Study Guide for Academic Vocabulary

alliteration- The repeating of the same beginning sound in a group of words.

Ex. Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

internal rhyme- happens when two words rhyme inside the same line. Ex. Jack and Jill went up the hill.

parody- a humorous imitation or copy of an original piece of literature or song

author’s bias- the author’s thoughts and viewpoint

bibliography- a list of source materials that are used when writing a book or article.

acronym- a set of initials representing a name or organization (ex. STAAR) or the short way of writing an common expression using the first letter of each word (TGIG, LOL)

format - the way in which text is organized and designed

interpretation - explanation of the meaning of the text

documentary- a program, TV or movie, that produces a factual record or report

classic vs. contemporary works

classic works: familiar literature written many, many years ago ex. Black Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, nursery rhymes, Red Riding Hood

contemporary works: literature written recently ex. Harry Potter, Twilight, Diary of a Wimpy Kid

anecdote - short and often amusing story used for emphasis

dialect- language that is specific to a region or social group

excerpt- a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, or film

double negative – two negative words used in one clause or sentence that make the sentence a positive statement

validity - a quality based on truth; sound; able to be accepted

foreshadowing – a warning of something that is going to happen

graphic- a visual image; use of pictures, graphs, maps, etc. in a book or article

metaphor – the comparison of two different things NOT using the words like or as

personification – when animals or non-living things are given human characteristics