Academic Vocabulary

Information or details that an author includes within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words.

• context clue

• text evidence

• annotate

• theme

Any information collected from an original source that is used to support a response/thesis or prove an argument.

• context clue

• text evidence

• annotate

• theme

To interact with a text by adding comments or notes in order to record significant features and/or add personal insights that may enhance one’s understanding of the text while reading.

• context clue

• text evidence

• annotate

• theme

The explicit or implied central or universal idea of a literary work that often speaks to the human experience or condition.

• context clue

• text evidence

• annotate

• theme

Usually a person or animal in a story who contributes to the plot in some way.

• character

• conflict

• plot

• resolution

The main problem in a story that often is the result of an internal or external struggle or confrontation.

• character

• conflict

• plot

• resolution

The main events of a story, play, or other literary work. These events may or may not be told in the order that they occur.

• character

• conflict

• plot

• resolution

The conclusion of a story's conflict, where any unanswered questions or "loose ends" are addressed for the reader.

• character

• conflict

• plot

• resolution

A classification system used to organize texts into categories, such as poetry, drama, literary fiction, informational nonfiction, and so on.

• genre

• argument

• appeal

• claim

A text or speech intended to prove a point through the use of reasoning and evidence.

• genre

• argument

• appeal

• claim