Glossary

paradox a self-contradictory statement that is somehow true

parallelism the writing technique of combining sentences or parts of sentences that have exactly the same length, structure, and weight in order to achieve a sense of balance

parallel structure two or more sentence items of equal importance expressed in similar grammatical form to emphasize their relationship

paraphrase to restate something in your own words 

parenthetical expression words or phrases that slightly interrupt the flow of a sentence by providing additional information 

parody a work that pokes fun at another work by imitating and exaggerating recognizable elements of it 

parts of speech the eight categories of words based on the functions they perform 

passive reading reading a work without engaging with it on any level

pentameter a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet

periodical a publication, such as a magazine or newspaper, that is published at regular intervals

periodical index a catalogue of articles, classifying each article by its subject, title, and author

periodic sentence a sentence in which the main idea comes at the end

persona a character through whom an author reveals his or her thoughts and feelings

personal narrative a true retelling of a significant incident in the author's life and development

personal response a reaction to a text that expresses a personal opinion and considers the text in the light of personal experience

personification a type of metaphor in which human qualities are given to non-human things

pitch the variation of highness and lowness in someone's voice

plagiarism using someone else's words or ideas without acknowledgment

plain folks an appeal that shows ordinary people promoting a product or service

play a work of literature that is written to be acted, especially in a theatre; the drama itself

plot the sequence of events in a story

plural referring to more than one person or thing

poetic licence the freedom poets exercise in breaking the conventional rules of grammar and spelling in their work

pop-up ads ads that pop up in a separate screen on a web page

portfolio a collection of work done by an artist or writer

précis a short summary of a longer text

predicate the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is; includes the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb

prefix letters that are added to the beginning of a word or root and that change the word's meaning

preposition a word that connects a noun or pronoun with other words

prepositional phrase a group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun

preview to look at a text before reading it, in order to notice how the material is organized

primary source an original source of information; a person who has direct knowledge of an event or an experience

prior knowledge the knowledge of a subject that you have before you begin to read, listen, or view

prologue an introduction recited to introduce a play

prominence a factor that makes an event newsworthy because it pertains to important persons, places, or things

pronoun a word used in place of a noun

proofread to check carefully and correct errors 

prop a movable object used on a theatre stage

prose ordinary written or spoken language; all language that isn't poetry

protagonist the main character, hero or otherwise, in a story

proverb a short, well-known saying, held to embody a general truth; often offers advice or urges caution

psychological obsolescence an appeal that attempts to convince people that a "newly improved" product being advertised is superior to an earlier version of the same product or other older products

pun word play that creates humour by using a word with more than one meaning; a play on words that have similar sounds 

qualifier a word that limits or makes a statement less universal

quatrain a group of four lines in a poem

realistic character a character who seems as complex, consistent, and surprising as a real person

representing sending a message through visual means

resolution or ending the part of the story in which the tension is relaxed or mysteries are explained and the conclusion occurs

revise to improve the content and organization of a piece of writing

rhetoric the art of persuasion in writing or speaking

rhetorical devices techniques used to present ideas or arguments in a persuasive or effective manner

rhetorical question a question that does not require an answer from the listener but instead is used for effect by the speaker

rhyme the repetition of identical sounds, either in the same line or at the ends of alternating lines or coupled lines

rhyming couplet two rhymed lines of similar or identical metre that usually form a complete thought

rhythm the repetition of similar sounds in relatively close proximity

ridicule mockery; words or actions that make fun of somebody or something

rising action the part of a story in which the author creates suspense or complicates the action

romance a factor that makes an event newsworthy because it involves love or adventure

run-on sentence two or more closely related independent clauses written as one sentence with no punctuation

sarcasm words that mock or ridicule with the intent to hurt; a remark that means the opposite of what it says and is intended to mock

satire poetry or prose that mocks or ridicules human folly, foibles, or vices; a literary genre characterized by the use of wit, irony, mockery, and sarcasm to attack human vices and shortcomings, usually with an intent to bring about improvement

scan to glance through print material to locate a specific piece of information

scene a formal division in an act of a play, often having continuity of action taking place in a single location

scenery the set or background for a play or film

search engine a program that searches the Web to find information

secondary source information from a source that derived this information from primary sources

sentence fragment a part of a sentence punctuated as if it were a complete sentence

serialized presented in parts, usually over a series of days or weeks

serious fiction fiction that reveals something about aspects of life or human nature

sestet a group of six lines in a poem

setting where and when a story takes place

significance a factor that makes an event newsworthy because it can affect the lives of readers

silhouette a dark image of an object or person outlined against a lighter background

simile a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as

simple sentence a sentence that is made up of one subject and one predicate

singular referring to a single person or thing

situational irony a discrepancy of meaning between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs or between what is expected to be the case and what is the real state of affairs

skim to read a text quickly to understand the main ideas

slang the current expressions used by a group of people

slant to present information from a particular perspective; a point of view that appeals to a specific audience or a particular bias

slogan a catchy, often-repeated phrase to promote a product

snob appeal an advertising technique that attempts to convince people that they are special or have good taste if they purchase a particular product

soliloquy a speech that a character makes when no one else is present or listening; a genuine and heartfelt statement that expresses a character's innermost thoughts

so-what claim a claim that is not relevant to the functioning or quality of a product 

speaker the voice through which a poet speaks

SQ3R a reading strategy that involves the steps of survey, question, read, recite, and review; a systematic, organized way to approach a reading or studying assignment and to remember what you have read or studied

statement of fact a statement that provides facts or information that can be verified

statement of opinion a statement that provides the personal viewpoint of the writer or speaker

static character one who does not undergo a significant character change

stereotype an overly simplistic and, therefore, mostly inaccurate assessment of a person or thing

stereotypical character a character type of an oversimplified but easily recognized human type

stereotyping assigning certain characteristics to all members of a group, ignoring their individual differences

style the way that the writer expresses ideas

subject the person, place, or thing of which the main verb speaks; the part of a sentence that tells who or what the sentence is about; consists of a noun, noun phrase, or equivalent

subordinating conjunction a conjunction that joins groups of words of unequal importance; a word that joins a dependent clause to an independent clause, resulting in a complex sentence 

suffix letters that are added to the end of a word or root and that change the word's meaning

surprise ending an ending that features an unexpected turn of events

survey to look over

suspense the anticipation felt by a reader or viewer in wanting to know what will happen next; the feeling of curiosity and excitement caused by uncertainty as to what will happen next

syllable a part of a word that is spoken as a unit and that must include a vowel

symbol in literature, any character, object, situation, action, or event that has a second meaning in addition to its literal meaning

symbolism the use of a concrete object to represent something abstract

synonym a word with a similar meaning to that of another word

syntax sentence structure