| WORD | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| academic language | Grades 3-5: special words that authors use over and over; specific words used to discuss a text or subject |
| account | Grades 6-8: written or spoken report or description of facts or events |
| act | Grades 6-8: a division of a drama, or play; acts are often further divided into scenes |
| adjective | Grades K-2: a word that describes a noun or pronoun |
| adventures/experiences | Grades K-2: what happens to a character in a story |
| adverb | Grades K-2: a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb |
| alliteration | Grades K-2: the use of several words near one another that start with the same consonant sound |
| allusion/allude | Grades 3-5: allude: refer to Grades 6-8: allusion: an indirect reference to another text that adds meaning to the current text; authors allude to other texts to hint at or indirectly state their meaning, and rely on readers to be familiar with those other texts |
| analogy | Grades 6-8: a comparison between unlike ideas or objects, such as teaching students and growing a garden. In literature, similes and metaphors are ways to draw analogies |
| analyze/ analysis | Grades 3-5: to take something apart in order to understand it better by considering its component parts both separately and together |
| anecdote | Grades 6-8: small stories that give readers more information. An author may add an anecdote to introduce, illustrate or elaborate |
| animation | Grades K-2: an animated illustration, such as a cartoon |
| annotate/annotation | Grades 3-5: annotate: to mark evidence in text, often through use of sticky flags or notes annotation: marking of evidence in text |
| archetype | Grades 6-8: a pattern that can be found in literature from different cultures; it may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or a setting |
| argument | Grades 6-8: a structure of claims and reasons constructed to persuade others that a particular view is true or correct; argument refers to the overall structure Also see claim, counter-claim, counter-argument, reason |
| article | Grades K-2: a nonfiction piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine |
| author | Grades K-2: the person who writes a text |
| author’s purpose | Grades K-2: an author’s reason for writing Also see inform/explain, persuade, narrate, describe |
| back cover | Grades K-2: the other side from the front cover; you can see it when the front cover faces down Also see front cover |
| biased/unbiased | Grades 6-8: biased: having an unfair tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others |
| biography | Grades K-2: a true account (story) of a person’s life, written by another person |
| bold type/bold print | Grades K-2: darker print in a book that tells readers to notice specific text |
| caption | Grades K-2: words that give more information about a picture or other image and that are usually placed near it |
| cast of characters | Grades 3-5: the characters in a play |
| cause | Grades 3-5: what makes something happen Also see effect |
| cause/effect text structure | Grades 3-5: text organized by how events, ideas, concepts, or pieces of information make others happen |
| central idea | Grades 6-8: an important idea in an informational text |
| central message | Grades K-2: a lesson or moral that relates to what the author wants to teach Grades 3-5: See theme Grades 6-8: See theme |
| challenge | Grades K-2: See problem Grades 6-8: See problem, conflict |
| chapter | Grades 3-5: a division of a longer story, such as a novel |
| character | Grades K-2: a person, animal, or figure in a story or text; grade 2: a character may change over time in a story |
| character development | Grades 3-5: an author’s use of details and examples to reveal a character. Details and examples may include a character’s words, actions, and thoughts |
| chart/table | Grades K-2: information shown in rows and columns Grades 3-5: flow chart: a chart that shows sequence of events or steps |
| chronological text structure | Grades 3-5: text organized in order of time and the sequence of events, steps, or ideas Also see process/sequence text structure |
| cite/citation | Grades 3-5: to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.) Grades 6-8: to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority in supporting a claim Also see claim |
| claim | Grades 6-8: the specific statement of opinion made within an argument. An argument may have one or more claims. Also see argument; counter-claim |
| clarify | Grades 3-5: make easier to understand |
| climax | Grades 6-8: the part of a story or drama in which tension is usually at its greatest, and the main character has the opportunity to face his/her main conflict/challenge and either win or lose |
| coherence | Grades 6-8: connectedness in writing; coherence is created by a logical flow of sentences within paragraphs and paragraphs within a longer work; transitions and linking words also help make writing coherent |
| compare | Grades K-2: to find similarities (what is the same or close to the same) between two examples |
| comparison text structure | Grades 3-5: text organized by what is the same or different between events, ideas, concepts, or information |
| complex sentence | Grades 3-5: a sentence made up of two clauses, combined by a conjunction such as when or because Also see conjunction |
| compound sentence | Grades K-2: a sentence made up of two simple sentences that are connected by a comma and the word and, but, or or Also see conjunction |
| concept | Grades K-2: See idea/concept |
| conclusion | Grades 3-5: a statement or section that ends a piece of writing and usually restates the opinion or main idea and the main points |
| conflict | Grades K-2: See problem/challenge Grades 3-5: See problem/challenge Grades 6-8: challenge faced by main character; the conflict may be internal or external |
| conflicting | Grades 6-8: completely different in facts or interpretation |
