Figurative Language and Literary Devices
This literary device uses "like" or "as" to compare two unlike things, as in "Her smile was as bright as the sun."
What is a simile?
This text structure presents a problem and then offers one or more solutions, commonly found in science and social studies articles.
What is problem and solution?
In nonfiction, this is the most important point the author makes about a topic — similar to theme in fiction.
What is the central idea (or main idea)?
The word "chronological" contains the Greek root "chron." Knowing this root, a student can determine that chronological order means this.
What is order by time (events arranged from earliest to latest)?
An author who writes to convince the reader to think or act a certain way has this purpose.
What is to persuade?
When an author hints at something that will happen later in a story, this technique is called _____.
What is foreshadowing?
When an author states a claim and then supports it with reasons and evidence, the organizational pattern is called this.
What is a claim and support (argument, debate, etc is also acceptable)
A theme is different from a topic. If the topic of a story is "friendship," a fully stated theme would look like this. (Student comes up with an example)
What is a complete sentence expressing a life lesson about friendship — for example, "True friendship means standing by someone even when it is difficult"?
When a word has a literal meaning and a suggested or emotional meaning, the emotional meaning is called this.
What is connotation?
When an author chooses to begin a story in the middle of the action rather than at the beginning, this technique is called this.
What is in media res?
This type of irony occurs when the audience knows something that a character does not, creating tension or humor.
What is dramatic irony?
Two authors can write about the same event but present different information based on this, which reflects their background, beliefs, or agenda.
What is perspective (or point of view/bias)?
When summarizing an informational text, a student should include the central idea and key supporting details but leave out these two things.
What are minor details and the student's own opinions?
The word "benevolent" comes from the Latin roots "bene" (good) and "volent" (wishing). A benevolent leader would be described as this.
What is kind, generous, or wishing good things for others?
An author's overall attitude toward their subject or audience, revealed through word choice and tone, is called this.
What is the author's tone?
An extended metaphor that runs throughout an entire poem or story — rather than appearing in just one line — is called this.
In an argument, this is the opposing viewpoint that an author acknowledges and then argues against.
What is a counterclaim (or counterargument)?
This term describes how an author returns to and builds upon a central idea across multiple paragraphs, strengthening it with new evidence each time.
What is development of a central idea (or elaboration)?
A word's denotation is its dictionary definition. The word "home" and the word "residence" have the same denotation but different versions of this.
What is connotation? ("Home" feels warm and personal; "residence" feels formal and detached.)
When an author structures a story so that it moves back and forth between the present and the past, the sections set in the past are called this.
What are flashbacks?
When an author references another well-known work, historical event, or cultural figure within their text, it is called this.
What is an allusion?
This type of evidence uses numbers, statistics, or data to support a claim and is considered especially convincing in persuasive writing.
What is quantitative evidence (or statistical evidence)?
When two texts address the same topic but reach different conclusions, readers must evaluate each author's reasoning and this quality of their evidence.
What is the relevance and sufficiency (or strength) of the evidence?
Academic vocabulary words like "analyze," "evaluate," "synthesize," and "cite" appear across all subject areas. These cross-curricular words are sometimes called this.
What are Tier 2 words (or academic vocabulary)?
This rhetorical appeal relies on the credibility and trustworthiness of the author or speaker to persuade an audience.
What is ethos?