Mr. Chris Holm's Website

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: where something comes from 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.

Colonel – military rank just below General
“The Colonel is in charge of 5000 men.” (pronounced kernel)

eyesore – something that is really ugly
“They never take care of their house, so it’s a real eyesore.”

Mongolia – country in central Asia
“Mongolia lies between Russia and China.”

bachelor – an unmarried man
“My mom says that Uncle Dave is really nice, and shouldn’t still be a bachelor.”

pedigree – an ancestral line, or line of descent
“The puppy cost $4,000 because his pedigree had many champions.”

hurl – to throw; slang – vomit
“The pitcher had to hurl the ball to first base to trap the runner.”

Himalayas – Highest mountain range in the world between India & China
“Mount Everest is in the Himalayas.”

barley – a distinct grain family, as are wheat, corn, and rice
“The farmer is growing barley.”

vagabond – wandering from place to place without a permanent home
“We spent the year traveling in our mobile home, feeling like vagabonds.”

hothouse – another name for a greenhouse – a building with glass roof and walls for keeping in heat and letting in lots of sunlight for growing plants
“The florist grows roses in a hothouse so he can sell them all year.”

suffocate – to kill by preventing air from getting into the lungs
“In the murder mystery, the villain killed the heir by tying a plastic bag over his head so he would suffocate.”

wisecrack – a smart, witty, or facetious remark
“John never learned anything in class because he was always busy making wisecracks about the teacher.”

lore – a body of knowledge on a specific subject, especially of traditional or popular nature
“People into fantasy games study books on dragon lore.”

rave – to talk or write with wild enthusiasm
“Everyone raved about her new hair style.”

sophomore – a second year student in high school or college

typhoon – a severe storm that starts over the Pacific ocean; a hurricane
“Typhoon Amil came ashore and created widespread flooding.”

abstract – theoretical, not practical, concrete, or physical
“People see different things in the abstract art of Jackson Pollock.”

immaculate – spotless, stainless, perfectly clean
“We spent the whole day cleaning; the house was immaculate.”

bauxite – the ore rock of aluminum
“The company mines bauxite, and then refines it into aluminum.”

mimeograph – a printing machine with an ink-fed drum
“In the years before photocopiers, teachers had to make worksheets using a mimeograph machine.”

anonymous – without a name, or knowing who is the author
“The company received an anonymous letter saying that they made bad products.”

boycott – to protest by not buying or using something
“We are going to boycott the lumber company because they are killing the spotted owls.”

microbe – bacteria that causes disease
“There are millions of microbes all over your skin.”

treacherous – deceptive, untrustworthy, betrayal
“Don’t cross that bridge – it’s treacherous!”

Easily Confused Words
access – a way of approach
“The doctor had to access the cancer tumor by cutting through the patient’s back.”

excess – that which surpasses a limit
“The tourist had excess baggage and had to pay an extra $100.”

fiscal – related to finance
“We made more money this fiscal year than last.”

physical – relating to the body
“In physical education we learn many sports and exercises.”

thorough – complete
“The doctor gave me a thorough exam and said I could play sports.”

through – going from beginning to end
“We drove through the tunnel.”