Terms Flashcards
What is accismus?
Feigning a lack of interest in something while actually desiring it.
Are you accusing me of wanting that? Yes I lowkey do
A pretended, ironic refusal of something that one wants.
What do adjectives describe?
Nouns and pronouns.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
What is an apostrophe in literature?
A device where the writer detaches from reality and addresses some abstraction or personification that is not physically present.
Define alliteration.
Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
Example: The big bad bear buried bones in the backyard.
What is an allusion?
A reference to something well-known that exists outside the literary work. • “He was as strong as Hercules!” → (Allusion to Greek mythology)
• “She had a smile like the Mona Lisa.” → (Allusion to a famous painting)
• “This place is a real Wonderland!” → (Allusion to Alice in Wonderland)
What does allegory represent?
A story in which people or actions represent an idea or generalization about life.
What is an anacoluthon?
Mar-a-thon- Pause or break when your tired
A sudden shift in sentence structure, often creating an interruption or change in thought.
Example:
“I warned him that if he continues down that path—well, what’s done is done.”
The sentence starts as if it will follow a clear structure but then shifts unexpectedly, mimicking natural speech or hesitation.
Define analogy.
A comparison of objects or ideas that appear to be different but are alike in some important way.
Who is the antagonist?
A character or group of characters that stand in opposition to the protagonist.
What is antithesis?
Antithesis – A rhetorical device that contrasts two opposite ideas in a parallel structure.
Example:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
— Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
anti like they are against each other
List the three types of antonyms.
- Gradable Antonyms – Words with opposite meanings that exist on a spectrum.
- Example: Hot ⇄ Cold (can have degrees like warm, cool)
- Complementary Antonyms – Words that are either one or the other, with no in-between.
- Example: Dead ⇄ Alive (you can’t be “partly dead”)
- Relational Antonyms – Pairs where one implies the existence of the other.
- Example: Buy ⇄ Sell (one action depends on the other)
GCR
What is anastrophe?
YODA’STROPHE
The deliberate changing of normal word order for emphasis. “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.”
By flipping the usual order, the phrase feels more mysterious and poetic.
Another simple example:
* Normal: “I will go to the store.”
* Anastrophe: “To the store I will go.”
What is an aphorism?
An aphorism teaches you something. “Life’s short, eat dessert first.” 🍰deep and to the point
An epigram roasts something (or someone) while sounding smart. “I can resist everything except temptation.” – Oscar Wilde
Epigram = witty
Aphorism = wise
Define anticlimax.
A rhetorical device defined as a disappointing situation or a sudden transition from an important idea to a trivial one.
What does apocalypse refer to?
A genre of prophetic writing popular among millenialist early Christians.
What is an appositive?
A noun or pronoun set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.
My brother, a talented guitarist, just joined a band.
Define archetype.
A typical character, action, or situation that represents universal patterns of human nature.
What is assonance?
Repetition of vowel sounds.
“Hear the mellow wedding bells.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Hear the “eh” sound in mellow and wedding? That’s assonance doing her thing.
What is asyndeton?
a-sin-dit-on
Commas used to separate a series of words no and
“I came, I saw, I conquered.” – Julius Caesar (no and!)
“Asyndeton = Absence of ‘and’.”
(Also looks a lil like assassin… and it totally kills conjunctions 😎)
What is authentic writing?
Any writing a student might do for a real-world purpose, other than demonstrating writing ability to a teacher.
What is Basque (Euskara)?
The only surviving language of Western Europe’s pre-Indo-European past.
Language isolate (no relation to other languages)
Spoken in the Basque Country (Spain & France)
Pre-Indo-European origin
Survived despite Indo-European languages spreading
Define bildungsroman.
A type of story detailing the education and maturation of a young protagonist.
What is blank verse?
Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.
What is a book pass?
An instructional method for introducing students to a variety of works in a short period.
Speed dating with books
What is burlesque?
It’s a way of mocking or parodying ideas and conventions by presenting them in an exaggerated, often absurd, manner.
