abstract: a summary of a longer text
acronym: a word formed from the first letters of several words. NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) is an example.
adage: a well-known wise saying
adverb: a word that modifies, intensifies, or qualifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb
adverb dependent clause: a group of words with its own subject and verb, which performs the work of an adverb
aerial shot: a long camera shot taken from high above the subject
allegory: a work that uses symbolic characters and events to teach lessons or express truths about human life
alliteration: the intentional repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words to achieve a pleasing effect
allusions: in literature, a reference to someone or something with which the writer assumes the audience will be familiar
ambiguous pronoun: a pronoun with an unclear antecedent
analogy: a comparison
anecdote: a brief, personal story about an interesting event
antagonist: the force opposing the protagonist; the problem or obstacle that the protagonist must overcome
antecedent: the noun that a pronoun refers to or replaces
antonym: a word that means the opposite of another word
aptitude: natural ability
audience: the person who receives a communicated message; the person or specific group addressed by a writer, speaker, or visual message
bibliography: a list of information sources used by an author of an essay or a report
body language: messages sent through facial expressions, gestures, and postures
brainstorming: generating as many ideas as possible without restraint or criticism
call number: a code, usually consisting of numerals and letters, assigned to a book to indicate its location in a library
caption: the title or explanation accompanying a visual text
caricature: a representation of a person that exaggerates the person’s physical features
character presentation: the way an author reveals the personality of the characters
chronological order: the order in which events actually occurred in time
citation: in an essay or report, a reference to an information source
cite: refer to; acknowledge; document
clause: a group of words with a subject and a verb
cliché: an overused expression
cliffhanger ending: a suspenseful ending that leaves the reader to guess the outcome
climax: the most exciting point in a story; the most significant turning point
close-up shot: a camera shot that shows the subject in detail
clustering: a prewriting strategy in which ideas related to a single word or concept are drawn in “clusters” around it (also called mind mapping, webbing, or thought webbing)
collaborative skill: a skill that facilitates working effectively with other people
colloquial expression or colloquialism: a casual, everyday expression used in informal language
comma fault: a sentence error caused by joining two sentences incorrectly with a comma
communication: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviour
communication barrier: a factor that lessens the effectiveness of communication
communication facilitator: a factor that increases the effectiveness of communication
communication skill: one of the six skills used to send or receive messages: reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, representing
communicator: a person who sends a message
complement: a noun, pronoun, or adjective that is attached to the subject of a sentence by a linking verb
complex sentence: a sentence consisting of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses, joined with a subordinating conjunction
composition: in visual communication, the arrangement of objects, people, and places
compound sentence: a sentence consisting of two or more independent clauses, joined with a coordinating conjunction or a colon or semi-colon
conflict: the struggle between the main character (the protagonist) and an opposing force
conjunction: a word used to join words and ideas
conjunctive adverb: an adverb that acts as a transitional device. Examples are however and furthermore.
connotation: the meaning associated with a word as it’s used over time
context: the circumstances or situation surrounding a particular word, phrase, or text
context clues: the clues in a sentence or passage that help the reader determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase
critical response: a response to a text that focuses on the text and its creator
cropping: reducing the size of a visual text to eliminate some details
cut: a film editing technique in which one scene ends and a new one begins immediately
deductive organization: an arrangement of ideas that places the thesis statement ahead of the supporting details
denotation: the literal meaning of a word
Dewey Decimal System: a system of classifying books and other library materials according to their subjects, using a different number for each subject
dialect: the words and expressions used by a group of people living in a particular area or place
dialogue: conversation in a story or play
diction: the choice of words and level of language
digital alteration: a change to visual text using computer technology
dilemma: a difficult situation in which a person is faced with two undesirable alternatives
direct presentation of character: a method of revealing characters’ personalities by directly telling readers
dissolve: a film editing technique in which the end of one scene is superimposed over the beginning of a new one
dolly shot: a shot taken by a camera mounted on a moving vehicle or platform
dominant line: in a visual text, the strongest line evident in the composition
