Making Meaning
The perspective that the story is told from
What is Point of View?
The central point, argument, or thesis, often supported by evidence
What is Claim?
A comparison between two things using like or as
What is Simile?
A feeling of tension or excitement that the reader feels about what might happen next
What is Suspense?
The central struggle between opposing forces that drives a story's plot, creates tension, and forces characters to change
What is Conflict?
The direct, explicit meaning of a word, often thought of as the "dictionary" definition
What is Denotation?
A claim that negates or disagrees with the original claim, used to show opposing perspectives
What is Counterclaim?
A comparison between two things stating that one is the other
What is Metaphor?
A vision from the past that the character has or the writer tells us about
What is Flashback?
The main message in a story, novel, essay, or poem
What is Theme?
The implied, associative, or emotional meaning of a word, which can be positive, negative, or neutral
What is Connotation?
The primary reason or intent behind a piece of writing—to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe
What is Author’s Purpose?
A type of language that an author uses to get a deeper meaning (you may need to read between the lines)
What is Figurative Language?
A hint or vision of an upcoming event in a story
What is Foreshadowing?
The author’s, narrator’s, or speaker's attitude toward the subject matter, characters, or audience, typically conveyed through diction (word choice), syntax, and style
What is Tone?
Information is based on facts, verifiable evidence, and measurable data, remaining unbiased and independent of personal feelings
What is Objective?
the primary message or core argument an author wants the reader to understand and remember from a text
What is Central Idea?
When an author creates a picture in the readers’ mind by describing a person, place, or thing using figurative language
What is Imagery?
When the opposite of what you expect happens
What is Irony?
The feeling you get when you read a piece of writing
What is Mood?
Information is based on personal feelings, opinions, interpretations, or experiences, which can differ from person to person
What is Subjective?
the main idea, argument, or point of an essay, usually summarized in one or two sentences
What is Thesis?
Components of a text, such as headings, photos, captions, and glossaries, that help readers navigate information, locate details, and understand content better
What is Text Features?
The technique authors use to develop and bring characters to life, defining their personalities, physical traits, and motivations
What is Characterization?
The organizational framework an author uses to arrange information by connecting ideas with description, sequence, cause/effect, compare/contrast, and problem/solution
What is Text Structure?