend.
Before I went to the movie, I remembered to call my friend.
Using a word that makes its own sound.
Onomatopoeia
The author explains the results of something, or why something happened.
Cause and Effect
This is a story told by a narrator.
Narrative
The end of the story.
Resolution
Conjunction
A word that joins two parts of a sentence
Zach wanted to play football with the other kids but, with his horrible deficiencies in coordination, he couldn’t catch or throw the ball.
Lack of Ability
Thank you for inviting me to the party Stephen.
Thank you for inviting me to the party, Stephen.
Expressing an idea that cannot be taken literally and only makes sense if the reader has heard it before.
Idiom
The author describes events that occurred on a timeline.
Chronological Order
This is what we call the details authors add to a story that describe the five senses.
Sensory Detail
The beginning of the story where the characters and setting are introduced.
Exposition
Preposition
A word that describes the position of something
If you go to the party wearing your best smile, laugh good naturedly, and try your dance steps out (even if you aren’t the best dancer), you will attract attention with your amiable disposition.
Likeable
On July 20th 1969 astronauts landed on the moon for the first time.
On July 20th, 1969, astronauts landed on the moon for the first time.