7th Grade Content Vocabulary

analogy

• a comparison between two things "Green is to color as orchid is to flower"

• a comparison using like or as "The dog is like a lion"

• A cultural phrase used in common conversation "It's raining cats and dogs"

alliteration

• a comparison using like or as "The dog is like a lion"

• repetition of the same sound (same letter) at the beginning of words "Sally sells seashells by the seashore" (the "s" sound)

• repetition of words (run, run run!)

allusion

• when the author makes a connection to well known text, person or event 'You are an Einstein!"

• a comparison not using like or as "The dog is a lion"

• Repetition of letters 'Sally sells seashells..."

anecdote

• a comparison between two things "The dog is a lion"

• a short story within a story often used to make a point 'A parent might tell their child a story about a lesson they learned growing up"

• The reason for writing a text (inform, persuade, explain...)

antagonist

• the main character, the one who faces the conflict (Batman)

• The one who opposes the protagonist or creates conflict for the protagonist (Maleficent, Joker)

author's purpose

• the plot elements

• the reason or intent for writing the text (to inform, to persuade, to explain, to entertain)

• the plan for writing

autobiography

• an account of a person's life written by that person

• an account of someone's life written by someone ELSE

Biography

• an account of someone's life written by that person

• an account of someone's life written by someone else

central idea

• the message of the text or life lesson (fiction) example: Kindness has the power to make a difference in someone's life (can be in MANY different texts, not just one)

• the key point the author is trying to make (nonfiction) that is tied to ONE text. example: "I Have a Dream Speech" - African Americans have not received the promises of our constitution

claim

• evidence

• reasoning

• what you are trying to argue