a narrative in which characters and settings stand for abstract ideas or moral qualities

see pages 341, 364

a series of statements in a text designed to convince us of something

see pages 308-309, 516-517, 718

the basic reason behind why the author is writing a text

• to inform (instruct, explain, describe...)
• to persuade (convince, argue...)
• to entertain

the idea or opinion that a writer or speaker tries to prove or defend in an argument

see page 308

all the meanings, associations, or emotions that have come to be attached to some words

see pages 260, 436, 540

the believability of a writer's argument

see pages 308-309, 516-517, 579

a writer's or speaker's choice of words

see pages 436, 496, 525, 541

specific information or proof that backs up the reasons in an argument

• facts
• statistics
• expert testimony
• examples
• commonly held beliefs
• hypotheses

see pages 183, 308, 516-517

type of writing that explains, gives information, defines or clarifies an idea

see pages 2, 783

word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and is not meant to be understood on a literal level

types include: simile, metaphor, personification

see pages 428-429

a broad statement that applies to or covers many individuals, experiences, situations, observations, or texts

see pages 308, 516

The category that a text is classified under.

Examples: poem, article, editorial, short story

language that appeals to the senses

see pages 402-403

original or basic

(used about the meaning of a word or phrase)

Ex. The literal meaning of "petrified" is "turned to stone."

the writer's most important point or message

see page 358

figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, in which one thing becomes another thing without the use of the word like, as, than, or resembles

pages 428-429, 435

repetition of words, phrases, or sentences that have the same grammatical structure or that state a similar idea

see page 363

kind of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human

see pages 429, 450

an original, firsthand account

see page 578

questions that are focused on a specific subject, which the researcher searches to answer

see page 26

a secondhand account written by a writer who did not participate directly in the events he or she interprets, relates, or analyzes

see page 578

figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, resembles, or than

see pages 428, 645-646

the author’s statement that he/she would like to prove

The attitude of an author toward the characters, subject and audience

see pages 149, 497