It’s like taking something super serious (like a Shakespearean tragedy) and turning it into a comedic mockery—or making a super casual event (like dancing or eating) feel like it’s grandiose and epic! 🎭
What is a capitonym?
A word that is spelled the same but has a different meaning when capitalized.
Define caricature.
A representation where the subject’s characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated.
What are the types of character?
- Static character
- Dynamic character
- Flat character
- Round character
- Protagonist
- Antagonist
- Foil
What is a caesura?
A natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.
What are the capitalization rules?
Capitalize the first word of a document, proper nouns, and titles used before names.
What is a catastrophe in literature?
The tragic denouement in a play, especially a tragedy.
Define catharsis.
The cleansing of emotions in literature; a radical change leading to emotional rejuvenation.
What is cause and effect in writing?
An organization pattern where actions lead to results.
What is a cento?
A poem that has been put together from lines of other poems.
Define chronological order in writing.
A pattern where ideas are presented in the order they occurred in time.
What is a cinquain?
A short poem consisting of five lines with specific syllable counts.
What is a citation in MLA format?
Salinger, J.D. ‘The Catcher in the Rye.’ New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 1945.
What is a conceit?
A figure of speech that likens two vastly different objects with similes or metaphors.
Define cliche.
A worn-out idea or overused expression.
What is a clause?
A group of related words containing a subject and a verb.
List the types of clauses.
- Dependent
- Independent
- Subordinate
- Adjective
- Restrictive/Non-restrictive
- Elliptical
- Coordinate
- Nominal
What is a subordinate clause?
A clause that cannot stand alone and begins with a subordinating conjunction.
What is an adjective clause?
A clause that contains a subject and verb, begins with a relative pronoun, and functions as an adjective.
What is the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses?
Nonrestrictive clauses are not essential to the meaning of the sentence and can be removed without changing its basic meaning.
What is an elliptical clause?
A clause in which some words have been left out but can be inferred from the context.
What is a coordinate clause?
A clause of equal grammatical importance with another clause.
What is a nominal clause?
A clause that functions as a noun.
What is clustering?
An organizational tool that starts with a single word idea which students build upon.
What are cognate words?
Words that are related and have the same origin or root.
What is a semicolon used for?
To join independent clauses in compound sentences without conjunctions.
What are concentric circles in education?
An exercise encouraging one-on-one communication between students.
What is concept mapping?
An instructional strategy requiring learners to identify and graphically represent concepts.
What are cognate words?
Words that are related and have the same origin or root word.
What is the purpose of a semicolon?
Used to join independent clauses in compound sentences that do not have coordinating conjunctions.
What is concentric circles in educational activities?
An effective exercise in agendas where building relationships is important and encourages one-on-one communication.
What is concept mapping?
An instructional strategy that requires learners to identify, graphically display, and link key concepts.
Define concrete poetry.
Poetry in which the arrangement of words on the page is as important as traditional poetic elements.
What is conferencing in writing instruction?
The process of discussing a piece of writing, assessing its strengths and weaknesses, and setting goals based on the evaluation.
What are the types of conflict in literature?
- Physical - Person vs. nature
- Social - Person vs. society
- Person vs. Person
- Internal/Psychological - Person vs. self
- Metaphysical - Person vs. Fate or Deity.
What does a subordinating conjunction do?
Connects an independent clause with one or more dependent-subordinate clauses.
What is a correlative conjunction?
Conjunctions that always come in pairs and connect words of equal importance.
Define connotation.
All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests apart from its explicit meaning.
What is consonance?
Repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase.
What is a contranym?
A word that can be an antonym of itself.
What is closet drama?
A dialogue-based form of literature that reads as a play but is not intended to be performed.
What is a couplet in poetry?
A pair of successive lines of verse that rhyme and are the same length.
Define creole.
A stable, natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages.
What is a dactyl?
A metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.
What is denotation?
Literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative meanings.
What does denouement refer to?
The resolution of the issue of a complicated plot.
