Story Essentials
The literal dictionary definition.
Denotation
Descriptive language that appeals to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch.
Imagery
A group of words that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.
Independent Clause
A quotation or detail from a passage that supports an answer.
Textual Evidence
The ending that brings a piece of writing to a close.
Conclusion
The struggle or problem a character faces.
Conflict
Using the same word or phrase more than once for emphasis.
A sentence with one independent clause: “The crowd cheered.”
Simple Sentence
A conclusion you reach by combining clues from the text with what you already know.
Inference
An author makes readers wonder whether a character will escape before someone catches them. What term describes this feeling of uncertainty and anticipation?
Suspense
The feeling a reader gets from a story, such as fear, excitement, or sadness.
Mood
The author’s choice of words.
Diction/Word Choice
A sentence with two independent clauses correctly joined: “The crowd cheered, and the players celebrated.”
The main point an informational text develops.
Main/ Central Idea
A narrator says, “Great. Another group project where I do all the work.” What term describes the narrator’s attitude toward the subject?
Tone
The methods an author uses to reveal a character’s personality.
Characterization
The feelings or associations connected to a word beyond its dictionary definition.
Connotation
“Because the team won.” This incomplete sentence needs a complete thought attached to it.
Sentence fragment
A brief, objective retelling of the most important ideas or events.
Summary
What does STEAL stand for?
Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, and Looks
A message about life that a story develops—not just a one-word topic.
Theme
Instead of saying a character is generous, the author shows him giving his lunch to a classmate.
Indirect Characterization
“The team won everyone celebrated.” Two independent clauses are joined without correct punctuation or a connecting word.
Run-on sentence
A position or statement that a writer supports with reasons and evidence.
Claim
A student claims that a character is nervous. Which detail provides the strongest textual evidence?
A. “She wore a blue jacket.”
B. “Her hands shook as she stepped onto the stage.”
C. “The auditorium was full of students.”
D. “The performance began at seven.”
B