Literary Terms

Analysis

• intentional and deliberate use of organizational patterns, text and graphic features, syntax, devices, and diction to create an effective written work; author’s craft may vary by genre.

• the reason an author writes about a particular topic (e.g., to persuade, to entertain, to inform, to explain, to analyze, etc.); the reason an author includes particular details, features, or devices in a work.

• word choice that may be determined by the writer or speaker’s style, purpose, and need to communicate accurately, appropriately, and understandably to a specific audience.

• a close examination and interpretation of a work to gain understanding of its meaning and features that extends beyond summary or description.

Annotating

• marking a text with notes and/or comments

• word choice that may be determined by the writer or speaker’s style, purpose, and need to communicate accurately, appropriately, and understandably to a specific audience.

• a close examination and interpretation of a literary work that analyzes the author’s use of language, devices, and genre characteristics to convey meaning.

• a technique that an author or speaker uses to influence or persuade an audience.

Diction

• a close examination and interpretation of a non-fiction (usually argumentative) work that analyzes how the author uses language, devices, and genre characteristics to create intended effects and persuade the reader.

• restate the meaning of something in different words. Paraphrasing alters the exact wording of the source and transmits its ideas or information without evaluation or interpretation.

• word choice that may be determined by the writer or speaker’s style, purpose, and need to communicate accurately, appropriately, and understandably to a specific audience.

• the author’s particular attitude, either stated or implied in writing.

Author’s purpose

• the reason an author writes about a particular topic (e.g., to persuade, to entertain, to inform, to explain, to analyze, etc.); the reason an author includes particular details, features, or devices in a work

• intentional and deliberate use of organizational patterns, text and graphic features, syntax, devices, and diction to create an effective written work; author’s craft may vary by genre.

• written/spoken explanations or interpretations that further develop an idea.

• a text in which the writer develops and defends a position or debates a topic using logic and persuasion.

Author’s craft

• a text in which the writer develops and defends a position or debates a topic using logic and persuasion.

• intentional and deliberate use of organizational patterns, text and graphic features, syntax, devices, and diction to create an effective written work; author’s craft may vary by genre.

• the words, sentences, or passages that precede or follow a specific word, sentence, or passage.

• specific details or facts that support an inference or idea.

Informational text

• close examination and interpretation of a literary work that analyzes the author’s use of language, devices, and genre characteristics to convey meaning.

• a technique that an author or speaker uses to influence or persuade an audience.

• the context and set of circumstances surrounding a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade and includes the speaker, audience, topic, and occasion.

• text that presents information in order to inform or educate an audience.

Rhetorical device

• the context and set of circumstances surrounding a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade and includes the speaker, audience, topic, and occasion.

• text that presents information in order to inform or educate an audience.

• a technique that an author or speaker uses to influence or persuade an audience.

• the central or universal idea of a literary work that often relates to morals and/or values and speaks to the human experience/ condition.

Theme

• the author’s particular attitude, either stated or implied in writing.

• a statement or premise supported by arguments.

• the unique characteristics that describe a writer’s use of language; diction, syntax, sentence fluency, figurative language, and voice all contribute to a writer’s style.

• the central or universal idea of a literary work that often relates to morals and/or values and speaks to the human experience/ condition.

Style

• the context and set of circumstances surrounding a writer or speaker’s attempt to persuade and includes the speaker, audience, topic, and occasion.

• a statement or premise supported by arguments.

• The unique characteristics that describe a writer’s use of language; diction, syntax, sentence fluency, figurative language, and voice all contribute to a writer’s style.

• written works that are generally recognized as having artistic value.

Summarize

• to reduce large sections of text to their essential points and main idea.

• the central or universal idea of a literary work that often relates to morals and/or values and speaks to the human experience/ condition.

• the unique characteristics that describe a writer’s use of language.

• to combine elements and parts to form a coherent whole.