What is dialect?
A variation of a language characteristic of a particular group of speakers.
Define diction.
A speaker or writer’s choice of words.
What is discipline-based inquiry?
The practice of learning about a writing form by dissecting it and navigating its parts.
How does Foucault define discourse?
Systems of thought composed of ideas, attitudes, and practices that systematically construct subjects and worlds.
What are Donald Graves’s six writing principles?
- Writing time
- Modeling
- Ownership
- Conferencing
- Revising
- Post writing/publishing.
What is the difference between effect and affect?
- Effect = a result of something
- Affect = to produce a change in something.
Define parallelism in literature.
Presenting two ideas that are equal in some way, often using similar construction.
What is an elegy?
A type of lyric poem which laments the loss of something or someone.
What does emendation seek to accomplish?
To restore a text to its most authentic form.
What is enjambment in poetry?
Use of a line of poetry whose sense and rhythmic movement continues to the next line.
Define epigram.
A short, pithy saying, usually in verse, often with a quick, satirical twist at the end.
What is an epiphany in literature?
A moment where a character achieves realization or awareness.
What is etymology?
The study of the history and origin of words.
Define an epistolary novel.
A novel in letter form written by one or more characters.
What does existentialism emphasize?
Personal responsibility and individual existence, freedom, and choice.
What is exhortation?
A strong urging or pleading.
What is exposition in literature?
A literary device used to introduce background information.
What is the Fair Use Doctrine?
Allows teachers to make a limited number of copies of copyrighted works for classroom use.
What is faulty parallelism?
When two or more parts of a sentence are not parallel in form.
What is faulty predication?
When the subject does not logically fit with the rest of the sentence.
What is a figure of speech?
A device used to produce figurative language.
Define anaphora.
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
What is chiasmus?
A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed.
What is a euphemism?
An inoffensive way of saying something offensive.
What is irony in literature?
Use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.
Define situational irony.
Discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
What is dramatic irony?
Discrepancy between a character’s perception and what the audience knows to be true.
What is cosmic irony?
Misfortune that is the result of Fate, chance, or deity.
Define Socratic irony.
Feigned ignorance of the other’s situation to draw knowledge out.
What is verbal irony?
Discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
What is litotes?
An understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
What is a pun?
A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word.
What is understatement?
Deliberately making a situation seem less important than it is.
What is the Flesch-Kincaid Formula?
A method to assign a level of difficulty to a text based on syllables and sentence length.
What is a frame story?
A main story that organizes a series of shorter stories.
What is free verse in poetry?
Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme.
What is foreshadowing?
A literary device that gives an advance hint of what is to come later.
What is formative assessment?
Assessment used throughout teaching to gauge students’ understanding.
Define gerund.
A form derived from a verb that functions as a noun, ending in -ing.
What are the three types of grammar?
- Descriptive
- Comparative
- Functional.
What are graphic organizers?
Visual tools that guide learners’ thinking and enhance understanding of subject matter.
Define grotesque in literature.
Concerned about distortion and transgression of boundaries, often blending the real and the fantastic.
What is hamartia?
The flaw in character that leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy.
What is the Harlem Renaissance?
A black literacy and cultural movement from 1920 to 1940.
What is the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy?
Inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero who is otherwise a superior being favored by fortune.
What does the term Harlem Renaissance refer to?
A black literacy and cultural movement from 1920 to 1940 that produced works depicting the role of blacks in contemporary American society.
What is holistic scoring?
An impressionistic method that evaluates writing based on the total impression rather than individual aspects.
Define homophones.
Words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
Define homonyms.
Two words that sound alike and are spelled alike but have different meanings.
What are homographs?
Words that are spelled the same way but may have different pronunciations and meanings.
What is hyperbole?
Exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
Describe the Introduction-Body-Conclusion Strategy (IBC).
An organizational method ensuring sufficient supporting details in essays and paragraphs.
What is inversion in writing?
A reversal of the usual order of words to achieve emphasis or meter.
What is a KWL chart used for?
