7 th Grade Academic Vocabulary Language Arts Compiled by Beth Price Spring City Middle School Spring...
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Transcript of 7 th Grade Academic Vocabulary Language Arts Compiled by Beth Price Spring City Middle School Spring...
7th Grade Academic Vocabulary
Language ArtsCompiled by Beth Price
Spring City Middle School
Spring 2009
analogy
An analogy is a comparison of similar
objects. An analogy suggests that since the
objects are alike in some ways, they will probably be
alike in other ways.
He looked down the street toward his house and saw his mother standing there, just like a lighthouse. Always waiting for him to arrive home safely. Always there to guide himhome from hiswanderings.
Anecdote from Roald Dahl’s autobiography, Boy: Tales of Childhood, which illustrates differences in medical treatments now and in 1924:
(You need to be aware that the doctor has explained nothing to him and has given him no medicine. He only tells him to open his mouth.)
“The tiny blade flashed in the bright light and disappeared into my mouth. It went high up into the roof of my mouth, and the hand that held the blade gave four or five very quick little twists and the next moment, out of my mouth into the basin came tumbling a whole mass of flesh and blood.
I was too shocked and outraged to do anything but yelp. I was horrified by the huge red lumps that had fallen out of my mouth into the white basin and my first thought was that the doctor had cut out the whole of the middle of my head. . .”
assumption / assume
In a syllogism (logic), an assumption is a minor
premise, a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be
drawn.
If I do not wake up, then I cannot go to work.
If I cannot go to work, then I will not get paid.
Therefore, if I do not wake up, then I will not get
paid.
autobiography
An autobiography is a biography of yourself written by yourself—your history in
your own words.
clarify
When you clarify, you make your idea or statement
easier and clearer to understand by removing, rewriting, or explaining a
confusing part.
Confusing: The book was about insects that we read.
(Confusion: Did you read the insects?)
Clarified: The book that we read was about insects.
clause
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject
and a verb and is used as part of a sentence.
kinds of clauses:
• Dependent
• Independent
• Adverb
• Adjective
• Noun
• Introductory
Does the clauseexpress a complete
thought?
How or where is the clause
being used in thesentence?
Independent (main) clause
An independent (main) clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb,
and it can stand alone as a sentence. (It expresses a
complete thought).
dependent (subordinate) clause
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains
a subject and a verb,
however it cannot stand alone as a sentence because
it doesn’t express a complete thought.
Adverb (subordinate) clause
An adverb clause is a dependent (or subordinate)
clause that is being used to modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
Adverb clauses are introduced by a subordinating
conjunction—a word that shows the relationship
between the adverb clause and the word or words that
the clause modifies.
Common subordinating conjunctions are:
after as though sinceas although because as if so that wheneverwhen before wherehow though unlessuntil whenever whetherwhile in order that as long asthan
Happy because he had made an A, Tony hurried home to show the grade card to his mom.
(modifies an
adjective, happy)
introductory adverb clause
When winter sets in, many animals hibernate.
After you wash the dishes, I’ll dry them and put them away.
adjective clause
An adjective clause is a dependent (or subordinate)
clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.
1. The boy that won the contest is from my
school.
2. That documentary, which will be broadcast in the fall, was filmed in several countries.
noun clauseA noun clause is a
subordinate (dependent) clause that is used as a
noun in a sentence. It can be used as a subject, direct or indirect
object, object of preposition, or predicate nominative.
subject
How she won the race is an amazing story!
predicate nominative
Three dollars is what Daniel offered for the notebook.
direct object
David and Megan remembered who he was.
indirect object
The hostess gives whoever enters a menu.
For example, you could go to the library and compile a shelf of books that are about Christmas.
If you are doing a research paper, you could compile a list of the Internet sites, books, and magazine articles you used to find your information. (That list would be called a bibliography.)
convention
A convention is an established technique,
practice, or device that is used, for example, in
literature or in the theatre.
