Middle School
Random


Click random to get a fresh chapter.

Middle School Common Core Reading Glossary




anecdotes:  examples or stories that can support the event in a text
antonym: a word that means the opposite of another word
author's purpose:  an author's reason for writing a selection: to explain, teach, entertain, or persuade
base word: a word that can stand alone to which a prefix or suffix is added
cause and effect:  what makes something happen and what does happen
character: a person, an animal, or an object in a story
chronological order text structure: organizes ideas in time order, or sequence
compare-and-contrast text structure:  organizes ideas by telling how things are alike or different
conclusion: a decision based on given facts
conflict and resolution:  a character's problem and how it is solved
connotation:  a feeling or image a word brings to mind
context clues: other words in the text that help readers figure out unknown words
denotation: the dictionary definition of a word
fact-and-opinion text structure: organizes ideas by giving facts, details that can be proven true, and opinions or what someone thinks
fiction: a story made up by the author
figurative language: words that do not always mean exactly what they say
first-person point of view: story told by one of the characters
flashback:  an interruption in a story to explain what had happened in the past
foreshadowing: clues about what might happen later in a story
genre: a kind of fiction or nonfiction
graphics: features that give information visually
heading: the name of a chapter or section
homograph: two words spelled the same but pronounced differently and with different meanings
homophone:  two words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings
hyperbole: exaggeration to make a point
idiom:  a word or group of words that doesn't mean exactly what it says
imagery:  words that help readers create pictures in their minds
inference:  a logical guess based on facts and personal experiences
jargon: special language used by people who work together or do things as a group
main idea:  what a selection is mostly about
metaphor:  a figure of speech that compares two things by stating that one thing is, or has the characteristics of, another
multiple-meaning word: a word that means more than one thing
narrator: the person telling a story
nonfiction:  information about the real world
novel:  a book of fiction divided into chapters
personification:  language that gives human qualities to animals or objects
plot: what happens in a story
poetry:  fiction with rhythm and often a rhyme scheme
prefix: letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning
problem-and-solution text structure:  organizes ideas by telling about a problem and suggesting solutions
question-and-answer text structure:  organizes ideas by asking a question and providing the answer either right there in the text of through a series of details
root:  a Latin or Greek word part that can't stand alone
setting:  where and when a story takes place
simile: compares two things, using the word like or as
style:  an author's distinctive way of connecting ideas
subhead:  names a smaller part within a chapter or section
suffix:  letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning
summary:  a short retelling of a story or event
supporting detail:  tells more about the main idea
synonym:  a word that has the same meaning as another word
text features: headings, subheads, and special text that help readers find information in a selection
theme: the most important idea or message
third-person point of view: story told by a noncharacter
tone:  conveys a feeling, like suspense, excitement, happiness, sadness, anger, mystery, humor, or annoyance