To document what students know, what they want to know, and what they learned.
How many lines does a limerick have?
Five lines.
What are the main literary elements?
- Characterization
- Setting
- Tone
- Plot Structure
- Mood
What does tone refer to in literature?
The attitude of the author or narrator determined through analysis of stylistic elements.
Define logical fallacy.
An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.
What is an Ad Hominem fallacy?
An argument based on the failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case.
What is the Ad Populum fallacy?
An argument that claims something is true because it is popular.
Define ambiguity in the context of logical fallacies.
Using double meanings or ambiguities of language to mislead or misrepresent the truth.
What is an anecdotal fallacy?
Using personal experience or an isolated example instead of a valid argument, especially to dismiss statistics.
What is the appeal to ignorance fallacy?
Assuming that whatever cannot be proven false must be true.
What does the argument from omniscience entail?
An argument that would require omniscience to know about everyone’s beliefs or knowledge.
What is the appeal to faith fallacy?
Relying on faith as the basis of an argument, without logic or evidence.
What does the appeal to nature fallacy suggest?
That something is better simply because it is natural.
What is the appeal to tradition fallacy?
Arguing that something should continue because it has traditionally existed.
What is the argument to authority fallacy?
Citing an authority figure instead of providing actual evidence for an argument.
What is the appeal to consequences fallacy?
Concluding a premise based on whether it leads to desirable or undesirable consequences.
What does the appeal to emotion fallacy involve?
Using emotionally charged language to persuade the reader instead of providing a valid argument.
What is the argument from adverse consequences fallacy?
Asserting that an argument must be false/true because it would create negative results.
What is the Argumentum Ad Baculum fallacy?
An appeal to force that distracts by making the audience afraid of disagreeing.
Define the bandwagon fallacy.
Assuming something is good, correct, or desirable simply because it is popular.
What is begging the question?
A circular argument where the conclusion is included within the premise.
What is a false dilemma fallacy?
Offering a limited number of options when more options are available.
What does the burden of proof fallacy entail?
Claiming that the burden of proof lies with someone else to disprove.
What is circular reasoning?
Restating the point instead of providing evidence.
Define the composition fallacy.
Assuming what’s true about one part applies to all or other parts.
What is confirmation bias?
Focusing on evidence that supports existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them.
What is the confusion of correlation and causation fallacy?
Assuming that correlation proves causation.
What is the fallacy fallacy?
Presuming a claim is wrong because it has been poorly argued or contains a fallacy.
Define the genetic fallacy.
Judging something based on its origins rather than its merits.
What are half-truths in logical fallacies?
Statements that omit facts necessary for an accurate description.
What is a hasty generalization?
A conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.
What are loaded questions?
Questions that contain assumptions, making it impossible to answer without appearing guilty.
Define the middle ground fallacy.
Assuming the middle position between two extremes is correct simply because it is the middle position.
What is moral equivalence in logical fallacies?
Comparing minor problems with much more serious crimes.
What is a non sequitur?
An inference or conclusion that does not follow from established premises or evidence.
What does the no true Scotsman fallacy involve?
Dismissing criticisms by excluding specific cases without objective reasoning.
Define personal incredulity.
Claiming something isn’t true simply because it’s difficult to understand.
What is post hoc, ergo propter hoc?
Assuming that if ‘A’ occurred after ‘B’, then ‘B’ must have caused ‘A’.
What is proving non-existence?
Challenging someone to disprove a claim when evidence cannot be provided.
What is a red herring?
A diversionary tactic that avoids key issues by changing the subject.
What is the reification fallacy?
Treating an abstract belief as if it represents a concrete event.
What is the slippery slope fallacy?
Arguing that allowing A will lead to Z through a series of small steps.
What does special pleading entail?
Creating exceptions when a claim is shown to be false.
What is Special Pleading?
Moving the goalposts to create exceptions when a claim is shown to be false.
A presentation of an argument emphasizing only a favorable aspect of the issue.
What is a Straw Man argument?
Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.