doublespeak: the deliberate use of language to deceive or confuse
drafting: writing a first unpolished version
dynamic character: a character who undergoes a significant change
editing: in writing, the process of proofreading and correcting grammatical problems and surface errors in things like capitalization, spelling, and punctuation
editorial: a persuasive essay or commentary giving the author’s or the medium’s views on an issue
editorial cartoon: a cartoon that comments on a news item or current issue
ellipsis (...): a set of three periods used to show an omission of words from a sentence or one or more sentences in a paragraph
emotive language: words that convey a strong emotional connotation and reveal a bias or judgment
emotive word: a word that implies an opinion or judgment
empathize: to understand how another person feels
essay: a short, non-fiction text that presents an argument or the writer’s point of view about a topic or an issue
ethical: moral; having to do with standards of right and wrong
expository essay: a non-fiction text that provides information
expressive writing: writing done in everyday, familiar language that tells about feelings, experiences, and ideas
eye-level shot: a camera shot taken from the same level as the subject’s eye
fable: a story that teaches a moral lesson, using animals as characters
fade-in, fade-out: a film editing technique in which one scene gradually becomes dark and the next one gradually emerges from the darkness
falling action: (also called outcome) the part of the play in which the conflict is resolved
figurative language: language that uses figures of speech (such as similes and metaphors) to achieve a special effect
figure of speech: a device used to appeal to the imagination and to create an effect by associating or comparing one thing with another
first-person point of view: a type of narration in which a character tells his or her own story using the words I and we
flashbacks: an interruption of events in order to return to an earlier point in time
flat character: an undeveloped character
foil: a character with a personality trait that contrasts with a trait of another character
foreshadowing: providing hints or clues about events that will occur later in the story
form or format: the structure and appearance of a text
formal language: language in which careful attention is paid to word choice and grammatical correctness
fragment: an incomplete sentence
free verse: a type of poetry that has no regular rhyme, rhythm, or structure
freewriting: writing nonstop for several minutes and allowing whatever thoughts come to mind to be recorded on paper
genre: a category of literature characterized by its form, content, or style—for example, poetry, short stories, novels, essays
group dynamics: the way people in a group relate to each other
hasty generalization: a broad conclusion based on the examination of only a few incidents
helping verb: a verb used with the main verb to indicate tense; am, is, are, was, were, has, had, have, can, and may are examples
high-angle shot: (also called a bird’s eye view) a camera shot taken from above the subject
home page: the first page or screen of an Internet website
homonym: a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different spelling and meaning. Examples are heard and herd.
hyperbole: obvious and deliberate exaggeration for emphasis
image: a description that enables you to visualize what is being described
imagery: language that appeals to the senses, enabling you to imagine what is being described
imperative sentence: a request or command
implicitly: indirectly
indeterminate ending: an ending that leaves the audience unclear about the outcome
indirect presentation of character: a method of revealing characters’ personalities through what they say, think, and do
inductive organization: an arrangement of ideas in which the supporting details lead to a thesis
inference: a conclusion arrived at by weighing the evidence
informal language: the relaxed, personal language used in everyday life
inter-library loan: a loan of materials made from one library to another
Internet: an electronic network connecting computers across the world
interpersonal skill: a skill that facilitates satisfactory relationships between people
irony: the contrast between what is and what was expected
jargon: complex or technical language used by a particular group or profession
juxtaposition: positioning details or images side by side to emphasize a similarity or difference
layout: the way in which print and graphic elements are arranged on a page
limited omniscient point of view: a type of narration in which the author focuses on one character, enabling the reader to know what this character says, does, thinks, and feels
link or hyperlink: a website address of a page on a website that leads to more information
linking verb: a verb that does not express action but which links a subject with an adjective or noun
literal: the basic or actual meaning
literary symbol: any character, object, situation, action, or event in a work of literature that has a second, figurative meaning in addition to its literal meaning
loaded question: a question that contains an implied answer
logical fallacy (or logical flaw): an error in reasoning; an argument based on faulty reasoning
long shot: a camera shot that shows the subject and the background
low-angle shot: (also called a worm’s eye view) a camera shot taken from below the subject
mass media: methods of communicating quickly with large masses of people. Examples are television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.
