ACADEMIC VOCABULARY 7 th Grade ELA
alternate Every other, or serving as backup
analyze Study something closely; break something down into components; examine structure
audience Author’s readership; who the writing is intended to be for
categorize To put something into a category; to sort or group by similarities
clarify To make something clearer
collaborate To work together
complexity Difficulty; complicated
composition Piece of writing
conceptual/concept Thought or imagined; a way of doing or perceiving something
concise Short and clearly written or stated
correspond Consistent; to be similar Or to write to one another
elaborate Give more detail about something
embellish Add false details to something
evidence Demonstrate or prove
exposure Contact with something; publicity
figurative Not literal; representational
format Structure; data organization
function Purpose or role; role of a word or phrase
implement To carry out or fulfill something
inconsistencies Irregularities or contradictions
influence Effect on something; power to sway
interact Act on each other; work together
literary Relating to literature
manipulate To falsify something
mature Fully developed; adult
medium Means of mass communication; vehicle for ideas
mood The way a reader feels when reading a piece of literature; state of mind
valid Effective; justifiable
segment A part or piece of something
structure The way a text is organized
synthesize Combine parts into a whole; put together
technical Belonging to a specialized area Strictly interpreted
tone The author’s attitude toward his/her subject
unique special; only one; distinctive
relevant Pertinent; suitable; applicable
cite To quote something or somebody
connotation Implied additional meaning of a word
denotation Dictionary definition of a word
evaluate Examine and judge something
explicit Clear and obvious
explanatory Explaining something; descriptive
inference Conclusion; interpretation
nuance Subtle differences
paraphrase Rephrase and simplify
Point of view Perspective from which the story is told