Oversimplifying an opponent’s viewpoint and attacking that weaker argument.
What is the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy?
Cherry-picking data clusters to suit an argument or finding a pattern to fit a presumption.
Example: Claiming sugar drinks are healthy based on selective data.
What does Tu Quoque mean?
Avoiding criticism by turning it back on the accuser.
Answering criticism with criticism.
Define Use-Mention Error.
Confusing a word or concept with something that supposedly exists.
A common linguistic error.
What is a Lyric Poem?
A short poem that expresses personal feelings.
Characterized by brevity and emotional expression.
What is Magical Realism?
Describing events realistically but within a magical haze of local customs and beliefs.
A literary genre that incorporates fantastic elements into realistic fiction.
What is a Maxi-lesson?
A lesson that involves displaying a draft of writing and asking for suggestions from the class.
Encourages peer feedback and revision.
What is Menippean Satire?
A form of storytelling that uses narrative and dialogues to show different points of view.
Often complex and fragmented in nature.
Define Melodrama.
An exaggerated reality that appeals to emotions through symbolism and allegory.
Characterized by sensational dramatic pieces.
What is a Memoir?
An autobiographical account of one’s personal life and experiences.
Based on intimate knowledge and personal observation.
What is Metonymy?
A figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else closely associated with it.
Describes something indirectly by referring to related concepts.
What is a Motif?
An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work.
Contributes to the development of theme.
Define Metaphor.
A figure of speech that makes an implicit comparison between two unlike things.
Every metaphor consists of a tenor and a vehicle.
What is Mind Mapping?
A visual form of note-taking that offers an overview of a topic and its complex information.
Encourages the expansion of ideas from a central concept.
What is Mock Heroic?
A satirical imitation of the heroic manner or style.
Used to satirize unheroic subjects.
Define Monologue.
A form of dramatic entertainment by a single speaker.
A prolonged talk or discourse dominating a conversation.
What is Morphology?
The study of the structure of words.
Includes concepts like free morphemes.
What does Naturalism refer to in literature?
A literary movement based on the belief that human beings do not have a soul apart from their physical existence.
Emphasizes the darker sides of life.
What is Chomsky’s definition of Performance of Language?
What people actually say, which may not be grammatically correct but conveys meaning.
Differentiates between performance and competence.
List the stages of language development according to Chomsky.
- Prelinguistic
- Holophrastic
- Two Word
- Telegraphic
- Intermediate development
- Adult
Stages reflect the progression of language acquisition.
What is the Telegraphic Stage in language development?
Period where children may omit syllables and use only essential words, similar to a telegram.
Characterized by brevity in speech.
What are the types of nouns?
- Common
- Abstract
- Collective
- Compound
- Concrete
- Non-countable/Mass
- Gender-specific
- Verbal
- Gerunds
Each type serves a different grammatical function.
Define common nouns.
Used for a class of person, place, or thing.
Examples include ‘dog’, ‘city’.
What are abstract nouns?
Things you cannot see or touch, e.g., bravery, joy.
Represent concepts or ideas.
What are collective nouns?
Words used to describe groups, e.g., team, choir.
They refer to multiple entities as a single unit.
Define compound nouns.
Nouns made up of more than one word, e.g., court-martial, pickpocket.
Formed by combining two or more words.
What are concrete nouns?
Names of things that are tangible.
Can be either proper or common.
What are Non-Countable Nouns?
Things you cannot count, e.g., food, music.
Also known as mass nouns.
Define Gender-Specific Nouns.
Nouns that are definitely male or female, e.g., boy, vixen.
Reflects biological sex.
What are Verbal Nouns?
Nouns derived from verbs, e.g., a building, an attack.
They express actions or states.
Define Gerunds.
Nouns that represent actions, e.g., running fast, guessing a number.
Formed from verbs but function as nouns.
What are the noun genders?
- Masculine
- Feminine
- Common
- Neuter
These categories indicate the grammatical gender of nouns.
Define Novella.