materialism: the interest in material goods or wealth
medium shot: a camera shot showing the complete subject
memoir: a type of writing in which an author reflects on a personal experience
metaphor: an implied comparison between two unlike things without using the words like, as, or than
milieu: the surrounding circumstances in which something occurs, or the environment in which someone lives
minor character: a less important character in a story, play, or film
monologue: a long speech given by one person
mood: the overall feeling or impression produced in a text
motif: a recurring theme or image that acts as a unifying device
motive: the reason behind a character's action or decision
multifaceted: having many sides
multimedia: involving two or more of the following media or forms of communication: printed texts, visual texts, and oral texts
multimedia presentation: a presentation involving more than one type of communication. Generally, multimedia presentations feature visual or aural aids as well as print materials.
narrative point of view: the viewpoint or perspective from which a story is told
narrator: the person who tells the story
news anchor: the person who presents the news and coordinates the news coming in from reporters in the field
non-verbal communication: sending or receiving a message through visual means
nostalgically: describing a sentimental desire to relive something in the past
object: a noun or pronoun following an action verb
objective case: the grammatical form of a pronoun that shows that it is an object of a verb or preposition
objective point of view: a type of narration in which the words and actions of the characters are simply recorded, much as a camera and microphone might do
omniscient point of view: a type of narration in which an all-knowing observer reveals the thoughts and feelings of several characters
online: connected to the Internet
online catalogue: a computer database listing materials in a library
onomatopoeia: the use of words that imitate the sounds they represent
panning: a shot taken by a camera moving horizontally on a fixed base
paradox: a statement that appears to be inconsistent or contradictory, yet, in fact, makes sense
parallelism: in speech or writing, the repetition of an identical grammatical or stylistic structure for clarity
paraphrase: to restate something in your own words
parody: a form of satire in which the writer imitates the tone, language, and shape of another work in order to deflate the original work and make it seem absurd
periodical: material that is published at regular intervals, such as newspapers and magazines
periodical index: an alphabetical list of articles that have appeared in periodicals, classifying each article by author, title, and subject or key word and identifying precisely which periodical the article appeared in
persona: a character that a writer or performer adopts to speak to an audience
personal response: a response to a text that focuses on the reactions of the person who is reading, listening to, or viewing the text
personification: a figure of speech in which human characteristics are given to non-human things
perspective: in visual communication, the distance between the viewer and the subject
phrase: a group of words that acts as a unit but can’t stand alone because it doesn’t contain a subject and verb
plagiarism: the act of using someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledgement
plot: the sequence of events in a story or play
point of view: the way that the reader or viewer looks at a text
portfolio: a collection of work, such as drawings or writing
possessive case: the grammatical form of a noun or pronoun that indicate ownership. Examples are my, his, and their.
predicate: the part of the sentence containing the verb and words that modify the verb
preposition: a word that shows relationships involving time, direction, or position. For example, from, to, before, after, under, between, in, with, and so on.
prepositional phrase: a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun
prewriting: generating ideas and planning for writing through such processes as discussing, thinking, brainstorming, clustering, or making lists
profile: a non-fiction text that focuses on one person’s life and achievements
propaganda: the systematic spreading of ideas, often using distortion or deception, to promote a cause
props or properties: things used by actors as they play their roles (for example, a sword, a cup, a pen, a cigar, or a pistol)
protagonist: the central character in a story, play, or film
public relations (PR): activities undertaken to create and maintain a favourable public image
pun: word play that creates humour by using a word with more than one meaning or words that have similar sounds
purpose in reading: the reason for reading—for enjoyment, to learn something, to find specific facts, and so on
purpose in writing: the reason for writing
repetition: in poetry, the intentional reuse of a word or group of words to create an effect
representing: sending a message through visual means, such as drawing or signalling
revision: in writing, the process of revisiting and reworking the material, which involves focusing, developing, deleting, reordering, and changing the text
rhyme: the repetition of identical sounds at the end of words. Examples are wave and grave.
