Alabama High School Graduation Exam Test Vocabulary Reading Dr. Patrick Cain SEHS Assistant Principal Elmore County Schools Mrs. Julie Turner School Improvement Specialist Dothan City Schools

Tone The overall feeling, or effect created by a writer’s use of words. This feeling may be serious, humorous, satiric, and so on.

Theme A central idea or a general truth dramatized or implied

A fictional person in a story Character A fictional person in a story

The sequence of events in a story Plot The sequence of events in a story

Point of View The vantage point from which the story is told. First person—the story is told by one of the characters Third person—the story is told by someone outside the story

The person who is telling Narrator The person who is telling the story.

Division of poetry named for the number of lines it contains Stanza Division of poetry named for the number of lines it contains

Sarcasm The use of praise to mock someone or something Example: “He’s a real he-man.”

Satire Literary tone used to ridicule or make fun or a human vice or weakness, often with the intent of correcting, or changing, the subject of the satiric attack.

Analyze To break down a problem or situation into separate parts or relationships

Compare To use examples to show how things are similar and different, with the greater emphasis on similarities.

To use examples to show how things are different in one or more ways Contrast To use examples to show how things are different in one or more ways

To present the main points of an issue in a shortened form. Summarize To present the main points of an issue in a shortened form.

Evaluate To make a value judgment, to give the pluses and minuses along with supporting evidence

The time and place in which the action of a story occurs Setting The time and place in which the action of a story occurs

Illogical thinking or false Faulty Logic Illogical thinking or false arguments

Preview When you preview you are attempting to get a general picture of what the assignment or passage is about.

The reason for an action or Cause The reason for an action or situation

author tells you directly Comprehension Understanding what an author tells you directly

The phrases and sentences Context The phrases and sentences that surround a word

The results of a situation or Effect The results of a situation or action

Fact A statement that can be proved

Words that mean something other than their literal Figurative Language Words that mean something other than their literal meaning

A conclusion not directly stated but drawn from a set Inference A conclusion not directly stated but drawn from a set of facts or opinions

The central message of a passage; what the passage Main Idea The central message of a passage; what the passage is about

Writing about real people, places, events, and social Nonfiction Writing about real people, places, events, and social issues

Opinion A statement that cannot be proved; a statement that reflects an individual or group’s interpretation of something

Supporting Details Specific statements that give more information about the central message of a passage

Textual Materials generally read for information, such as charts, graphs, encyclopedias, news, magazines, essays, lab manuals, and material found in textbooks

Materials generally read for magazines, poems, novels, Recreational Materials generally read for pleasure, such as magazines, poems, novels, and short stories

Functional Materials generally read for a precise action, such as directions, maps, schedules (television, bus), menus (computer, restaurant), catalogues, instructions, and other material generally encountered in everyday life beyond the classroom

Without error; correct Accurately Without error; correct

A distinct often numbered Article A distinct often numbered selection of writing

Head of a subdivision as in Subheading Head of a subdivision as in an outline or passage

Difference Between Effect and Affect Effect—Outcome traceable to a cause Affect—to produce a material influence upon; to act upon

Apparent Manifest to the senses or mind as real or true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be factually valid

Excerpt A small portion from a passage, book, or other piece of writing

containing descriptive or Brochure Pamphlet or booklet containing descriptive or advertising material

the order of time in which Chronologically Arranged in the order of time in which events happened

treated or basic physical Technique The manner in which technical details are treated or basic physical movements are used

A statement listing the Testimonial A statement listing the benefits of someone or something

subject about which he/she Author’s Viewpoint How an author views the subject about which he/she is writing

The reason an author wrote a passage or other piece of Author’s Purpose The reason an author wrote a passage or other piece of writing

Propaganda Uses persuasive techniques to encourage people to act based on their emotions alone, instead of using solid reasoning.

Narrative A story