FCAT Terms By: Hunger Games Nerds: Nathaniel, Brianna, Nick, and Maggie!

FCAT Terms Here is a list of the terms that you will be learning about:  Synthesize  Validity/Reliability  Mood  Internal Conflict  Shades of Meaning  Affix  Theme  Inference  Conflict  Literary Devices

Synthesize  Definition-The systematic process that involves identifying the relationship among two or more ideas.  Examples-While reading the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, I realized that when the tributes held hands before the games, it caused some of the districts to rebel.

Validity and Reliability  Definition-The process that involves the evaluation of whether the text is real or not real. The reader must use reliable sources, check the text’s accuracy and dependability, evaluate and apply the information, and verify the best supporting evidence based on correct and logical conclusions.  Example-Validity and Reliability are very important for you to know. When you read informational texts, you should know if the information is true or false. For instance, say you were reading a text about the bald eagle. The text had a bunch of information about eagles. You were not sure if the text was real or not real. You looked at reliable sources to see if the information was correct. This is an example of finding the validity and reliability of a text.

Mood  Definition-The feeling that the author creates for the reader by using imagery, detail, etc.  Examples- The mood of the horror story was suspenseful, edgy, and mysterious. The Hunger Games’ mood is sad and serious.

Internal Conflict  Definition- A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a character. Longer literary works contain internal and external conflicts, the external conflicts leading to the internal conflicts.  Examples- For example, Katniss Everdeen was torn between Gale and Peeta (The Hunger Games). Also, when all the tributes are at the Cornucopia, they have to decide if they should get weapons and supplies, or run away and avoid fighting.

Shades of Meaning  Definition-Small subtle differences in meaning between similar words and phrases.  Examples- For instance, the word patience (as in waiting) also sounds like patients (as in a doctor’s client) but they have different meanings. Here is a link: school/6th-8th-grade-homophones/ school/6th-8th-grade-homophones/

Affix  Definition-A word part that cannot stand alone and that changes the meaning of a base word to which it is attached.  Example- In the word “running” there is an “-ing” in the end, which changes the root word, run, from a noun to a verb.

Theme  Definition-The underlying message about life or human nature that the author wants the reader to understand and that may give readers insight into the author’s view of the world.  Example-In the Hunger Games, the author is trying to tell us that entertainment may be more than it seems. In the Hunger Games, children are being thrown into an arena to fight to the death as entertainment for the capitol citizens. Suzanne Collins is trying to tell us that we should find better ways to entertain ourselves.

Inference  Definition-The act or process of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true; the conclusions drawn from this process.  Example- Bob wouldn’t answer the phone, so I inferred he was either busy, or ignoring me.

Conflict  Definition-A struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions that move the plot forward in literary text. Almost every story has a main conflict or problem. The conflicts are often the stories main focus.  Examples- One conflict is in the Hunger Games when Peeta and Katniss are in the arena, fighting to get away from the bloodbath. Another conflict could be in the Civil War when North and South are fighting for the rights of slaves.

Literary Devices  Definition- A literary technique used to achieve a particular effect.  Examples-Some literary devices are Figurative or Descriptive Language. A sentence using literary devices: “The man’s long, purple coat looked as if it were bouncing along the ground.” You should be familiar with literary devices because you will need to understand them when you read different texts. Here is a link: slideshow slideshow

Summary  If you look on the handout, you can see that I have written a short summary on each of these words. I hope that this will prove to be a helpful reference! ~Nick