Literary Terms
Vocabulary
More Vocabulary
Test Taking Tips
Essay
100
SIMILE
A comparison between 2 things using like or as. Example : "My hair is as soft as silk."
100
INTERNAL CONFLICT
This is when a character is battling with his/her own feelings or issues.
100
SYMBOLISM
A person, place or thing that stands for an idea or a concept. Ex: an eagle symbolizes freedom.
100
What to do the night before and the morning of the CAHSEE
You should have a good night sleep and eat breakfast in the morning. *Make sure you are well rested and you are not hungry before the test. This will allow you to focus on the test.
100
The 3 parts of an essay
The introduction, the body and the conclusion
200
PERSONIFICATION
Giving human qualities to something that is not real. Example: "The door reached out and hit me!"
200
INFERENCE
An educated guess based on information in the passage . . .
200
FORESHADOWING
Providing hints at what will happen in the future.
200
Active reading
Taking notes in the margins of passages, making predictions, analyzing, inferring, and looking for main ideas to understand the material better.
200
THESIS
The last sentence of your first paragraph.
300
Imagery
The use of words to create vivid mental images or pictures in the reader's mind. Example: The lady was wearing bright pink pants, a bright orange tank top and a diamond studded top hat.
300
CONNOTATION
The feelings and associations a word brings to mind; the emotional impression a word makes. Example: The term "Brat" has a negative connotation because "brat" is associated with a "bad child."
300
PROTAGONIST
The main character in a story or play, the character who is at the center of the story; often the "good guy."
300
Predict before you peek.
A strategy for answering multiple choice questions.
300
Do this after reading the essay prompt and before beginning to write your essay.
Write an outline
400
METAPHOR
A comparision between two things without using a connector, such as "like" or "as." Ex. "You are my sunshine."
400
FIGURATIVE MEANING
An imaginative use of a word meaning something different form its simple dictionary definition. Example: "The comedian killed it tonight."
400
DENOTATION
The dictionary definition of a word. Example: If you look up "brat" in a dictionary it will say that it means "a child."
400
Do this when you read the essay prompt
Reword the prompt in your own words so you know what to write about.
400
The number of major ideas should you write about in one paragraph.
ONE! Remember, you will list your three arguments in your THESIS. Each body paragraph should focus on only ONE idea. Remember to include specific examples and EXPLAIN how your examples support your thesis.
500
Irony
When what is expected is the opposite of what really happens. Example: In the story of King Midas, the king believed that his golden touch would bring him great joy and happiness. Instead, his golden touch brought him great sadness.
500
IDIOM
A special expression that is peculiar to itself grammatically and cannot be understood if taken literally. Ex: "In your dreams. . ."
500
THEME
A general observation about life or human nature expressed through a work of literature. Examples of themes include, "Loyalty will always be rewarded" and "Good things come to those that wait.
500
The most important thing you should do when taking the CAHSEE?
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Believe that you will pass the test. See yourself opening up the envelope of test results and receiving a passing score. You will pass if you believe you can.
500
Start a new paragraph.
Do this when you change to a new topic in your essay.
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