Plot Terms
The beginning of a short story where the characters are introduced and we learn the setting of the story.
What is exposition?
A type of story that contain elements that are made up or created from the author's imagination.
What is fiction?
What is biography?
A reference book that contains alphabetically ordered words, with explanations of their meanings, often with information about grammar and pronunciation.
What is dictionary?
The text talks about similarities and differences between people, places, things, etc.
Uses signal words such as: different from, same as, similar to, opposed to...
What is compare and contrast?
The main problem in the story
What is conflict?
A type of story in which all of the information is based on known facts and nothing is made up.
What is non-fiction?
Words that have the same meaning
A book that lists words related to each other in meaning, usually giving synonyms and antonyms.
What is thesaurus?
The text outlines events in order using dates, or lists steps in a procedure
Signal words: first, second, initially, not long after...
What is sequence/chronological order?
The series of events leading up to the climax; interest and suspense builds up
Stories that are originally passed down from one generation to another by word of mouth.
What is folk tale?
An account of someone's life written by that person.
What is index?
The text gives information about a problem and explains on or more solutions.
Signal words: problem, solution, the question is, the answer is..
What is problem & solution?
All loose ends of the plot are tied up and the conflict is solved.
Stories that take place in a particular time period in the past. Often the setting is real, but the characters are fictional.
What is historical fiction?
A technique to use what you know from the story to make predictions
What is inference?
A book containing maps and statistics relating to geographic regions.
What is atlas?
The text describes an event and the effects that follow.
Signal words: consequently, as a result of, for this reason...
What is cause & effect?
Events occurring after the turning point leading to the end of a story.
Stories that usually explain something about the world and involve gods and other supernatural beings; fictional stories.
What is myth?
A technique used by authors to predict something will happen later
What is foreshadowing?
An annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of events and phenomena, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon, tides, etc.
What is almanac?
The text provides details or characteristics of something.
Signal words: for example, to illustrate, for instance...
What is description?