Word Definition

Literary Analysis Study of a work of literature to evaluate and

interpret its elements
Inference Making a logical guess or conclusion based on
textual evidence
Novel Type of literary genre that tells a fictional story
Introduction The opening of an essay that gets a reader’s
attention and indicates a topic
Nonfiction Writing that is based on facts and actual events
Commentary The writer’s statements about the meaning and
importance of details and examples
Compare This looks at how two topics are similar
Conclusion One or more paragraphs that bring an essay to
a close and leave an impression with the
reader
Nonverbal Communication Sharing information involving movement,
gestures, and facial gestures
Fiction A writing that consists of imagined events
Explanatory Essay Makes an assertion and explains it with details,
reasons, textual evidence, and commentary
Contrast This looks at how two topics are different
Imagery Descriptive or figurative language used to
create word pictures
Hook A compelling idea or statement designed to get
the reader’s attention
Verbal Communication Giving and receiving information involving
written or spoken word
Subplot A secondary plot that occurs along with a main
plot
Topic Sentence States the main idea of a paragraph
Thesis Statement Sentence in an introduction that states the
author’s opinion on an essay topic
Prediction A kind of inference that is an assumption about
something that hasn’t happened yet
Synthesize To form by combining parts or elements into a
single, unified piece