1. PSSA VOCABULARY 2012-2013 WOLCS

2. Word of the Day Context Clues information from the reading that identifies a word or group of words

3. Word of the Day Prefixes and Suffixes an affix put before a word to alter its meaning Ex. dis (disbelief), un (unprepared), pre (preoccupied) groups of letters placed after a word to modify its meaning or change it into a different group Ex. speechless (less), beautiful (ful), Kindness (ness)

4. Word of the Day Synonyms and Antonyms one of two or more words in a language that highly similar meanings Ex. sorrow, grief, sadness words with opposite meanings Ex. hot and cold

5. Word of the Day Multiple Meaning Words Multiple Meaning Words are words that have several meanings depending upon how they are used in a sentence. 1. I watched the bat flitting through the trees. 2. Raymond gripped the bat tightly as he waited for the pitch. 3. I hope I can bat a home run!

6. Word of the Day Author’s Purpose An author’s purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic. Then, once a topic is selected, the author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain his ideas to the reader.

7. Word of the Day Text Format the author's message about the topic. it is often expressed directly in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or it can be implied

8. Word of the Day Metaphor a figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things without the use of like or as Ex. The road was a ribbon of moonlight

9. Word of the Day Personification a figure of speech in which an inanimate object is given human characteristics

10. Word of the Day Main Idea the author's message about the topic. it is often expressed directly in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or it can be implied

11. Word of the Day Fact/Opinion a piece of information that can be proven Ex. There are 50 states in the United States of America. a personal point of view or belief

12. Word of the Day Making Inferences a judgment based on reasoning rather than on direct statement. A conclusion based on facts; understandings gained by "reading between the lines"

13. When you draw a conclusion you use 2 things: What you know in your head. and What you’ve read in the story. A conclusion is the decision you come to when you put these two together.

14. Word of the Day Text Organization The author’s method of organizing text.

15. Word of the Day Figurative Language description of one thing in terms usually used for something else Ex. similes, metaphors, alliteration, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, pun, idiom

16. Word of the Day Simile a figure of speech in which like or as are used to compare two unlike things Ex. His face was as red as a cherry.

17. Word of the Day Alliteration a repetition of initial, or beginning, sounds in two or more consecutive or neighboring words Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

18. Word of the Day Point of View the perspective from which a story is told

19. Word of the Day Characterization the method used by the author to give readers information about a character; a description or representation of a person's qualities or peculiarities

20. Word of the Day Character Traits Character traits are all the aspects of a person’s behavior and attitudes that make up that person’s personality. Everyone has character traits, both good and bad. Even characters in books have character traits. Character traits are often shown with descriptive adjectives, like patient, unfaithful, or jealous.

21. Word of the Day Plot refers to the series of events that give a story its meaning and effect.

22. Word of the Day Setting the time and place in which a story occurs

23. Word of the Day Theme the main idea of a literary work; the message the author wants to communicate, sometimes expressed as a generalization about life

24. Word of the Day Synonyms and Antonyms one of two or more words in a language that highly similar meanings Ex. sorrow, grief, sadness words with opposite meanings Ex. hot and cold

25. Word of the Day Multiple Meaning Words Multiple Meaning Words are words that have several meanings depending upon how they are used in a sentence. 1. I watched the bat flitting through the trees. 2. Raymond gripped the bat tightly as he waited for the pitch. 3. I hope I can bat a home run!

26. Word of the Day Author’s Purpose An author’s purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic. Then, once a topic is selected, the author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain his ideas to the reader.

27. Word of the Day Text Format the author's message about the topic. it is often expressed directly in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or it can be implied

28. Word of the Day Main Idea the author's message about the topic. it is often expressed directly in the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or it can be implied

29. Word of the Day Summarizing Summarizing is how we take larger selections of text and reduce them to their bare essentials: the gist, the key ideas, the main points that are worth noting and remembering. -pull out main ideas -focus on key details -use key words and phrases -break down the larger ideas -write only enough to convey the gist

30. Word of the Day Fact/Opinion a piece of information that can be proven Ex. There are 50 states in the United States of America. a personal point of view or belief

31. Word of the Day Making Inferences a judgment based on reasoning rather than on direct statement. A conclusion based on facts; understandings gained by "reading between the lines"

32. When you draw a conclusion you use 2 things: What you know in your head. and What you’ve read in the story. A conclusion is the decision you come to when you put these two together.

33. Word of the Day Simile a figure of speech in which like or as are used to compare two unlike things Ex. His face was as red as a cherry.

34. Word of the Day Alliteration a repetition of initial, or beginning, sounds in two or more consecutive or neighboring words Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

35. Word of the Day Point of View the perspective from which a story is told

36. Word of the Day Characterization the method used by the author to give readers information about a character; a description or representation of a person's qualities or peculiarities

37. Word of the Day Metaphor a figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things without the use of like or as Ex. The road was a ribbon of moonlight

38. Word of the Day Text Organization

39. Word of the Day Context Clues information frome the reading that identifies a word or group of words

40. Word of the Day Prefixes and Suffixes an affix put before a word to alter its meaning Ex. dis (disbelief), un (unprepared), pre (preoccupied) groups of letters placed after a word to modify its meaning or change it into a different group Ex. speechless (less), beautiful (ful), Kindness (ness)