February 17---Upcoming Vocabulary Quiz

These are the words that will be on the test on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 for all classes.

Second Period's Vocabulary Words:
Author's Purpose-The author writes for several reasons:

1)To inform-tell the audience something they did not know previously.
2)To persuade-convince the audience to do something or embrace an idea.
3)To express feelings-opinions contain feelings ---anger, loneliness, joy...
4)To entertain-engage someone's attention by making them laugh .....

Cause/Effect-a cause is the reason something happens. An effect is what happens as a result of the cause....the cause happens first in time. The later event is the effect.

Chronological Order-Most narratives are written in time order...you will see words like NEXT,
THEN, FOLLOWING and other signal words that help you understand sequence/time passing.

FLASHBACK-looking back on events in the past....

Comparison/Contrast-When you compare, you look for similarities was in which things are alike.
When you contrast, you look for differences.

Context Clues-If you don't understand the meaning of a word, you can look at the words surrounding the word or sentences that are before and following the word you do not know..

Evaluating evidence-In persuasive or informational texts, you need to weigh the evidence that writers use to support their ideas....is it adequate, appropriate and accurate?

Fact/Opinion-A fact is something that can be proved true......an opinion expresses a personal belief or feeling. An opinion cannot be proved true or false.

Generalization-A generalization is a broad statement based on several particular situations.....you combine evidence in a text with what you already know to make a broad, universal statement about some topic.

Graphic Features-Headings, design features, maps, charts, tables, diagrams, and illiustrations are all graphic features....they present information visually.

Inference-An inference is an educated guess.....readers make inferences on the basis of clues writers give them and experiences from their own lives. You read between the lines to figure what the writer suggests but does not state directly.

Main Idea-The most important idea in a piece of nonfiction writing...a main idea can be stated directly or implied (suggested).....the reader must infer or guess what it is.....

Notetaking-Notetaking is important if readers want to remember ideas and facts.
Write phrases or notes in your own words to help you recall the events in the story....