For example, read the following poem, and then discuss the conventions of grammar that are being used (or NOT being used) in the poem. Additionally, you could discuss the conventions of poetry that are being / not being used.
i remember some weeks agomeeting a middle aged spidershe was weepingwhat is the trouble i askedher it is these cursedfly swatters she repliedthey kill of all the fliesand my family and i are starvingto death it struck me asso pathetic that i madea little song about itas follows to wit
( from “pity the poor spiders” by Don Marquis)
culture
Culture is the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial,
religious, or social group.
For example, as you look at the picture of the Indian on the next slide,
what do you know about the Indian culture?
documentary
A documentary is a film or TV program that interprets
actual events. It usually includes interviews or footage of actual
events taking place.
A documentary’s primary purpose may be to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to make money. Sometimes a documentary may have more than one purpose.
For example, a documentary about endangered animals in the rain forest may have the purposes of:
1) informing us of the problem
2) persuading us to react by supporting laws to
protect the animals3) raising money to protect
the animals
Can you think of a recent documentary that has been
on television?
Can you think of a recent documentary that has been
on television?
exposition (literary)
An exposition is an essay or writing that explains
something.
Read the first few paragraphs of the following exposition. What is it explaining?
“The method of embalming, or treating the dead body, that the ancient Egyptians used is called mummification. Using special processes, the Egyptians removed all moisture from the body, leaving only a dried form that would not easily decay. It was important in their religion to preserve the dead body in as lifelike a manner as possible. . . .
The first step in the process was the removal of all internal parts that might decay rapidly. The brain was removed by carefully inserting special hooked instruments up through the nostrils in order to pull out bits of brain tissue.
Next, the embalmers removed all moisture from the body. They did this by covering the body with natron, a type of salt which has great drying properties, and by placing additional natron packets inside the body.”
expository writing
The word expository is related to the word expose, a verb that means “to allow to
be seen, or to reveal.”
When writing an expository, the writer tries to reveal information about a subject. He / she may include
facts,
show cause & effect, compare or
contrast, or explain instructions.
“Some early American settlements were in poor locations. Roanoke, for example, was on an island that proved hard to reach. Rough ocean currents and storms made the voyage difficult for ships to bring much-needed supplies. The site for a later colony, Jamestown, also had
problems. Jamestown sat on a marshy, disease-ridden piece of land. Because of its location, Jamestown’s settlers had to endure increased incidents of illness as well as a salty water supply. However, despite the negatives, Roanoke and Jamestown shared one important advantage:
expression in oral language
The expressive qualities of your voice can enhance
communication with your audience. Verbal
elements you may want to consider are:
diction
Enunciate, or pronounce words clearly, when you
speak to help your listeners understand you.
emphasis or stress
Your voice naturally stresses some words and phrases when you speak. Emphasize words that are
important in your message.
pause
Pauses are the small silences in your speech.
They can help to emphasize a point you are making.
They also can help listeners catch up with your speech.
pitch
Your voice naturally changes pitch—or modulates—when
you speak. Saying some words higher and others lower gives
listeners cues about your meaning. For example, you
might raise your pitch to connect two related ideas.
rate
Your rate, or tempo, of speaking is normally faster
than the speed you will need to use when giving a formal speech. Talking more slowly
during a speech helps listeners hear and
understand more easily.
volume
Although you may normally speak quietly, you need to
speak fairly loudly when you give a speech. Be loud enough
to be heard by all of your listeners. Consider speaking
more loudly or softly to emphasize certain points.
fluency
According to Tim Rasinski (an expert on the topic),
fluency is the ability to read with accuracy, with expression,
and at a good pace.
structural expression
Reading smoothly. appropriate phrasing and pausing. Adjusting your pitch and volume to the
circumstances (according to the type of text or the
audience).
interpretive expression
Recognizing that there are different purposes for
reading. Conveying the appropriate mood and
emotion. Distinguishing word meanings in context.
generalization
A generalization is a general statement that gives an
overall, general view, rather than focusing
on specific details.
Generalization: Your room is a mess.
Specific: Your clothes are not hung up and are lying all over your room.
imagery
A good writer will use imagery, or create images or pictures in writing, by providing vivid,
detailed descriptions.
“Our home was one room, about eighteen by twenty feet, the size of a living room. There was one small window in the wall opposite the one door. It was bare except for a a small, tiny wood-burning stove that was
crouching in the center.
