Ms. T's English Blog

Figurative Language - speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning, speech or writing employing figures of speech (i.e. metaphors, similies)

Conflict - In literature, the literary element conflict is an inherent incompatibility between the objectives of two or more characters or forces. Conflict creates tension and interest in a story by adding doubt as to the outcome. A narrative is not limited to a single conflict. While conflicts may not always resolve in narrative, the resolution of a conflict creates closure, which may or may not occur at a story's end.

Sensory Details - Details that describe what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched.

Transitions - The connection (a word, phrase, clause, sentence, or entire paragraph) between two parts of a piece of writing, contributing to cohesion.

Verbs - any member of a class of words that function as the main elements of predicates, that typically express action, state, or a relation between two things, and that may be inflected for tense, aspect, voice, mood, and to show agreement with their subject or object.

Adjectives - any member of a class of words that modify nouns and pronouns, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying, as wise  in a wise grandmother,  or perfect  in a perfect score,  or handsome  in He is extremely handsome.

Adverbs - any member of a class of words that function as modifiers of verbs or clauses, and in some languages, as Latin and English, as modifiers of adjectives, other adverbs, or adverbial phrases, as very  in very nice, much  in much more impressive,  and tomorrow  in She'll write to you tomorrow.

Paragraphs - a distinct portion of written or printed matter dealing with a particular idea, usually beginning with an indentation on a new line.

Dialogue - conversation between two or more persons.

Internal Monologue - also known as inner voice, internal speech, or verbal stream of consciousness is thinking in words. It also refers to the semi-constant internal monologue one has with oneself at a conscious or semi-conscious level.

Audience - The listeners at a speech or performance, or the intended readership for a piece of writing.

Exposition - the portion of a story that introduces important background information to the audience; for example, information about the setting, events occurring before the main plot, characters' back stories, etc.

Rising Action - a related series of incidents build toward the point of greatest interest. The rising action of a story is the series of events that begin immediately after the exposition (introduction) of the story and builds up to the climax.

Climax - The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s affairs.

Falling Action - During the falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist. The falling action may contain a moment of final suspense, in which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt.