Definitions from
The Literacy Dictionary: The Vocabulary
of
Richard E. Hodges, editors; International
Reading Association, 1995.
Definitions of terms contained in the
glossary vary from expert to expert. For
the purposes of this document, the committee has agreed to the following definitions.
analogy: a
comparison of similar objects
analyze: identifying the parts of a
whole and their relationships to one another
anticipation guide: a study guide or pre-assessment given to
students to set the tone before a topic,
concept, or lesson is taught
APA: American Psychological Association
archetypal criticism: the study of apparently perennial images,
themes, symbols, stories, and myths in literature, including narratives that unite the seasons with
literary genresÖ
audience: the intended target group of a messageÖ
authentic: representative of the real world Ö
author intent: the motive or reason for which an author
writes, as to entertain, inform or persuade Ö
cadence: rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds in
language
causal chain: the
premise that the structure of knowledge, as in a narrative, may be revealed by an analysis for the organization of
the chain of events or states, see also mapping,
causal chain Ö
cause and effect: a stated or implied association between an
outcome and the conditions which brought it about, often an organizing
principle in narrative and expository text, as TV violence causes crime Ö
character mapping: See mapping,
character
classic: a literary work regarded by successive generations
as part of the core experience of a culture, a society, or a particular time
period; a work that is read by successive generations of readers
classical literature: literary works which successive generations
of readers have regarded as essential for a particular culture’s understanding
of its tradition; literary works which have become standard reading for a
particular group of people or period of time
classification: to place an idea into a general category
cluster maps: see mapping, cluster
compare and contrast: a literary technique of
placing together like characters, situations, concepts, or ideas to show common
or contrasting features Ö
comprehension strategies: process in which the reader constructs
meaning interacting with text through a combination of prior knowledge, information available in text, the stance taken in
relationship to the text, and social interactions and communications Ö
concept mapping: See mapping,
concept
context(s): the sounds, words or
phrases adjacent to a spoken or written language unit; the social or cultural
situation in which a spoken or written message occurs Ö
contextual clues: information from the immediate context that helps identify a word or
groups of words by words, phrases, sentences, illustrations, syntax,
typography, etc. Ö
conventions: an accepted practice in a spoken or written
language. Conventions include punctuation, grammar, and spelling Ö
criteria for evaluating
literature: a standard of judgment used in such cognitive
tasks as Literary criticism and
logical proof Ö
definition: the process of assigning an idea to a general
category and distinguishing that idea from other similar ideas in that category
description: a type of writing which gives a verbal
picture of character and event, including the setting in which they occur Ö
descriptive: See description
dialect: a social or regional variety of a particular
language with phonological, grammatical, and lexical patterns that distinguish
it from other varieties Ö
effective writing: satisfies author’s purpose and the needs of
the audience
expository: See narrative
and expository writing and reading
exposition: See narrative
and expository writing and reading
external sources: a strategy which includes using sources
outside the passage where the word is found such as or including dictionary,
glossary, peers, and/or teacher
fact and opinion: (facts) statements of information that can be
verified as true, as opposed to (opinion), statements of belief, judgments, or
points of view that are based on personal preferences or biases
fluency: 1. the clear, easy, written or spoken
expression of ideas 2. freedom from
word-identification problems that might hinder comprehension in silent reading
or the express of ideas in oral reading; automaticity 3. The
ability to produce words or larger language units in a limited time
interval. Note: This type of fluency is often tested in a comprehensive reading diagnosis. 4. The
ability to execute motor movements smoothly, easily, and readily Ö
fluent reader: 1. A reader whose performance exceeds normal expectation with respect to age and ability; independent reader 2. Any person who reads smoothly, without hesitation and with comprehension
fluent writer: a writer skilled
in language and expert in topic
focused: writing which is unified around one central
idea
formalism: the study of the inner shape and nature of a
work of art without regard to outer meaning Ö
genre: a category used to classify literary works,
usually by form, technique, or content Ö
graphic features: text features or designs to assist the
reader’s understanding of the text.
