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C

caesura

a natural break or pause in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line, usually marked by punctuation.

capitonym

A word which changes its meaning and pronunciation when capitalized

Examples:
  • polish and Polish
  • august and August
  • concord and Concord
• From capital letter

catalexis

dropping an unstressed syllable from the end of a trochaic or dactylic line.

cause and effect

An organizational structure of text in which there is a description of events and their causes or consequences. Sometimes, a single cause will have multiple effects or many causes will lead to a single effect.


character

a person (or animal or inanimate object that acts like a human) portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama, novel, poem, or play

characterization

The method an author uses to create the appearance and personality of imaginary characters in a piece of fiction; often developed by describing a character's physical appearance, by revealing a character's nature through the character's speech, thoughts, feelings or actions, by using the speech, thoughts, feelings or actions of other characters and by using direct comments from the narrator.

chronological

An organizational structure of text in which events are placed in the order they occur in time.

climax

the turning point in a plot or dramatic action, a moment of great or culminating intensity in a narrative or drama, especially at the conclusion of a crisis

coherence

The quality of a piece of writing in which the ideas are clearly arranged so a reader can follow the progression from one idea to the next.

comparison and contrast

An organizational structure of text in which a description of similarities and differences among two or more things occurs.

compound sentence

A sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses but no dependent clause (e.g., George talked, and Harry listened).


compound word

A combination of two or more words that function as a single unit of meaning (e.g., bookkeeper or downtrodden).

comprehension

The process in which a reader constructs meaning through interaction with text; accurately understanding what is written or said.

concrete image

When a speaker or writer uses words that induce audiences to call up "pictures" in their minds by appealing to their senses of taste, smell, hearing, touch and sight.

conflict

The struggle between opposing forces that brings about the action within a story or drama; can be internal (within a character) or external (between a character and an outside force).


Types of Conflict

Man versus Man
Conflict that pits one person against another.

Man versus Nature
A run-in with the forces of nature. On the one hand, it expresses the insignificance of a single human life in the cosmic scheme of things. On the other hand, it tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live.

Man versus Society
The values and customs by which everyone else lives are being challenged. The character may come to an untimely end as a result of his or her own convictions. The character may, on the other hand, bring others around to a sympathetic point of view, or it may be decided that society was right after all.

Man versus Self
Internal conflict. Not all conflict involves other people. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. An internal conflict is a good test of a character’s values. Does he give in to temptation or rise above it? Does he demand the most from himself or settle for something less? Does he even bother to struggle? The internal conflicts of a character and how they are resolved are good clues to the character’s inner strength.


connotation

The attitudes and feelings associated with a word as opposed to a word's literal meaning.

consonance

The repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after differing vowel sounds (e.g., stoke/luck).

construct

The process of understanding what is read through the interaction meaning with text.

consumer documents

Nonfiction works such as warranties, product information and instructional materials designed to help one with daily tasks.

context clues

Information a reader may obtain from a text that helps confirm the meaning of a word or group of words.

There are nine common categories of context clues:

  1. Synonyms - words with similar meanings.
    The loud kids at the movie were churlish and rude.

  2. Antonyms - words with opposite meanings.
    The preceding examples are different from those that follow.

  3. Definition - a phrase or sentence that gives the same idea in different words.
    The passengers were told to look at the dolphins from the starboard, or right side, of the boat.

  4. Restatement - a phrase or sentence that gives the same idea in different words.
    Slogging up the hill in the mud was difficult and slow going.

  5. Example - an example that illustrates the meaning.
    Celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars, move in predictable patterns.

  6. Explanation - a sentence or phrase that explains the meaning.
    I was very
    industrious Saturday.
    I cleaned my room, did all my homework, helped Dad wash the car, and went to the grocery store for Mom.

  7. Contrast - a sentence or phrase that contrasts with, or has the opposite meaning of, the word.
    The TV program showed the sumptuous home in which the singer now lives, quite different from the small, ordinary home in which he grew up.

  8. Comparison - a sentence or phrase that compares the word to something familiar.
    My grandfather always used a big, heavy pot with legs, which looked like a spider, when he was camping.

  9. Sense or experience: a sentence or phrase the refers to a common experience.
    He felt exhausted, just as he did when he had the flu.

conventions

The accepted rules of written and spoken language.

counter-argument

A point or statement in opposition to the argument being made in a written document or speech.

credibility

The quality or state of offering reasonable grounds for being believed.

cues

Hand, body or facial gestures that communicate meaning with little or no use of language.


cutaway

A drawing or model of something with part of its outside removed to give a view of the inside.