| conjunction | Grades K-2: a word such as and, but, or or that joins two simple sentences to form a compound sentence; the conjunctions and and or can also join words or phrases Grades 3-5: coordinating conjunction: a word such as and, but, or or that joins two simple sentences to form a compound sentence; the conjunctions and and or can also join words or phrases subordinating conjunction: a word, such as because or when that joins two clauses to form a complex sentence Also see compound sentence, complex sentence |
| connections | Grades K-2: ways that people, events, ideas, and information can go together; for example, how people or events are alike or different, how one person can change another, how one event can cause another, how events relate to each other in time, how ideas or pieces of information are alike or different Also see events, ideas, procedure, signal words Grades 3-5: logical connection between sentences and paragraphs; for example: cause/effect, comparison, first/second/third in sequence. Also see interactions, relationships |
| connotative language/connotation | Grades K-2: words that suggest feelings; words with a meaning that goes beyond the dictionary; for example, home might be the place a character lives; it is also the place a character feels safe and comfortable Grades 6-8: connotative language: words that generate feelings for readers, such as the word home, which can suggest a place of comfort and safety; words can have positive and negative connotations |
| context clues | Grades K-2: words or pictures in a text that give clues to meaning Grades 6-8: clues in surrounding text, such as definitions, synonyms, and related words |
| contrast | Grades K-2: to find differences (what is different) between two examples Grades 6-8: Also see conflicting |
| counter-argument | Grades 6-8: an argument made to oppose a previous argument Also see argument |
| counter-claim/opposing claim | Grades 6-8: a claim made to oppose a previous claim Also see claim |
| cover | Grades K-2: See back cover, front cover |
| culture | Grades K-2: the set of specific beliefs and traditions, of a group, that makes their art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs unique from others Also see folktale |
| define | Grades K-2: give the meaning of a word or phrase |
| describe/description | Grades K-2: to tell what someone or something is like, often using words that show what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, tastes like, or smells like Also see author’s purpose Grades 3-5: Grade 3: description: the act or result of describing something Grade 4: describe in depth: describe, using details and examples from the text. |
| description text structure | Grades 3-5: text organized by introducing a topic, followed by subsections and/or elaboration on important characteristics or attributes |
| detail | Grades K-2: details: pieces of information from illustrations and words that tell about the text key details: pieces of information from illustrations and words that are necessary to basic understanding of the text Grades 3-5: key details: information that supports the main idea, for example by giving more information about it; they can be facts, reasons, and examples; readers need key details to understand the topic; other details are not important and could be left out Grade 5: specific details/information: facts or examples from the text; specific details must be quoted accurately and exactly as written Also see support/supporting details Grades 6-8: particular details: those that are relevant to a central idea; they may or may not be key details necessary to basic understanding of the text Also see relevant/irrelevant, support/supporting details |
| development | Grades 6-8: the act or result of adding details or of describing change in literary elements such as character, setting, plot or argument |
| diagram | Grades K-2: an image, often a simple drawing, that is used to explain something Venn diagram: a diagram made up of two overlapping circles, used to compare and contrast |
| dialogue | Grades K-2: the words a character says in a story. As we read, we should think about the tone of voice characters would use when speaking those words. Also see tone of voice Grades 3-5: the words a character says in a story or drama |
| differences | Grades K-2: what is different between two examples Also see contrast Grades 6-8: distinctions: differences Also see conflicting |
| distinguish | Grades K-2: to tell the difference between |
| domain/domain-specific language | Grades 3-5: domain: a big topic, such as science domain-specific language: words that have a special definition that is different than it might be for a general conversation |
| drama | Grades 3-5: a piece of writing that tells a story and is performed on a stage; it is commonly known as a ‘play’ |
| drawing/painting | Grades K-2: a picture made with paints, crayons, pencils, etc., showing something made up or that really happened |
| effect | Grades 3-5: what happens as a result of another action or event Also see cause |
| elaborate/elaboration | Grades 3-5: elaborate: to provide more details or explanation elaboration: the process or result of providing more details or explanation Grades 6-8: elaborate: to provide more details or explanation elaboration: the process or result of providing more details or explanation |
| electronic menu | Grades K-2: a list of topics for a Web page. Some words will connect to new Web pages. These words are usually underlined and in a different color. You can click on them to get to new pages about each topic. |
| emotions | Grades 3-5: See feelings |
| essay | Grades 3-5: a composition, or short piece of writing, that usually presents the author’s thoughts or opinions about a subject |