The flooring consisted of two-by-fours laid directly on the earth, and dandelions were already pushing their way up through the cracks.”
inconsistency
If something is consistent, it is marked by harmony,
regularity, and steady continuity. It is free from
variation and free from contradiction.
changed verb tense in your essay
At my grandparents house, I wake up before anyone else and quietly had grabbed the fishing pole and will be heading for the pond. “I was so excited,” I say to myself. “I was going to catch a fish.”
changed your point of view
I have always felt that hang-gliding was invented just for me. You feel so free, floating through the air, as I watch the Lego farm houses and people that are no larger than ants.
have statements that contradict
The disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains a mystery. Earhart, who was the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, crashed into the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly around the world. Everybody knows what happened to her.
changed your topic
“Although living with a disability can be difficult, many disabled people lead independent lives. Jenna is one of those people. Left legally blind and deaf at age nine from an operation to remove a brain tumor,
Jenna had to learn to overcome her disabilities. With the help of a cane, a hearing aid, and a magnifying glass to help her read, Jenna is able to be self-sufficient.
I wouldn’t want to be blind. It would scare me to death. I would be as scared as I saw when I saw the horror movie,
The Texas Chain-Saw Massacre. Let me tell you. I was scared to death, and I screamed and screamed and screamed. I screamed so much, I almost threw up all over my little brother who was as calm as a cucumber. I don’t like cucumbers. I think they taste gross in a salad. Don’t you?”
infinitive
An infinitive is a verb form, usually preceded by “to,” that is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Example-to go, to leave, to fly
examples of infinitives
1. I want to go home with you.
2. I need someone to help me with my homework.
3. To be kind is sometimes very difficult.
infinitive phrase as adverb
1. The crowd grew quiet to hear the speaker.
(modifies grew)
2. The camel knelt at at the pool to drink.
(modifies knelt)
infinitive phrase as adjective
1. The best time to visit Florida is December through April.
(modifies time)
2. If you want information about computers, that is the magazine to read.
(modifies magazine)
predicate nominative
Isabella’s ambition is to become a doctor.
Direct objectAfter school, David and I liketo walk home together.
interpretation
An interpretation is an explanation of something.
It can also be how you perform a piece of literature (reading a poem, acting a part in a play, etc.)
For example, after reading A Christmas Carol, your teacher could ask you:“What is your interpretation of the Spirits?”
What he/she is asking you is: What is your explanation (the purpose) of the Spirits?
OR. . .You could act the part of Ebenezer Scrooge in a play. When you get on stage and act like Ebenezer, you are doing an interpretation, or explanation, of how your think he acted, looked, and talked. People who came to the play would critique your interpretation of the character of Ebenezer Scrooge.
OR. . . If you memorize a poem and recite it to the class, they could critique your interpretation. In other words, they would watch your facial expressions and body language, and they would listen to your voice, and then they would tell you how well your expressed the meaning of the poem when your read it.
irony
Irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. There are three common
types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
verbal irony
Verbal irony involves a contrast between
what is said or written
and what is really meant.
For example, if a baseball player just struck out, and you called him “slugger,” you would be using verbal irony.
situational irony
Situational irony occurs when what happens is very
different from what we expected would happen.
For example, in “Casey at the Bat,” when Casey strikes out after we’ve been led to believe he will save the day, the poet is using situational irony.
BEAN: The Movie, is a movie that contains much situational irony. You may want to view the first 10 minutes or so of the film and see how many instances you can find.
dramatic irony
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or the reader
knows something a character does not know.
In “The Highwayman,” the reader realizes that King George’s soldiers have Bess tied up and that there is a trap set for the highwayman; however, the highwayman is not aware of either of these situations.
Some adjectives that describe mood:
sad scary
hopeful exiting
negative optimistic
suspenseful
depressing
flashback
A flashback is an interruption in the action of a plot in order to tell what
happened at an earlier time.
The plot “flashes back” in time.
foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is the use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the plot.
“Three Skeleton Key”
In “Three Skeleton Key,” the story of the three convicts who perished on the key foreshadows the danger the three lighthouse keepers will face.
tone
Tone is the attitude that a writer takes toward the
audience, a subject, or a character. Tone is conveyed through the writer’s choice
of words and details.