Examples of features include maps, charts, graphs, subheadings, and text
font
graphic organizers: a visual arrangement of information such an Venn diagrams, causal chain maps,
herringbone maps, concept maps, and webbing
high frequency words: words that appear many more times than most
other words in spoken or written language
homophone: a word with different origin and
meaning but the same pronunciation as another word, whether or not spelled
alike, such as hare and hair; two or more graphemes that represent the same
sound as /k/ spelled c in candy Ö
idiom: words used in a special
way that may be different from their literal meaning
informational: a nonfiction of facts and concepts about a
subject or subjects Ö
insightful writing: writing which reflects originality, perceptive, or innovative
thinking
KWL: a reading comprehension strategy which prompts
readers to identify what they know and what they want to know before they read
a selected text, and what they have learned after they have read that text
literary concepts: conventions
used by authors to construct works of literature; include plot, theme,
character types, setting, and stylistic devices
literary criticism: the analysis and judgment of works of
literature; the body of principles by which the work of writers is judged; may
involve specific consideration of moral values, historical accuracy, literary
form, and type
main idea/concept: 1. the gist of a passage; central thought 2. the chief topic of a passage expressed or
implied in a word or phrase 3. the topic sentence of a paragraph Ö
mapping: instructional activities,
particularly graphic ones, that are designed to show the relationships among
ideas or topics in text or to plan for writing Ö
mapping, causal chain: the components of a causal chain organizer
include characters, initiating events, character goals, attempts made by
characters, the outcomes of the attempts, and the resolution of the story
mapping, character: a graphic display of character traits, may
include comparison to similar characters within the same text or similar texts
mapping, cluster: concept cluster; a group of terms organized to show
their relationship graphically to a key concept, as in a semantic verb Ö
mapping, concept: instructional activities, particularly graphic ones,
that are designed to show the relationships among ideas of topics in text
mapping, goal structure: a graphic display of characters with action in the
story, the character’s goal, attempts, and outcomes in sequential order of the
story
mapping, semantic: a graphic display of a cluster
of words that are meaningful related Ö
mapping, story: a time line showing the ordered sequence of events
in a text; includes components such as characters, setting , plot, and
resolution Ö
MLA: The Modern Language Association
metaphors: a figure of speech that
compares two different things without using the word like or as
modes of writing: types of writing to include narrative, expository, persuasive,
descriptive
mood: the emotional state of mind expressed by an
author or artist in his or her work, see also tone
morphemic analysis: a vocabulary strategy which directs the
reader’s attention to the smallest meaning structures within a word; includes
prefixes, suffixes, and root words
narrative: see narrative
and expository writing and reading
narrative and expository
reading and writing: Narrative reading and writing may be
fiction or nonfiction and may seek to entertain or do more. The key is that they are both story with the
usual ingredients of a story such as characters and a setting. Short stories or novels are the most common
fictional narratives. Examples of a nonfictional narrative are biographies, personal narratives, and memoirs. For the purpose of the Kansas Reading
Assessment, narratives will be
selected from short pieces of fiction with familiar topics such as family,
friends, relationships, and conflicts.
Exposition for our purposes seeks to explain or
inform and may do so through describing, comparing, contrasting, showing causes
and effects, and presenting problems and solutions. To complicate matters, the writer may use a narrative format while presenting
information and may intend to persuade or to discover as well as to explain and
inform.
Much of what we write and read is not clearly narrative or expository, but is a combination of structures and purposes. For example, we write the cautionary tale to
persuade and to explain. We also seek to
explain and persuade by use of an anecdote.
Definitions can be useful to
us to think of what we want students to know and be able to do. Attempting to define too closely can cause
unnecessary confusion.
onset: the part of the syllable that precedes the
vowel
outlining: a simplified, abbreviated
expression of the main ideas and
supporting ideas of a text, arranged in a graphic format which gives precedence
to the most important ideas
past experience: memories of interactions
with particular times, places, activities, or people; these memories provide a
personal reference point and a concrete image readers associate with their
reading
personal expression: writing from the heart;
writing which reflects the care the author has about the subject
persuasion: a type of writing intended
to convince the reader to adopt a particular opinion or to perform a certain
action, effective persuasion appeals to both the intellect and the emotions (McDougal Littell, Literature & Language 12, p. 949.)
