Academic Language (words used in test questions)
excerpt: a quotation from a story; a small piece taken out of a larger story
phrase: a part of a sentence
appropriate: suitable or right for a particular purpose; doing the right thing at the right time
conflict: a disagreement, fight, quarrel, struggle, battle
detail: a very small part of a bigger piece, sometimes very intricate or difficult
hinder: to prevent something from happening
achieve: to bring to a successful end or accomplish; to get or gain by effort
implies: to express indirectly; to suggest; similar to infer
accurate: to have no error or defect; true
alternating: switching back and forth (example: girl-boy-girl-boy-girl-boy).
argument: giving several reasons to support your point
assert: to say with confidence or force
assertion: a positive statement, often without facts or reasons to back it up
cite: to quote or mention in support of an argument
citation: to quote a passage, a reference, or a person who is an authority
conclusion: the final part of an article that summarizes the earlier parts, and a statement of opinion or decision
diagram: a drawing or picture used to instruct or explain
evidence: reasons which will prove or disprove an argument
express: to put thoughts into words; to show or reveal
infer: to figure something out by reasoning, and not being directly told; to hint or suggest
inference: a hint or suggestion; to learn or understand without being directly told
metaphor: figurative speech comparing two dissimilar things which does not use “like” or “as.” (Examples: The cat was a bolt of lightning. Your hurtful words just added fuel to the fire.)
passage: a part or section of a written work
simile: figurative speech comparing two dissimilar things which uses “like” or “as.” (Examples: Playing chess with Ashley is like trying to outthink a computer. His temper is like a volcano.)
source: anything or place from which something comes or is obtained; origin
stanza: a group of lines (sentences) in a poem, often to create a rhythm or meter. Similar to a paragraph
subheading: a small title in the middle of a story to tell you what the section will be about
summary: a brief description of the facts or actions of a story
summarize: to make a brief description of the facts or actions of a story
thesis: the main idea of a story.
tone: the writer’s attitude toward the material or reader. (playful, formal, intimate, angry, serious, ironic, outraged, baffled, tender, etc.)
unsupported: no proof or example.