caesuraa natural break or pause in a line of poetry,
usually near the middle of the line, usually marked by
punctuation. |
capitonymA word which changes its meaning and
pronunciation when capitalized Examples:
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catalexisdropping an unstressed syllable from the end
of a trochaic or dactylic line. |
cause and effectAn 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. |
charactera person (or animal or inanimate
object that acts like a human) portrayed in an artistic
piece, such as a drama, novel, poem, or play |
characterizationThe 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. |
chronologicalAn organizational structure of text in which
events are placed in the order they occur in time. |
climaxthe 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 |
coherenceThe 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 contrastAn organizational structure of text in which a
description of similarities and differences among two or more
things occurs. |
compound sentenceA sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses but no dependent clause (e.g., George talked, and Harry listened). |
compound wordA combination of two or more words that
function as a single unit of meaning (e.g., bookkeeper or
downtrodden). |
comprehensionThe process in which a reader constructs
meaning through interaction with text; accurately understanding
what is written or said. |
concrete imageWhen 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. |
conflictThe 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
Man versus Nature
Man versus Society
Man versus Self |
connotationThe attitudes and feelings associated with a
word as opposed to a word's literal meaning. |
consonanceThe repetition of identical consonant sounds
before and after differing vowel sounds (e.g., stoke/luck). |
constructThe process of understanding what is read
through the interaction meaning with text. |
consumer documentsNonfiction works such as warranties, product
information and instructional materials designed to help one with
daily tasks. |
context cluesInformation 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:
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conventionsThe accepted rules of written and spoken
language. |
counter-argumentA point or statement in opposition to the
argument being made in a written document or speech. |
credibilityThe quality or state of offering reasonable
grounds for being believed. |
cuesHand, body or facial gestures that communicate meaning with little or no use of language. |
cutawayA drawing or model of something with part of
its outside removed to give a view of the inside. |