| evaluate/evaluate evidence | Grades 3-5: to determine or figure out the value of something Grades 4 and 5: evaluate evidence for quality Grades 6-8: evaluate evidence for: relevance: close connection to all aspects of topic or claim frequency: how often it appears precision: as reflected by quantitative or numerical information specificity: as reflected by facts, examples, and quotes |
| event | Grades K-2: major events: the most important events in a story, typically related to how the main character resolves a problem or faces a challenge Historical events: events that happened in the past and that usually appear in historical texts. Also see series of events Grades 3-5: Also see sequence of events, series of events Grades 6-8: Grade 8: incidents: events |
| evidence | Grades K-2: the detail that supports a reason or other point in a text Also see reason, points Grades 3-5: the detail that supports a reason or other point in a text; evidence may include facts, examples, dates, quotes from experts, photographs or other visual data, personal experience, interviews, experiments, survey results Also see reason, points Grades 6-8: textual evidence: evidence from a text (fiction or nonfiction) that you can use to illustrate your ideas and support your arguments Best/Strongest evidence: relevant, frequent, precise, specific Also see evaluate evidence |
| example | Grades 3-5: evidence and facts the author adds to the story/text to show that a general statement is true, to develop the main idea/central message, or to support an inference drawn from the text. Grades 6-8: evidence and facts the author adds to introduce, illustrate, or elaborate Also see elaborate, anecdote |
| excerpt | Grades 6-8: short section from a text |
| experiences | Grades K-2: See adventures/experiences |
| explain/explanation | Grades K-2: See inform/explain/answer Grades 3-5: See inform/explain/answer Grades 6-8: See inform/explain/answer |
| explicit/explicitly | Grades 3-5: clearly stated Also see refer explicitly |
| exposition | Grades 6-8: important background information that is usually provided at the beginning of a narrative; the exposition often introduces the setting and main characters Also see plot |
| fable | Grades K-2: a story with supernatural events that could not happen in real life, such as animals talking. Fables, like folktales, teach lessons or morals. |
| fact | Grades K-2: something that can be proved true or false |
| falling action | Grades 6-8: the part of a story or drama that follows the climax and leads to the resolution Also see climax, resolution |
| feelings | Grades 3-5: emotions (happy, sad, excited, anxious, scared, pensive) that describe a character; feelings are usually temporary and directly connect to a sequence of events (I was happy playing with my best friend Saku until he threw dirt at me, now I’m angry.); feelings reveal a character’s emotional state or reaction to an event |
| fiction | Grades K-2: writing that tells a story from an author’s imagination |
| figurative language | Grades K-2: See nonliteral language Grades 3-5: nonliteral language, such as metaphor or simile. Nonliteral language requires students to make associations or comparisons to understand its meaning Also see metaphor, simile Grades 6-8: nonliteral language, such as allusion and personification. Nonliteral language requires students to make associations or comparisons to understand its meaning Also see allusion, metaphor, personification, simile |
| first person | Grades 3-5: See narrator |
| firsthand account | Grades 3-5: a story of a true event told by an observer who was present Grades 6-8: See memoir |
| flow chart | Grades 3-5: See chart |
| fluency | Grades K-2: See reading fluency |
| focus | Grades K-2: Grade 2: main topic of a paragraph Also see main topic Grades 3-5: See main idea |
| folktale | Grades K-2: a story that tells about everyday life and people, especially ordinary characters who solve problems that more powerful or wealthier characters cannot solve; a folktale, like a fable, has a strong message or moral. Folktales usually are connected to specific cultures |
| format | Grades 6-8: the way content is presented. Examples for print, audio, and video/live media include: books, articles, Web pages; audio recordings or recordings on the Internet; film, video, live stage presentation. Also see medium/media |
| frame narrative | Grades 6-8: the narrative that frames a story, when there is a story within a story; may feature a shift in time, such as a flashback, or a change in narrator from one character to another |
| free verse | Grades 6-8: poetry that does not contain a regular pattern of rhyme or rhythm |
| front cover | Grades K-2: what you see before opening a book; it includes the title, usually the author’s and illustrator’s names, and sometimes a picture |
| genre | Genre refers to texts that share common features such as content, writing technique, and often format. The main genres are poetry, drama, or prose. Prose can be fiction (imagined) or nonfiction (real events, people, information). Each genre can be expressed in different formats, sometimes also called genres or subgenres, such as: Poetry: haiku or free verse Drama: comedy or tragedy Prose fiction: story, tall tale, graphic novel, or mystery Prose nonfiction: textbooks, biographies, or how-to books |
| gerund | Grades 6-8: a verb form ending with -ed or -ing that functions as a noun Also see verbals |
| gist | A brief retelling that demonstrates a basic understanding of information and ideas presented in the text. This retelling can include literal details as well as low-level inferences. |
| glossary | Grades K-2: a list of words from the book. It tells what each word means. Usually the glossary is at the end of the book, before the back cover. Sometimes words from it are on pages inside the book. |
| graph | Grades K-2: a special drawing that shows how two things relate, using lines, bars, dots, or parts of a circle Grades 3-5: a special drawing that shows how two things relate, using lines, bars, dots, or parts of a circle |