A short narrative, generally between 50 and 100 pages long.
A literary form distinct from a novel and a short story.
What is Onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing.
Enhances descriptive language through sound effects.
What is meant by Order of Importance?
Information is given from least to most important or vice versa.
Also known as hierarchical order.
Define Orthography.
The relationship between spelling and pronunciation.
A method of representing sounds with written symbols.
What is an Oxymoron?
A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, e.g., jumbo shrimp.
Creates a paradoxical effect.
What is Overstatement?
Also called hyperbole; a type of verbal irony involving exaggeration.
Used to emphasize a point.
Define Paradox.
A statement that appears self-contradictory but may include a latent truth.
Used to provoke thought and challenge beliefs.
What are the Parts of Speech?
- Nouns
- Verbs
- Pronouns
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Interjections
- Articles
- Determiners
Fundamental categories in grammar.
Define Determiner in grammar.
A subclass of words that limit nouns, including articles and possessive words.
Examples: the, a, my, some.
What is Parallelism in grammar?
Using components in a sentence that are grammatically similar.
Adds balance and rhythm to writing.
What is Pastiche?
Using the form or style of another author as a tribute.
Imitates other works in literature or music.
Define Peroration.
The concluding part of a speech intended to inspire enthusiasm.
Often includes a call to action.
What is Persona in literature?
A voice or assumed role of a character representing the writer’s thoughts.
It acts as a mouthpiece for the author.
What is Personification?
A figure of speech giving human attributes to non-human objects.
Creates relatable imagery in writing.
Define Phonetics.
The study of sounds of language and their physical properties.
Focuses on how sounds are produced and perceived.
What is Phonology?
The analysis of how sounds function in a language or dialect.
Investigates sound patterns and systems.
Define Picaresque.
A type of fiction dealing with the adventures of a roguish protagonist.
Often episodic and humorous in nature.
What is Pidgin Language?
A simplified language that develops as a means of communication between groups without a common language.
No native speakers; serves as a bridge language.
What is a Plot in literature?
Events that make up a story and relate to each other in a sequence.
Key elements include exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution.
Define Pragmatics.
The role of context in the interpretation of meaning.
Involves understanding social language rules.
What was the Pre-Raphaelite Movement?
Sought to bring sensuality back into poetry using lush sounds and descriptions.
Aimed for emotional depth and beauty.
What does Process Writing entail?
Learning to write by writing; encourages communication of written messages while developing literary skills.
Focuses on active involvement in the writing process.
Define Prosody.
The study of the elements of poetry, including rhyme, rhythm, meter, and stanza form.
Essential for understanding poetic structure.
What is elite movement in poetry?
Sought to bring sensuality back into poetry by using lush vowel sounds and sensuous description.
What is process writing?
Learning to write by writing; encourages students to communicate their written messages while developing literary skills.
Define prosody.
Study of the elements of poetry - rhyme, rhythm, meter, and stanza form.
What is a quatrain?
Type of stanza or complete poem consisting of four lines.
What does Reader Response Theory focus on?
Focuses on the reader and their interpretation of written works.
What is recension?
The selection of the most trustworthy evidence on which to base a text after researching all possible material.
What is reciprocal teaching?
Occurs when dialogue takes place between the students and the teacher, with participants taking turns assuming the role of the teacher.
What is a refrain in poetry?
The repetition of a line or phrase at the end of several stanzas of a poem.
What is regionalism?
A word or phrase used by a population in a particular region.
What does the mnemonic device RENNS stand for?
Reason, Examples, Names, Numbers, Senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
What is a rhyme scheme?
A regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem.
What is internal rhyme?
Occurs within a single line of poetry rather than from line to line.
Define iambic pentameter.
A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five iambic feet per line.
What is an anapest?
A metrical foot consisting of two unaccented syllables followed by one accented syllable.
What is a trochee?
A foot with two syllables, with the first stressed and the second unstressed.
Define masculine and feminine rhyme.
Masculine rhyme uses one syllable words for strength; feminine rhyme uses two or more syllables for softness.