rhyme scheme: a pattern of rhyme in a poem, usually indicated by letters, such as abba
rhythm: the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in spoken or written language
rising action: the part of the plot in which suspense is created and complications arise
run-on sentence: a sentence error caused by the incorrect joining of ideas
sarcasm: a harsh form of verbal irony; words that mock or ridicule
satire: a literary technique that mocks or ridicules human vices or shortcomings, usually with an intent to bring about improvement or change
scanning: a reading technique used to find facts or information quickly by locating key words
search engine: a website running an application that locates other websites with information on topics selected by Internet users
semicolon: a form of punctuation used mainly to join independent clauses in a compound sentence
set designer: the person who designs the scenery in a play or film
setting: where and when a story or play takes place
shooting script: a script used for filming, containing directions for the camera as well as for the actors
silhouette: a dark image outlined against a lighter background
simile: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared using words such as like, as, or than
skimming: a time-saving reading technique in which the reader quickly reads only the most important sections of a piece of writing to get a general idea about the content
slang: a casual, current expression
slant: the presentation of a story from a particular point of view or bias
slice-of-life story: a story that focuses on character rather than suspense; a story that lacks an exciting climax and surprising outcome
sonnet: a fourteen-line rhyming poem with a regular rhythm
sound devices: words and phrases that appeal directly to the sense of hearing
speaker: in poetry, the person adopted by the author to speak to the audience
split screen: the placement of two camera shots side by side on a screen so that the viewer can see two scenes at the same time
SQ3R: a method of slow, careful reading, used to read non-fiction texts
stage directions: directions written in italics that help the reader and actors of a play visualize the setting, costumes, body language, emotions, and movements of the characters
stanza: in poetry, lines that have been grouped together to form a unit or to achieve a certain effect
static character: a character who remains unchanged
stem: the statement or question part of a multiple-choice question
stereotyped character: a character who portrays the typical characteristics of a group
stereotypical: having oversimplified characteristics
stereotyping: assigning certain characteristics to all members of a group and thereby ignoring their individual differences
style: a writer’s way of using language
subject: the part of the sentence containing the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about
subject/verb agreement: the use of the correct form of a verb, either singular or plural, to complement the subject
subjective case: the grammatical form of a pronoun that shows that it is the subject of a verb or preposition
subordinating conjunction: a word that joins a less important idea to a more important one
superficial: on the surface, lacking depth
suspense: a feeling of curiosity and excitement caused by uncertainty about what will happen next
sweeping generalization: the assumption that every member of a group shares the same characteristics and thereby ignoring individual differences
symbol: something that stands for something else; an object, person, or event that has a meaning greater than its literal meaning
symbolism: the use of symbols in literature; the use of signs or symbols to represent abstract ideas such as opportunity, life, death, freedom, happiness, love, hope, and peace
synonym: a word that has a similar meaning to another word
syntax: sentence structure
tag: the words in a dialogue that explain who is speaking
text: print or nonprint material that communicates a message, including stories, poems, articles, essays, books, films, photographs, graphs, audiotapes, advertisements, drawings, and diagrams
theme: the underlying message or central idea in a text
thesis: the main idea or argument in an essay
thesis statement: a statement that expresses the central idea or main argument in an essay
tilting: a shot taken by a camera pointing up or down from a fixed base
tone: the author or speaker’s attitude toward the subject
topic sentence: a sentence that states or implies the main idea in a paragraph
tracking: a shot taken by a camera mounted on a moving vehicle
transition: a link or connection
trite expression: an ordinary and commonplace expression
turning point: a critical event or decision that results in a significant change of direction
unreliable narrator: a narrator whose observations cannot be trusted
value: a belief about what’s right and wrong or what’s important or worthwhile in life
verb: a word or group of words that expresses an action or a state of being
verb tense: the time of a verb’s action or state of being; the basic tenses are past, present, and future
verbal cue: in a cartoon, words used to convey the message
verbal irony: words that imply a meaning that is opposite to the literal meaning
verisimilitude: the quality of seeming realistic—of appearing to be true and plausible
visualize: to imagine a mental image of a person, thing, or event
voice: in writing, the personal and recognizable style of a writer
voice-over: a narrative technique in a film in which a narrator tells the story while it’s being shown on the screen
webbing: a prewriting strategy in which ideas related to a single word or concept are drawn around it; also called clustering or mapping
website: a place on the World Wide Web that contains information about a particular topic, person, or organization
wipe: a film editing technique in which one shot appears to chase or wipe the preceding one from the screen
World Wide Web: a network of websites on the Internet
zoom: a shot created by moving a camera lens so that the subject suddenly appears closer or farther away