Figurative Language
Context Clues
Informational Text Techniques
Name that Purpose
Grammar Slammer
100

"But Uncle Pio never ceased watching Camila" (Wilder, 83).

What is HYPERBOLE?

100

"To them it seems impossible that Dona Maria should have put herself to the same pains to dazzle her daughter that most artists expend on dazzling the public" (Wilder, 16).

What is SPEND OR USE UP?

100

An author might use this text structure to describe an unfamiliar topic or term for the reader.

What is DESCRIPTION?

100

An author might write an news article detailing the score of last night's football game for this purpose.

What is to INFORM or EXPLAIN?

100

How long you lived in Pecan Lakes.

What is "How long have you lived in Pecan Lakes?"

200

"So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest, and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared" (Orwell, 26).

What is DRAMATIC IRONY?

200

"Next to me lay a Hungarian Jew suffering from dysentery. He was skin and bones, his eyes were dead" (Wiesel, 78).

What is INFECTION OF THE INTESTINES, CAUSING STOMACH ISSUES?

200
An author who is trying to convince their reader of something will use one of these to strengthen their argument.

What is ETHOS, PATHOS, AND LOGOS?

200

A playwright might write a comedy for this purpose.

What is to ENTERTAIN?

200

Gracies birds got it going on.

What is "Gracie's bird has got it going on."

300

"Gently, on tip-toe, she crossed the landing and, like Blue Beard's wife, trembling half with excitement and wonder, she paused a moment..." (Orczy, 151).

What is ALLUSION?

300

"The Perichole walked home in consternation and sat for a long time gazing into her eyes in the mirror, her palms pressed against her cheeks" (Wilder, 27).

What is FEELINGS OF ANXIETY OR DISMAY?

300
An author's use of this can often reveal biases in their text.

What is CONNOTATIVE WORD CHOICE?

300

A man might write to his bank (trying to get a faulty bank charge reversed) for this purpose.

What is to PERSUADE?

300
I ain't never laughed so hard.
What is "I've never laughed so hard"
400

"Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan" (Wilder, 7).

What is JUXTAPOSITION?

400

"They lost count of the sounds around them, of the dropping of the crisp ash from the grate, of the monotonous ticking of the clock, of the soft, almost imperceptible rustle of something on the floor close beside them" (Orczy, 75).

What is IMPOSSIBLE TO PERCEIVE?

400

Identify the technique:

"In the United States, an estimated 26 million animals are used every year in scientific research and to test products such as shampoo."

What is PRESENTATION OF FACTS/STATISTICS?

400

A daughter might write a letter to her elderly mother (thinking back on their shared memories) for this purpose.

What is to EXPRESS or REFLECT?

400

Taylors gonna circle around the classroom before getting to work.

What is "Taylor is going to circle around the classroom before getting to work."

500

"Passepartout, however, thinking no harm, went in like a simple tourist..." (Verne, 52).

What is SIMILIE?

500

"Had he already laid his plans for catching the daring plotter, red-handed, in France, and sending him to the guillotine without compunction or delay" (Orczy, 157)?

What is A FEELING OF GUILT THAT PREVENTS OR FOLLOWS THE DOING OF SOMETHING BAD?

500
An author might use this text structure to showcase differences between, say, Hong Kong and Mainland China.

What is COMPARE AND CONTRAST?

500

A movie critic might write a review of the latest Spiderman movie for this purpose.

What is to EVALUATE or JUDGE?

500

I watched TV did my CAP and walked to the store to get milk

I watched TV, did my CAP, and walked to the store to get milk.