What is rhyme royal?
A stanza of seven 10-syllable lines (iambic pentameter), rhyming ABABBCC.
What is a roman a’ clef?
Novels using characters based on real people and events in fictional guise.
Define rondeau.
A 15 line poem made up of three stanzas, each with 8-10 syllables.
What is sarcasm?
To speak bitterly; a form of mockery intended to amuse and hurt.
What is scansion?
Describing the rhythms of poetry by dividing lines into feet and marking stressed and unstressed syllables.
What is satire?
Technique employed to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule.
What is the role of second language learners?
They monitor their new language skills by applying their understanding of grammar to edit and structure sentences.
What is self-regulated strategy development?
An instructional method that includes building background knowledge and supporting the practice of strategies until students can use them independently.
Define semantics.
The study of linguistic meaning and the relationship between words, phrases, signs, or symbols and what they stand for.
What are the types of sentences?
Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex.
What is a simple sentence?
Contains only one independent clause.
What is a compound sentence?
Contains at least two independent clauses joined together by a conjunction.
What is a complex sentence?
Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
What is a compound-complex sentence?
Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Define spatial order.
Relating to space; describes spatial relationships using words like ‘next to’ and ‘adjacent’.
What is a soliloquy?
A popular literary device used in drama to reveal a character’s innermost thoughts.
What is a sestet?
A stanza or poem of six lines.
Define sprung rhythm.
Form of accentual meter where the number of stressed syllables in a line is fixed.
What is a Spenserian stanza?
Developed by Edmund Spenser, consists of nine lines: eight in iambic pentameter followed by one in iambic hexameter.
What are the stages of the writing process?
Pre-writing, writing/drafting, revising, editing, publishing, evaluating.
What happens in the pre-writing stage?
Brainstorming to make topic lists using graphic organizers.
What occurs in the writing/drafting stage?
Organizing ideas into a rough draft without focusing on precision.
What is revising?
Adding or omitting information to clarify the paper.
What happens in the editing stage?
Correcting details regarding capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.
What is the publishing stage?
The finished, polished product, ready to turn in.
What occurs in the evaluating stage?
Self-evaluation of the author’s work and audience evaluation of effectiveness.
What is Steven Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition?
Includes cognitive, expressive, and receptive parts; utilizes acquire and learned systems.
Define stock character.
A character quickly recognized and accepted by the reader, requiring no development.
What is a strophe?
A rhythmic system composed of two or more lines repeated as a unit; synonymous with ‘stanza’.
Define stream of consciousness.
A method of narration that describes the flow of thoughts in the minds of characters.
What are summative assessments?
Evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit against a standard.
What is a symbol in literature?
A literary device that represents several layers of meaning beyond its literal sense.
Define syntax.
The arrangement of words within a sentence.
What is syllepsis?
Use of a single word in two different senses at once.
What is synecdoche?
A literary device in which a part represents the whole or vice versa.
Define terza rima.
A verse form composed of iambic tercets with an interlocking rhyme scheme.
What is a top-down approach in linguistics?
Analyzing a language starting with larger structures before studying smaller components.
What is traditional phonics instruction?
Students are taught individual letter sounds first, then combinations and rules.
What is trochaic pentameter?
A line with five trochaic feet or stresses.
What are infinitive verbs?
The most basic form of a verb, usually preceded by ‘to’.
What is webbing?
A brainstorming method that provides structure for ideas and facts.
What is whole language instruction?
Students are immersed in written language and encouraged to decode whole words using context clues.
What are the types of writing activities?
- Personal
- Workplace
- Subject
- Creative
- Persuasive/Argumentative
- Scholarly
What is personal writing?
Expressing innermost thoughts and feelings through journals, diaries, and personal essays.
What does workplace writing include?
Preparing resumes, cover letters, job applications, and business letters.
What is subject writing?
Writing interviews, accounts, profiles, or descriptions to capture the meaning of a subject.
What is creative writing?
Opportunity to play with language, express emotions, and articulate stories.
