Short Stories
Nonfiction
Test Words
Poetry
Writing
100
The people or animals in a story.
What are characters?
100
Showing how things are similar and different.
What is compare and contrast?
100
Conversations between characters.
What is dialogue?
100
Intentional exaggeration.
What is hyperbole?
100
During this stage, writers use a graphic organizer or web to organize their ideas.
What is planning?
200
Where and when a story takes place.
What is the setting?
200
Why something happens and what the result will be.
What is cause and effect?
200

This term refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter, such as being sarcastic, serious, or objective.

What is TONE?

200
Giving an object or animal abilities or characteristics of humans or other living creatures.
What is personification.
200
For an essay, the name for the paragraphs that should be focused on and should address the points of focus included in the thesis statement.
What are body paragraphs?
300
The events in the story.
What is the plot?
300
The main message of a paragraph or passage.
What is the main idea?
300

To arrive at a conclusion or "read between the lines" using evidence from the text and your own knowledge.

What is to INFER?

300
A series of words that begin with the same consonant sound.
What is alliteration?
300
For an essay, this belongs at the end of the introductory paragraph.
What is a thesis statement?
400
The main problem in the story.
What is the conflict?
400
Putting together the main points of an article or reading selection.
What is summarizing?
400

These two words describes the most important point an author is making in a text, often supported by details.

What is the Central Idea?

400
Comparing two things using like or as.
What is a simile?
400
In writing, the name for a question, or a brief quotation, or a brief, vivid description of a person or scene in the very beginning of the paper.
What is a hook, lead, or attention-getter?
500
The truth about life and living that the author wants readers to see and understand.
What is the theme?
500
Hints that help to define an unknown word in a sentence paragraph.
What are context clues?
500

This specific type of evidence is taken word-for-word from the text and must be enclosed in quotation marks.

What is a Direct Quote?

500
Comparing two things by saying that one thing is the other and not using "like" or "as."
What is metaphor?
500
This section or sentence comes at the close of a piece of writing.
What is a conclusion?