ELA Terms Middle School

The unifying concept within an informational text to which other elements and ideas relate. The main point of an informational text.

• central idea

• theme

• setting

• supporting detail

Evidence found within a particular text used to support or explain conclusions, opinions, and/or assertions about the text itself

• textual evidence

• dialogue

• quotes

• central idea

A conclusion that you come to by evaluating the evidence and details that have been presented

• inference

• quote

• textual evidence

• central idea

The universal truth, lesson, or moral about life that a text presents

• theme

• central idea

• drama

• mood

A brief account of a text’s central or main points, themes, or ideas that is free of bias, prejudice, and personal opinion and does not incorporate outside information

• objective summary

• opinion

• claim

• theme

The sequence of events in a story, play, movie, etc.

• plot

• conflict

• setting

• theme

The time and place of the action in a book, play, story, etc.

• setting

• conflict

• plot

• character

The conversation in a text that takes place between characters

• dialogue

• direct quote

• thoughts

• monologue

The attitude an author takes toward the subject or topic of a text, generally revealed through word choice, perspective, or point of view

• tone

• mood

• dialogue

• opinion

The feeling the reader gets when reading a text

• tone

• mood

• dialogue

• opinion