| heading | Grades K-2: a small title that tells the name of a part of the book or a part of a page and describes what that part of the book or page is about |
| historical fiction | Grades 3-5: fiction that is based on an historical character and/or events |
| historical texts | Grades 3-5: texts that usually explain historical events |
| hyperlink | Grades 3-5: words on a Web page that connect to other Web pages; you can click on hyperlinks to get to the new pages; usually hyperlinks are underlined and show in blue or another color |
| icons | Grades K-2: small pictures that stand for words or ideas on a Web page; you can click on them to get to new pages about the word or idea in the picture; for example, you can click on an icon of a phone to get to the phone number to call about the Web page |
| ideas/concepts | Grades K-2: Scientific ideas: ideas that are usually in scientific texts. Scientific ideas are connected in many ways. For example, they can be mostly the same. They can be different. They can make each other happen. They can change over time. |
| identify | Grades K-2: to point out or name |
| illustration | Grades K-2: an image in a text, such as a book, magazine, or website Also see photograph, drawing/painting, chart/table, diagram Grades 3-5: Also see graphs, animations, drawing/painting, timeline, chart/table, diagram |
| Illustrator | Grades K-2: the person who creates the images for a text |
| image | See illustration |
| implicit/implicitly | Grades 6-8: implicit: suggested or hinted at, but not stated directly |
| incident | Grades 6-8: See event |
| index | Grades K-2: a list of topics in a book; it is usually at the end of the book, before the back cover; the topics are listed in A, B, C order |
| inference/infer | Grades 3-5: inference: a conclusion that readers draw based on the evidence, facts, or details in a text and on information from experience in life |
| infinitive | Grades 6-8: a verb form that begins with the word to and functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb Also see verbals |
| inform/explain/answer | Grades K-2: to share information with readers about a topic or explain something about the topic Also see author’s purpose; photograph, drawing/painting, chart/table, diagram Grades 3-5: explanation: something that is explained or made clearer about a topic information: facts and details Informational: relating to information |
| Inform/informational | Grades 3-5: See inform/explain/answer |
| information | Grades K-2: information: facts about real people, places, or things Also see facts |
| informational text/narrative informational text | Grades K-2: informational text: writing that is about facts, real people, real places, or real events in history; also called nonfiction. narrative informational text: an informational text that reads like a story but is about real people, places, and events. |
| integrate | Grades 3-5: to combine or pull together information or clues from different formats (e.g., illustration and text) or sources Grades 6-8: to collect information or clues from different sources or formats, including examining how the details confirm or challenge one another |
| interactions/interact | Grades K-2: Grade 2: See connections Grades 3-5: Grade 4: See relationships Grade 5: interactions: relationships between individuals, events, ideas, or concepts. For example, individuals might fit in the same category; one event might happen before another event; ideas or concepts might fit in the same category, or one idea might explain another. interact: come together and influence one another Grades 6-8: interactions: relationships between characters, settings, and events in a narrative; for example, how story characters respond to plot events, how setting shapes characters or plot; how one event causes another event |
| interpret/interpretation | Grades 3-5: to figure out and explain the meaning or significance Grades 6-8: Interpretation: explanation of the meaning or significance |
| introduction | Grades 3-5: section of a piece of writing that introduces the opinion or main idea |
| irony | Grades 6-8: a tone or device that creates humor or suspense. Irony usually involves a contrast between how things appear and the reality dramatic irony: irony that is created when the reader or viewer knows something that the character does not Also see suspense |
| italics | Grades K-2: slanted type, such as this example |
| key details | Grades K-2: See details Grades 3-5: See details |
| key words | Grades 3-5: words that tell the main information or topic you need to find; you can use key words to find information in a book’s table of contents, index, or headings or on a Web page |
| label | Grades K-2: a word or phrase that gives information about an object or picture; it is often a word that names an item within a picture |
| legend | Grades K-2: a story passed down from long ago; the story is often about a real person, event, or place; the story may or may not be true, and there is no way to check the facts |
| lesson | Grades K-2: See central message Grades 3-5: Grade 3: See central message Grades 4 and 5: See theme Grades 6-8: See theme |
| letter | Grades 3-5: a written message addressed to a person or organization |
| line | Grades 3-5: a row of words in a poem |
| literal language | Grades 3-5: language in which the meaning is the same as that of the individual words |
| lyric poem | Grades 6-8: a short poem in which the speaker expresses personal feelings and thoughts |
| main idea | Grades K-2: See main topic Grades 3-5: the most important idea of a paragraph or text; usually stated in a complete sentence |
| main topic | Grades K-2: Grade K: what the text is mostly about Grade 1: what a text or section of text is mostly about Grade 2: what a text or section of text is mostly about; usually stated in one or two words Also see focus |
| major events | Grades K-2: See event |
| map | Grades K-2: a special drawing showing part of the Earth, with all the different places where they really are |