persuasive: See persuasion
phonogram: in word recognition, a
graphic sequence comprised of a vowel grapheme and an ending consonant
grapheme, as –ed in red, fed, or –ake in bake, cake, lake Ö
power: writing which reflects the strength of the
author’s knowledge or experience of the subject; the author’s ability to
establish the credibility of the text in the reader’s eyes; conviction
prior knowledge: a reader’s knowledge of text
type format as well as knowledge of the topic of a particular reading selection
problem and solution: a text
structure or particular method of developing an idea in which the author
expressed a difficulty or challenge, then offers a resolution to that
difficulty or challenge
proficiency: accomplished; effective
application of reading or writing strategies to the creation or construction of
a text
QAR: Question Answer
Relationship. A questioning strategy,
which assists the reader’s comprehension skills by focusing on four types of
questions. The four types are: Right There, Think and Search, Author and
You, and On Your Own. (Taffy Raphael,
1982)
reader
response: a theory of reading which maintains that reader and
text must interact (Rosenblatt, 1938)
retelling: a method of assessing
comprehension of a reader. A reader will
recall any facts, main ideas,
details, or information from the selection.
The reader may complete the retelling
orally or in writing. Ö
rimes: a vowel and any following
consonants of a syllable, as /ook in book
or brook, /ik/ in strike, and /a/ in play Ö
scanning: glancing through reading
material to locate a particular piece of information (How to
Improve Your Study Skills, Coman and Heavers, p. 94.)
sentence
fluency: sentences that fit well with the other sentences in
the text so that the sound is smooth.
One often hears references to sentences that “flow”
simile: a figure of speech that
compares two things using the word like or as
six-trait
analytic model: a rubric tool for assessing
writing by selecting the descriptors which most accurately describe the writing
in each of six traits: ideas/content,
organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions
skilled: accomplished; effective application of
reading or writing strategies to the creation or construction of a text
skimming: forming an overview of a
text by reading the first few paragraphs and noting chapter headings, words in
bold fact type, or graphics and pictures
(How to Improve Your Study Skills,
Coman and Heavers, p. 94)
SQ3R: a series of steps to be used
in reading a textbook for study purposes
Note: The term derives from
survey the assignment to note the points emphasized; pose a question initially on the first section
(and later on successive sections); read
to answer the question; recite the
answer to the question; and after several questions and answers, review the material read. This study method was first introduced by
Robinson in Effective Study (1946),
but it has since been adapted by many other writers and programs.Ö
story mapping: See mapping, story
technical reading: reading text in order to
complete a specific technical task, E.g.
reading an auto mechanic manual or reading a map of the
technical writing: communication written for
and about business and industry, focusing on products and services – how to
manufacture them, market them, manage them, deliver them, and use them (Writing
That Works, German, p. 1.)
text structure: the various patterns of
ideas that are embedded in the organization of text Note:
Common patterns of text structure
are cause-effect, comparison-contrast, problem-solution, description, and sequence.
timelines: a linear, usually graphic
organization in which events are presented in the temporal order of their
occurrence
tone: 1) a particular style in
writing or speaking. Note: In literary analysis, there is a difference
of opinion about the distinction between tone
and mood. The terms are sometimes used synonymously,
but certain authorities use tone to
apply to the author’s attitude reflected in the style of the written word,
reserving mood to refer to the effect
created by the author’s use of various literary devices. 2) the writer’s attitude (humorous, admiring,
sad, angry, bitter) toward the subject, inferred by the reader from the
author’s word choice. (McDougal Littell Literature
& Language 12, p. 952.) See also
mood.
vocabulary strategies: various techniques to study the structure of
words and their use in context;
includes a study of roots, prefixes and suffixes, use of context clues, semantic mapping,
denotation, connotation, and semantic feature analysis
voice: similar to “tone” in literature. Commonly, writers think of this as both the
sound and the stance the writer assumes
webbing: in planning writing, the use
of diagrams or maps to show the relationship among the ideas to be included,
see also mappingÖ
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