Conjunctions These are used to connect words or groups of words. Most common ones are: and, but, & or. Example: I want to go to the party, but my mom won’t let me. But connects the phrases I want to go to the party and my mom won’t let me.

Main Ideas These are central ideas the writer wishes to express either in an entire story or just a paragraph. Example: Main Idea People who study handwriting are called graphologists. Detail A graphologist can examine a robber’s note and describe the criminal. Detail Graphologists can tell if someone is a good fit for a job. Detail Some businesses employ handwriting experts. Detail Graphologists sometimes help police solve crimes.

Idiom This is an expression having a special meaning different from the usual meanings of the words. (Idiotic statement – can’t be explained logically.) Example: Mom is one card short of a deck. To someone not familiar with the phrase, this might literally mean they are trying to play cards with a deck that is not all there; they have 51 cards instead of 52. However, this phrase actually means that a person is a little slow or stupid.

Superlative This means of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme. Example: The king is the richest man in the land. Richest is a superlative adjective. No man is richer than the king.

Preposition This is a word used to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence. Examples: in, under, near, behind, etc. The pencil is near the desk. Near shows the relationship of the pencil and the desk.

Point of View This is the perspective from which the writer tells the story. Examples: 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd person; omniscient, limited omniscient. 1 st person uses the words I, we, and us. 2 nd person uses the word you. 3 rd person uses the words he, she, him, her, them, and they.

Oral Presentation This is when you get up in front of the class and speak about a certain topic. Oral means with the mouth. Presentation means to present something. I gave an oral presentation for 4-H.

Introductory Paragraph This is the first paragraph of an essay in which a background of the theme is given in an attention- grabbing way. Example: To become a successful writer, students should follow some important steps. Just attending the class is not enough. Writers need a good background in grammar and vocabulary, skills in writing essays, and skills in editing. Learning to be a successful writer involves a lot of hard work.

Implied This is not expressed by words, but presumed from facts, acts, or circumstances. Example: I’ve met bread that’s smarter than Sally. You are implying that Sally is stupid, but you’re not directly stating that she’s stupid.

Theme Theme is a story’s message. It is what the author of a piece of text wants you to remember most. The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave. Examples: “Little Red Riding Hood” = Don’t talk to strangers. “ The Three Little Pigs” = What is achieved easily is destroyed easily.