| medium/media/multimedia | Grades 3-5: medium: the method for communicating literature or information, which also refers to how the reader/ listener/ viewer interacts with content; examples include written text, audio version, video, or live version multimedia: multiple media (including aspects of written text, audio, and video) Grades 6-8: Also see format |
| memoir | Grades 6-8: a true account of a person’s life or experiences, written by that person |
| menu | Grades K-2: See electronic menu |
| message | Grades K-2: See central message |
| metaphor | Grades K-2: a comparison between two unlike things, without using like or as Grades 3-5: a comparison between two unlike things, without using like or as |
| meter | Grades 3-5: sounds or beats in poetry that have been arranged to create a particular rhythmic pattern |
| mood | Grades 3-5: the feeling readers get when reading a text, such as scared, excited, happy. Authors and illustrators create that mood through the words they choose and the illustrations they create Also see tone |
| moral | Grades 3-5: See central message; theme Grades 6-8: |
| motif | Grades 3-5: an important idea or subject that repeats throughout a text |
| motivations | Grades 3-5: the inside feelings and traits, or the outside events and situations, that cause a character to think or do something |
| multimedia | Grades 3-5: See medium/media Grades 6-8: See medium/media |
| multi-paragraph text | Grades K-2: a text with more than one paragraph See paragraph |
| myth | Grades 3-5: a story with supernatural heroes and beings |
| narrate | Grades K-2: to share a made-up or true story with readers Also see author’s purpose |
| narrative | Grades K-2: a story; it may be true or made up. Also see story Grades 3-5: a story, or a text that tells a story, as in a narrative poem |
| narrative informational text | Grades K-2: See informational text |
| narrator | Grades 3-5: narrator: the voice telling a story or true account first-person narrator: a voice telling the story from within it, using the pronoun I second-person narrator: a voice telling the story and addressing the reader as you third-person narrator: a voice telling the story from outside the story, using pronouns, such as he, she, and they See observer |
| nonfiction | Grades K-2: See informational text |
| nonliteral language | Grades 3-5: words that mean more than their literal meaning. Also see allude, figurative language, metaphor, simile Grades 6-8: See figurative language |
| noun | Grades K-2: a word that names a person, place, or thing plural noun: a word that names more than one person, place or thing |
| objective | Grades 6-8: without opinions or judgments Also see summary |
| observer | Grades 3-5: firsthand observer: an observer who is present at the events secondhand observer: an observer who has learned about the events or topic, but was not present. Also see firsthand account, secondhand account, narrator |
| onomatopoeia | Grades K-2: the use of words that sound like what they describe, such as buzz |
| opinion | Grades 3-5: what an author or individual thinks or feels about a topic; authors support their opinions with reasons, facts, and evidence. Also see point of view |
| pamphlet | Grades 3-5: a thin book that has a paper cover and is written to give information |
| paragraph | Grades K-2: a group of sentences with a single focus or topic multi-paragraph: more than one paragraph |
| paraphrase | Grades 3-5: to say in your own words |
| participle | Grades 6-8: a verb form ending with -ed or -ing that functions as an adjective Also see verbal |
| parts of books | Grades K-2: See back cover, front cover, glossary, index, table of contents, title, title page Starting in G1, students use the term “text features” to refer to parts of books and other features of texts. See text features |
| personification | Grades 6-8: figurative language in which human qualities are given to an animal, object, or idea Also see figurative language |
| perspective | Grades 3-5: the role or position of an observer, character, or narrator in relation to events; such as those of different family members observing a holiday meal; a person’s perspective affects his or her point of view (or opinion) and descriptions; for example, the winner of a game will describe it differently than the loser |
| persuade | Grades K-2: to share ideas and ask readers to agree with them Also see author’s purpose |
| photograph | Grades K-2: a picture from a camera, showing something that really happened |
| phrase | Grades K-2: several words that make meaning together, such as at lunch |
| picture book | Grades K-2: a book that tells a story using pictures and words |
| plot | Grades K-2: the series of events in a story or drama, including the order in which they occur and how they relate to each other Grades 6-8: Also see climax, conflict, exposition, falling action, problem, rising action |
| plural noun | Grades K-2: See noun |
| poem | Grades K-2: a short text with descriptive language that authors use to share experiences, ideas, or feelings; many poems have rhythm like a song and words that rhyme Grades 3-5: a type of writing that shares experiences, ideas, or feelings in a vivid and imaginative way; poems may be written in separate lines clustered in groups called stanzas Grades 6-8: a type of writing that shares experiences, ideas, or feelings in a vivid and imaginative way; poems may be written in separate lines clustered in groups called stanzas; a poem’s form or structure contributes to its meaning |
