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PSSA Vocabulary
8th Grade PSSA Vocabulary List
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Imagery | Descriptions of people or objects that appeal to the reader's 5 senses. |
| Simile | A figure of speech that directly compares two objects using the words like or as. Example: My pillow was as soft as a feather. |
| Metaphor | A figure of speech that directly compares two objects without using the words like or as. Example: Life is a battle that cannot be won, only survived. |
| Alliteration | Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words used to create a rhythm. Example: Weeping willows watched over me. |
| Personification | A figure of speech where an author gives living qualities to non-living things. Example: The tree danced to the sounds of the night. |
| Onomatopoeia | The use of words that mimic sounds. Example: The fireworks crackled as they burst in the sky. |
| Hyperbole | An exaggerated statement used to emphasize a point. Example: If I had a penny for every time someone told me I was wrong, I'd be a millionaire! |
| Allusion | an implied or indirect reference in literature to a familiar person, place or event Example: Get down from the fence, Billy!" the mother yelled at her child. "Remember what happened to Humpty Dumpty?" |
| Antonym | a word that is the opposite of another word Example: sharp and dull, hot and cold |
| Author's purpose | the author's intent to inform, to entertain people, or to persuade or convince their audience Example: entertain, create mood, convince, persuade, inform, teach |
| Autobiography | the story of a person's life written by himself or herself Title: Bill Peet An Autobiography Author: Bill Peet |
| Bias | a judgment based on a personal point of view Example: A woman votes for a female president just because she is a female. |
| Biography | the story of a person's life written by someone other than the subject of the work Title: Michael Phelps Swimming for Olympic Gold Author: David P. Torsiello |
| Cause and Effect | Actions that have a result or consequence. Example: You stayed up late studying for a test; therefore, you are tired the next day. |
| Characterization | the method an author uses to reveal characters and their various personalities Example: How the narrator describes the character mean, nervous, confident |
| Climax | the turning point in a narrative; the moment when the conflict is most intense |
| Compare | to put two things side by side to find similarities shared between them |
| Conflict/Problem | a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions |
| Contrast | to compare the differences between two things. |
| Editorials | a newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers |
| Exaggeration | to make an overstatement or to stretch the truth Example “I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse." |
| Figurative Language | Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling Example: personification, simile, alliteration, metaphor, hyperbole, imagery |
| First Person Point of View | Point of view in which the narrator is a character in the story and relates the events to the reader AS they happen. Example: I, we, us, me, us |
| Flashback | When an author leaves the current time period of the story to show what happened in the past. Example: One afternoon, a year and a half before |
| Foreshadowing | When an author leaves small clues to reveal something that will happen later in the story. |
| Irony | When the opposite of what the reader expects to happen actually happens. |
| Main Idea | the author's central thought; |
| Mood | The overall emotions created in a work of literature. Example: humor, frustration, sadness |
| Non-Fiction | Writing that is based on fact and not imagination. Example: Biographies, Autobiographies, letters, journals, diaries, memoirs, media accounts, essay |
| Omniscient Narrator | When a narrator is “all knowing” or has knowledge of every character’s thoughts and feelings at all times. Example: Maria felt nervous as she walked into the room late. |
| Point of View | The angle from which a story is told; dependent upon who is telling the story. Examples: First person: one of the characters is telling the story Third person: someone outside the story is telling the story |
| Name-calling | a persuasive strategy in which the attack is on a person instead of an issue Example: Calling someone an "extremist" can damage their reputation. |
| Bandwagon | a persuasive strategy in which the reader is persuaded to do, think, or buy something because it is popular or "everyone" is doing it Example: "If everyone is skipping school, it is OK for me to do it too." |
| Red Herring | a persuasive strategy in which the reader is distracted with details not relevant to the argument Example: Mentioning that you did well on your math test when your parents are upset about your English score. |
| Emotional Appeal | a persuasive strategy in which the reader is persuaded by words that appeal to the reader's emotions instead of reason Example: An advertisement about animal cruelty asking for donations to a local shelter. |
| Exposition | Part of the plot which introduces the characters, setting, and conflict. (Beginning of the story) |
| Testimonial | a persuasive strategy in which the reader is persuaded by a famous person to endorse a product or idea. Example: An advertisement for cereal showing President Obama eating Cheerios. |
| Repetition | a persuasive strategy in which the reader is persuaded by a repeating a message over and over again |
| Sweeping Generalization | a persuasive strategy in which the author makes a broad statement about a group based on limited information Example: All boys like to play basketball |
| Resolution | the portion of a story following a climax, in which the conflict is resolved Example: End of story |
| Symbolism | a device in literature where an object represents an idea. Example: A Dove symbolizes peace |
| Synonym | Words that have a similar meaning to one another. Example: sorrow, grief, sadness |
| Third Person Point of View | a point of view in literature in which the narrator is NOT a character in the story. Example: he, she, him, her, they, them |
| Tone | the attitude of the author toward the audience and characters |
| Plot | the action of the story consisting of the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. |
| Fiction | a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact |
| Chronological Order or Sequence of events | When a story or article is told in TIME order. |
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