What is persuasive/argumentative writing?
Learning strategies to persuade others, including writing editorials and advertisements.
What is scholarly writing?
Essays, research papers, and biographies prevalent in middle or secondary classrooms.
What is a writer’s workshop?
An opportunity for students to try various genres and develop a love of writing.
What are written retellings?
Reading a text and writing down all they can remember.
What is the role of the teacher in a writer’s workshop?
The teacher acts as a coach, leading, teaching, modeling, and encouraging student writers.
What are written retellings?
A technique where students read a text and write down all they can remember to organize and analyze data.
What is Zeugma?
A figure of speech where a word applies to more than one noun, blending grammatically and logically different ideas.
What is the purpose of portfolios in education?
To monitor progress over time, give students ownership, and provide authentic evidence of progress.
What is the easiest revision operation for beginning writers?
Adding information is the easiest revision operation.
What does expository discourse aim to do?
It attempts to explain or describe something.
List the types of pronouns.
- Personal
- Indefinite
- Demonstrative
- Interrogative
- Possessive
- Reciprocal
- Relative
- Reflexive
- Intensive
What is miscue analysis?
The study of how a student’s oral reading differs from the printed text to understand reading strategies.
What is an octave in a Shakespearean sonnet?
The first eight lines of a sonnet where an idea is often introduced.
What is a narrative hook?
A device that draws the reader’s attention to keep them reading.
What is the technique of Read-Share-Write?
Students read for comprehension, discuss, and record their understanding to internalize information.
What does ‘in media res’ mean?
A term describing a story that begins in the middle of the action.
What are the three main themes in literature?
- Survival of the fittest
- The picaresque/journey
- The reversal of fortune
What is a transitive verb?
A verb used in a sentence that names the receiver of the action.
What is ‘incluing’ in storytelling?
Gradually exposing the reader to background information about the story’s world.
What is infodumping?
Putting a concentrated amount of background information into a story all at once.
What are kennings?
Phrases that are an elaborative and indirect way of naming nouns, often used in poetry.
What is a sonnet?
A poem of fourteen lines that uses a specific rhyme scheme.
Fill in the blank: The term ______ is the linguistic term for the name or title of the person that you actually say when you address him or her.
Direct address
What is a directive sentence?
A sentence that requests someone to do something.
What is a fishbone organizer?
A tool for illustrating cause and effect with the result on a straight line and causes branching off.
What did surrealists attack?
False rationality and restrictive customs and structures.
What does existentialism emphasize?
Individual existence, freedom, and choice.
What does tone refer to in writing?
The attitude of a writer as expressed in word choice or other rhetorical elements.
What are nymphs in Greek mythology?
Maidens that always take the form of young women.
True or False: Transitions are unnecessary during the conclusion paragraph.
True
What is the structure of a typical newspaper article?
Organized as an inverted pyramid, with the most substantial information at the beginning.
What is a direct quote?
Quoting directly from an article word for word exactly as the author wrote it.
What is an indirect quote?
Information from a source that is reworded or paraphrased by the writer.
What was the Great Vowel Shift?
A transition from Middle English to Modern English completed in the 16th century.
What is past perfect tense?
Indicates an earlier action that is mentioned in a later action.
What does present progressive tense indicate?
Indicates continuing action, something going on now.
What is present tense?
A verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking.
What does future perfect tense indicate?
Completed action in the future.
What does future progressive tense describe?
An ongoing action that takes place in the future.
What is the definition of ‘Jovial’?
A cheerful, happy, or friendly tone.
Define ‘Reverent’.
A tone of deep respect or awe.
What does ‘Scornful’ mean?
A tone of contempt or disdain.
What is ‘Assonance’?
Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words (e.g., ‘lake’ and ‘fate’) for rhythm or mood.
What are ‘Functional Texts’?
Everyday writings like manuals, recipes, or forms meant for practical use.
What is a ‘Socratic Seminar’?
A discussion method where students explore a text through open-ended questions and dialogue.