| point of view | Grades K-2: what someone—a character, narrator, or reader—believes, thinks, or feels about something or someone; in grade 2, point of view is developed through a character’s thoughts and words Grades 3-5: what someone—a character, narrator, or reader—believes, thinks, or feels about something or someone; a person’s perspective (role or position in relation to events) will affect his or her point of view Characters express their point of view through words, thoughts, action, and feelings; narrators or authors may convey their views through the inclusion or exclusion of details, word choice, or by directly stating an opinion. Also see biased/unbiased, conflicting, first-person narrator, third-person narrator, opinion, perspective, point of view, author’s purpose Grades 6-8: Also see biased/unbiased, conflicting, first-person narrator, third-person narrator, opinion, perspective, point of view, author’s purpose |
| points (noun) | Grades K-2: the ideas an author shares about his/her topic Grades 3-5: ideas shared by an author about his/her topic, for example in opinion writing Grades 6-8: ideas shared by an author, for example, in an analysis |
| preposition | Grades K-2: a word such as in, off, or by Grades 3-5: a word, such as in, of, or by, that expresses the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word or element; often introduces a prepositional phrase |
| problem/challenge | Grades K-2: what the main character wants or needs Also see solution Grades 3-5: In grade 5, students determine theme, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges. Grades 6-8: the challenge that the main character faces or tries to address Also see conflict |
| problem/solution text structure | Grades 3-5: text organized by presenting a problem related to an event, an idea, a concept, or piece of information and then presenting the solution |
| procedure | Grades K-2: steps, or main actions, for making or doing something; usually steps are connected by their order; one step may also make another happen; technical procedures usually appear in technical texts, such as a recipe |
| process/sequence text structure | Grades 3-5: steps that show how to do something or how something works; the steps are described in order |
| propel the action | Grades 6-8: move or advance the plot Also see plot |
| prose | Grades 3-5: one of the three main types of text, or genres; the other two types are drama and poetry Also see genre |
| provoke a decision | Grades 6-8: cause decisions by characters Also see character |
| public service announcement | Grades 3-5: a statement made to the public for the good of the community |
| publish | Grades K-2: to prepare a piece of writing for sharing with others, often by printing it out or posting a final copy; this stage occurs after a draft has been revised, edited, and proofread |
| pun | Grades 3-5: a kind of wordplay, involving a word with two meanings or two words that sound the same but have different meanings |
| purpose | Grades K-2: See author’s purpose, describe, inform/explain, narrate, persuade |
| question | Grades K-2: a sentence, phrase, or word that asks for information or details; asked and answered by readers as a way to understand the text |
| question word | Grades K-2: a word, such as who, what, where, when, why, and how, that often begins a question quotation: words, sentences, or phrases repeated from a text or a speaker exactly as they appear or were stated |
| quote/quotation | Grades 3-5: quote: to repeat words, sentences, or phrases directly from their sources |
| quote accurately | Grades 3-5: to repeat in writing or orally words, sentences, or phrases directly from their source, preserving the exact spelling, punctuation, and arrangement of words, without changing the meaning |
| reading fluency | Grades K-2: ability to read smoothly or naturally |
| reason | Grades K-2: supporting information, such as facts, examples, pictures, small stories; reasons and evidence support a point Also see points Grades 3-5: information provided to support an opinion or point; effective reasons are based on evidence, logic, and information rather than on the writer’s personal views See evidence, opinion Grades 6-8: See argument, claim |
| recount | Grades K-2: See retell |
| refer explicitly | Grades 3-5: use a specific word or words from the text as a means of supporting a claim or answer to a question about the text |
| relationships | Grades K-2: See connections Grades 3-5: connections between individuals, events, ideas, or concepts; for example, individuals might fit in the same category; one event might happen before another event; ideas or concepts might fit in the same category, or one idea might explain another. Also see interactions/interact Grades 6-8: Also see interactions/interact |
| relevant/irrelevant | Grades 6-8: relevant: closely connected to all aspects of the topic or claim in the analysis irrelevant: not closely connected to all aspects of the topic or claim in the analysis Also see details/ particular details, evaluate/evaluate evidence |
| repetition | Grades K-2: repeated lines: lines that repeat over and over Also see alliteration, rhyme Grades 3-5: sounds, words, and lines that appear more than once Also see alliteration, rhyme |
| research | Grades 3-5: to search for information about a topic; the activity of searching for information |
| resolution | Grades 6-8: the part of a story or drama in which problems are resolved; the ending |
| retell/recount | Grades K-2: retell: say aloud the important details in order Grade 2: recount: say aloud the important details in order |
| revise/revision | Grades K-2: revise: to change a piece of writing (draft) to make it better; when you revise, you focus on the content and on making your writing clearer |
| rhyme/rhyme scheme | Grades K-2: the use of words that sound the same at the end, such as hat and bat Grades 6-8: rhyme scheme: a pattern of end rhymes See sonnet |
| rhythm | Grades K-2: the organization of sounds in a pattern; beats are the pieces of the pattern |
| rising action | Grades 6-8: the part of a story or drama in which a series of events/ episodes complicates matters for the characters, and results in increased drama or suspense |
| scene | Grades 3-5: a division of a play See act |
| scientific texts | Grades 3-5: texts that usually explain scientific ideas or concepts |
| second person | Grades 3-5: See narrator |
