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8th Grade PSSA Vocabulary List

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Term
Definition
Imagery   Descriptions of people or objects that appeal to the reader's 5 senses.  
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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.  
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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.  
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Alliteration   Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words used to create a rhythm. Example: Weeping willows watched over me.  
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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.  
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Onomatopoeia   The use of words that mimic sounds. Example: The fireworks crackled as they burst in the sky.  
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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!  
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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?"  
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Antonym   a word that is the opposite of another word Example: sharp and dull, hot and cold  
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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  
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Autobiography   the story of a person's life written by himself or herself Title: Bill Peet An Autobiography Author: Bill Peet  
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Bias   a judgment based on a personal point of view Example: A woman votes for a female president just because she is a female.  
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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  
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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.  
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Characterization   the method an author uses to reveal characters and their various personalities Example: How the narrator describes the character mean, nervous, confident  
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Climax   the turning point in a narrative; the moment when the conflict is most intense  
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Compare   to put two things side by side to find similarities shared between them  
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Conflict/Problem   a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions  
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Contrast   to compare the differences between two things.  
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Editorials   a newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers  
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Exaggeration   to make an overstatement or to stretch the truth Example “I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse."  
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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  
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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  
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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  
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Foreshadowing   When an author leaves small clues to reveal something that will happen later in the story.  
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Irony   When the opposite of what the reader expects to happen actually happens.  
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Main Idea   the author's central thought;  
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Mood   The overall emotions created in a work of literature. Example: humor, frustration, sadness  
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Non-Fiction   Writing that is based on fact and not imagination. Example: Biographies, Autobiographies, letters, journals, diaries, memoirs, media accounts, essay  
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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.  
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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  
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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.  
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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."  
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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.  
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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.  
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Exposition   Part of the plot which introduces the characters, setting, and conflict. (Beginning of the story)  
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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.  
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Repetition   a persuasive strategy in which the reader is persuaded by a repeating a message over and over again  
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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  
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Resolution   the portion of a story following a climax, in which the conflict is resolved Example: End of story  
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Symbolism   a device in literature where an object represents an idea. Example: A Dove symbolizes peace  
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Synonym   Words that have a similar meaning to one another. Example: sorrow, grief, sadness  
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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  
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Tone   the attitude of the author toward the audience and characters  
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Plot   the action of the story consisting of the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  
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Fiction   a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact  
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Chronological Order or Sequence of events   When a story or article is told in TIME order.  
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