Short Story Elements
This term is used to describe the author’s attitude toward their story's subject matter, which is revealed by their creative choices.
The tone.
I told myself to stay calm—stay calm when the screen froze, stay calm when the timer kept ticking, stay calm when nothing worked. What device is used in this example to create effect?
Repetition.
How many written responses will you need to actually create on the OSSLT?
Two: a short answer in response to the news report, and the essay (series of paragraphs expressing an opinion)
This is another term for the word 'brackets'.
Parentheses.
How many planets in our solar system have rings?
Four: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
This is the point on a plot graph immediately after the climax, when the conflict unravels with the main character either winning or losing, leading to the resolution and end of the story.
The falling action.
The WiFi crashed on the day of the online literary test, so my teacher apologized for the minor inconvenience.
This is the term for a form of speech in which a lesser expression is used than what would be expected.
An understatement.
What does R.E.D. stand for, as in the R.E.D. strategy for answering multiple choice test questions?
Read, Eliminate, Decide
This piece of punctuation is used to indicate ownership, or to replace missing letters in a word.
Apostrophe.
This popular gaming company was created in 1889, but back then they were making playing cards instead of video games.
Nintendo
This is the term for a major character in a work of fiction whose personality is fully developed and described, showing multiple character traits and depth.
A round character.
The video she posted online was seriously funny. What is the term for descriptions like 'seriously funny' that contain two contradictory terms?
Oxymoron
What does P.E.A.T. stand for, as in the P.E.A.T. strategy for writing a complete paragraph?
Point, Evidence, Analysis, Tie Back
The cat quietly crept across the room. What word in this sentence is an ADVERB?
Quietly.
This famous metal landmark expands with heat, rising up to 15cm taller in the summer than it stands in the winter.
The Eiffel Tower
This is the term for a round character who experiences significant personality change over the course of a story, due to his/her experiences with conflict or plot events.
Dynamic character.
In the movie Frozen, Hans reveals himself to the audience as a villain before Anna knows that he is evil. What is the term for situations where the audience has more information than the characters involved?
Dramatic irony
What score is considered a passing grade on the OSSLT?
300/400 (70%)
Wow! That movie was amazing. What part of speech is the word WOW?
Interjection
This popular condiment (sauce) was originally sold in pill form to help cure diarrhea.
Ketchup.
In this method of narration, the narrator knows everything and has privileged access to the characters’ thoughts, feelings and motivates; also the narrator is free to move at will in time and place, and to shift from character to character.
Third person omniscient.
She walked into class like Barbie entering the real world—confused, brave, and totally unbothered.
This sentence contains a simile, as well as what other literary device?Allusion
There are SIX different tasks or sections you will need to complete on the OSSLT. Name THREE of them. (Hint: one task is the opinion essay)
Real-life narrative
Information paragraph
Dialogue
News report
Grammar multiple choice
Essay
I wanted to watch the new movie, my friends decided to stay home instead. What is the term for the error in this sentence AND explain how it can be fixed.
This is a comma splice. To fix it, change the comma to a period or semicolon, or add a conjunction such as the word 'but'.
The average human body does this 14 to 17 times per minute.
Blinks.