For example. . . The poem “maggie and mily and molly and may” is light and playful in tone. By contrast, the poem “Annabel Lee” is serious in tone.
You may think of other examples.
symbolism
A symbol is a person, place, thing, or event that has its own meaning and stand for something beyond itself as well. Symbolism is the condition or state of being a symbol.
parallel structure
If a sentence has parallel structure, the compound
elements match in form. In other words, you will use
the same kind of word or phrase in each of the
compound elements.
Example:
Not parallel: Julie likes fishing and to swim in a cool mountain stream.
Parallel: Julie likes fishing and swimming in a cool mountain stream.
projection
Projection means to control the volume,
clarity, and distinctness of a voice to gain greater audibility (to make people
hear you better).
prose
Prose is writing or speaking in the usual sentence form.
Prose becomes poetry when it takes on
rhyme and rhythm.
revision
Making changes in a piece of writing to improve its
completeness and clarity is called revision. Another word for revise is edit.
You revise your essay by:correcting grammar errorsdeleting ideas or wordsadding words or sentencesre-arranging ideas or sentencesre-writing a passageadding transitional wordsdividing it into paragraphs
sentence structure
The structure of a sentence refers to the kinds and the number of clauses it contains. The four kinds of sentences are: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
simple
My dad, my brother, and I verb prepositional phrase
drove out to the nearby woods
prepositional phrase
to gather pine cones.
subject subject subject
compound
My brother picked up all the
little cones, and my dad and I
threw medium and big ones
into the trunk of the car.
complex
When mom and Grandma saw how many we had, they laughed and said that we had enough to decorate ten houses.
complex
dependent clause
When Mom and Grandma
saw how many we had,
independent clause
they laughed and said we had
enough to decorate ten houses.
compound-complex
We had forgotten to ask what size pine cones to get, and since Dad had never made decorations, he didn’t know.
compound-complex
We had forgotten to ask what size pine cones to get,
and since Dad had never made decorations,
he didn’t know.
stereotype
Stereotypes are beliefs about all the members of
a particular group. Stereotypes are usually
based on too little evidence or on false or misleading information.
For example, if a student has to sell 100 boxes of candy, he could adopt the strategy of selling at least 10 boxes per day, and in 10 days, he would have reached his goal.
If you have trouble memorizing definitions of new vocabulary words, you could use index cards. Put the definition on one side; put the word on the other. Use the cards as flash cards to practice learning the meanings. (strategy at school)
limerick
A limerick is a five-line humorous poem. The rhyme pattern is a a b b a. Lines 1, 2 and 5 contain 3 beats (7 to 10 syllables) and rhyme, and lines 3 and 4 have two beats (5 to 7 syllables) and rhyme.
There was an Old Person of Dover,Who rushed through a field of blue
clover;But some very large bees,Stung his nose and his knees,So he very soon went back to Dover.
lyric
A lyric poem is a poem that expresses the feelings or
thoughts of a speaker rather than telling a story.
“Dreams”
Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.
Langston Hughes
narrative
A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. It may have any of the elements that a short story has, including:
Think of a narrative poem that you have studied this year—or perhaps last year.
Can you find the elements of a short story in it? They should be there for you to find.
haikuHaiku is a Japanese style of
poetry. It has three lines, 17 syllables does not rhyme, is about nature, and has a specific number
of syllables in each line: 5, 7, 5
The crow has flown away:swaying in the evening sun,
a leafless tree.
Note: When translated from Japanese to English,often the haikusyllables are not “perfect.”
viewpoint
Viewpoint is another word for point of view or
standpoint. Another synonym might be opinion.
For example, if a news reporter walked up to you and asked, “What is your viewpoint of smoking in public?” he would be wanting to know your opinion about public smoking.
Do you agree with people smoking in public? Why?
Do you disagree? Why?Does it bother you? Why or
why not?What are the good things
about it? What are the bad things
about it?
Bibliography
Most clip art is taken from Microsoft Office Online.
Most definitions and some examples are taken from Holt’s Elements of Language, 2004 edition.
Some examples are my personal writings; some pictures were snatched from the Internet, various places.