| secondhand account | Grades 3-5: a story of a true event told by an observer who has learned about the topics or events but wasn’t there |
| senses/words that appeal to senses | Grades K-2: senses: our ability to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the world around us. words that appeal to senses: words that help readers experience the story in their minds by seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. See describe |
| sequence of events | Grades 3-5: the exact order in which events happen |
| series of chapters/scenes/stanzas | Grades 3-5: the larger portions that make up a text: students consider how these parts fit together to provide the overall structure See text structure |
| series of events | Grades K-2: several events together. One connection among events in a series is the order in which they happened. Another connection is that some events made other events happen. |
| sestina | Grades 6-8: A poem that has six stanzas (six lines each) and one three-line stanza; each line in the first six stanzas ends with one of six words; each line in the final stanza includes two of the words |
| setting | Grades K-2: when and where a story happens; time may refer to a specific time period or can be the past, present, or future Grades 3-5: the time and place in which a story, novel, or drama takes place; the time may refer to a specific time period or can be the past, present, or future Grades 6-8: time and place in which a story, novel, or drama takes place, including the social environment; the time may refer to a specific time period or can be the past, present, or future |
| sidebar | Grades 3-5: a section of text at the side of the page that gives information that is related to the main topic but special or different in some way See text features. |
| signal words | Grades K-2: words used to describe connections among events, ideas, or information For example: Words such as also and unlike show when two examples are the same or different. Words such as first, next, and last show the order of events. Words such as because and so show how one event makes another happen. Grades 3-5: See transition words Grades 6-8: See transition words |
| similarities | Grades K-2: what is the same or close to the same between two examples Also see compare |
| simile | Grades 3-5: a comparison between two unlike things, using like or as |
| soliloquy | Grades 6-8: in a drama, a speech in which a character shares inner thoughts or feelings; the character may be alone on stage or just does not acknowledge the other characters |
| solution | Grades K-2: the answer to the problem or how the main character solves it Also see problem |
| sonnet | Grades 6-8: a poem with fourteen lines and a meter called iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line in English) Petrarchan sonnet: a sonnet with two stanzas, one of eight lines and one of six lines; it has the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA and then CDECDE or CDCDCD Shakespearean sonnet: a sonnet with four stanzas, three with four lines each, and a final stanza of two lines; it has the rhyme scheme ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG Also see rhyme scheme |
| sound devices | Grades 6-8: See alliteration, repetition, meter, rhyme, rhythm |
| speaker of a poem | Grades 3-5: the voice you hear in poem; just as in a story, the speaker may be the author or a character. Grades 6-8: See point of view |
| speech | Grades 3-5: a piece of writing that is intended to be presented orally for an audience |
| specific information | Grades 3-5: See details |
| stage directions | Grades 3-5: directions that tell what the actors should do or how they should behave |
| stanza | Grades K-2: lines that form a unit in a poem or song Grades 3-5: a unit of organization in a poem; how the stanzas fit together shows readers text structure |
| story | Grades K-2: text that has a character or real person/animal problem, and solution; a story may be made-up or true Also see narrative, fiction, nonfiction |
| story structure | Grades K-2: the parts of a story, including the beginning, middle, and end, and how they relate to one another |
| story version | Grades K-2: a retelling of a story that is different from the original |
| storybook | Grades K-2: a book with a fiction story See fiction |
| structure | Grades K-2: See story structure; text structure |
| style | Grades 6-8: the techniques an author uses and the choices he or she makes. For example, an author may use very long and detailed sentences or many short sentences with simple words. An author may write as if telling a story, in a narrative style, even if the text is not a story. An author may address readers directly to persuade them, with an argumentative style. |
| subheading | Grades K-2: a small heading that tells the name of a small part of a book or a small part of a page Also see heading, text features. |
| summary/summarize | Grades 3-5: narrative text summary: a brief retelling of the main events and key details in a story, including one about real people, places, or events; uses an organized manner, such as by telling: Somebody wanted But So Then informational text summary: a brief recounting of the main ideas and most important details of an informational text; uses an organized manner, such as by answering who, what, when, where, why, and how Grades 6-8: objective narrative summary: a summary that tells only the main events about who, what, where, why, when, and how and that does not include the reader’s personal opinions or judgments about the text For narrative nonfiction, use a narrative summary format, such as by telling: Somebody wanted But So Then objective informational text summary: a summary that tells only the central ideas and details about who, what, where, why, when, and how and that does not include the reader’s personal opinions or judgments about the text |
| support/supporting details | Grades 3-5: support: to provide evidence for an answer or claim; supporting details provide evidence Also see details, evidence Grades 6-8: See details/particular details |
| suspense | Grades 6-8: heightened excitement or tension readers or viewers feel when they do not know what will happen Also see climax, rising action |
| symbol | Grades 3-5: Grade 4: something that stands for something else; for example, a white dove stands for peace |
| table | Grades K-2: See chart |
| table of contents | Grades K-2: a list of main parts of the book, which usually comes after the title page |
| technical meanings | Grades 6-8: meanings used to discuss topic-or domain-specific words Also see domain/ domain-specific language |
| technical procedure | Grades K-2: See procedure |
| technical texts | Grades 3-5: texts that usually explain technical procedures, such as scientific experiments or recipes |
| text | Grades K-2: a piece of writing, such as a storybook or poem |
| text box | Grades K-2: text in a box with a colored background; it usually gives information that is related to the main topic but is special or different in some way Also see text features |
| textual evidence | Grades 6-8: evidence from a text (fiction or nonfiction) that you can use to illustrate your ideas and support your arguments or analysis Also see evidence |
| text features | Grades K-2: See caption, glossary, heading, illustration, index, photograph, sidebar, subheading, table of contents, text box Grades 3-5: See bold print/bold type, caption, electronic menus, glossary, illustration, heading, hyperlinks, icons, index, key words, photograph, sidebar, subheading, table of contents, text box |
| text structure | Grades 3-5: the overall way a text’s parts, such as chapters, scenes, and stanzas, are organized and relate to one another: how events, ideas, information, or concepts in a text are organized Also see chronological text structure; comparison text structure, cause/effect text structure, description text structure, problem/solution text structure; process/sequence text structure Grades 6-8: the overall way a text’s parts, such as chapters, scenes, and stanzas are organized and relate to one another See chronological text structure; comparison text structure, cause/effect text structure, description text structure, problem/solution text structure; process/sequence text structure Also see rhyme scheme, rhythm, soliloquy, sonnet, stanza |
| text type | Grades K-2: See fiction, nonfiction, poem, storybook, picture book. Also see genre Grades 3-5: See genre Grades 6-8: See genre |
| thematic topic | Grades 3-5: a topic related to the theme and expressed in one or two words; Also see theme |
| theme | Grades K-2: See central message, moral, lesson Grades 3-5: a universal message about the world outside/beyond the text. A theme can be the central message, the lesson, or what the author wants you to learn or think about after reading. Themes are usually stated in a complete sentence. Grades 6-8: Grades 7 and 8: Students analyze theme development over course of a text |
| third person | Grades 3-5: See narrator |
| timeline | Grades 3-5: a diagram that shows dates and events, usually placed along a line |
| time stamp | Grades 3-5: a heading or subheading that tells the time and/or date for events or information in the section that follows, such as in a dated journal Also see text features |
| title | Grades K-2: the name of a book |
| title page | Grades K-2: a page at the beginning of a book that gives the title and usually includes the author’s and illustrator’s names |
| tone | Grades K-2: See tone of voice Grades 3-5: See tone of voice Grades 6-8: author’s attitude toward a topic, conveyed through the author’s words. Sometimes that attitude is expressed through a particular character’s voice. Examples of tone include formal, angry, humorous, and frightened. See mood |
| tone of voice | Grades K-2: the feeling or attitude expressed by the words that someone uses in speaking. Tone of voice reveals the narrator or character’s feelings about certain events, details, or characters in the story. A tone of voice could be angry, happy, funny, silly, and so on. Grades 3-5: the feeling or attitude expressed by the words that someone uses in speaking; may provide a clue to point of view Grades 6-8: See tone |
| topic | Grades K-2: what a text or section of text is mostly about Also see main topic |
| topic sentence | Grades K-2: the sentence in a paragraph that tells the main idea |
| traits | Grades 3-5: qualities that make one person or thing different from another person—traits are not easily changed; traits tend to be permanent while feelings (emotions) are temporary; physical traits (tall, short, fury, spotted); personality traits (religious, honest, loyal, loving, kind, sneaky, selfish); traits can reveal what a character values or cares about. Also see feelings |
| transition words | Grades 3-5: words used to describe relationships/ interactions among events, ideas, or information. For example: Words such as also and unlike show when two examples are the same or different. Words such as first, next, and last show the sequence of events. Words such as because and so show how one event makes another happen. |
| unknown/unfamiliar words | Grades K-2: words readers haven’t seen before or haven’t heard before |
| Venn diagram | Grades K-2: See diagram |
| verb | Grades K-2: a word that shows an action |
| verbal | Grades 6-8: See gerund, infinitive, participle |
| verse | Grades 3-5: writing in which stressed and unstressed syllables are organized into rhythmic patterns Also see poem, rhythm, meter |
| Web page | Grades 3-5: Grade 4: a document on the World Wide Web; a page shown on a website |
| words that suggest feelings | Grades K-2: See connotative language |
| words that appeal to senses | Grades K-2: See senses/words that appeal to senses; describe |
| writing formats | Grades 3-5: See article, essay, letter, pamphlet, paragraph, public service announcement, speech |