TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

Here, the rising and falling describe the sound of his voice getting louder and softer as he tells a story. In a plot, the rising action is everything that moves the story forward up to its most important part. The falling action is everything that happens after this most important part (see "climax").

In this example sentence, the word "adjective" is used as a noun. The adjective that describes "adjective" is "descriptive"--many adjectives are found right next to the nouns they are describing, but the list of adjectives ("crunchy," "crispy" and "sauteed") describes "foods" (also a noun).

The easy to spot adverb in this example sentence is "effectively" (which can be replaced with one of the few adverbs that don't end in -ly: well). A harder to spot adverb is "very" (used to modify the adverb "effectively"). Note how "qualify" and "modify" are used in the definitions--they mean the same thing.

"Affix" also means "attach to"--that is how the word is used in the example sentence. But let's examine the word "excretions" for affixes: "ex" is a Latin prefix that means "out"; -ion is a Latin suffix that shows the word is a noun that connects to an action or condition; -s is an Old English suffix that shows the noun is plural. The Latin verb "cernere" means "to separate" so if you affix this meaning to all the meanings of the affixes, what do you get?

"Agreement" also means "harmony of people's opinions or actions or characters"--this is how the word is used in the example sentence. But the given definition refers to the harmony in word relations such as subject-verb. In the example sentence, the subject "imam" is singular so the verb must agree by adding an -s at the end of the verb (this can be a confusing rule because an -s is also used for plural nouns; if "imam" becomes "imams", "smiles" must be changed to "smile").

"Antecedent" also means "anything that precedes something similar in time"--this is how the word is used in the example sentence to suggest that Alice's Adventures in Wonderland could inspire later books and authors. But the given definition points to "Ms. Courtney" as the antecedent and the pronoun "her" as the anaphor ("a word used to avoid repetition").

The prefix "anti" means "opposite" and the Greek word "onoma" means "name" (any thing can have a name that is expressed by a word). Using the prefix clues in the parentheses, figure out the meanings of the following words:
synonym (syn-same); homonym (homo-same); heteronym (hetero-different);
contranym (contra-opposite); pseudonym (pseudo-false); retronym (retro-backward).

"Audience" also means "a gathering of spectators or listeners at a performance" and "an opportunity to state your case and be heard"--all three definitions can fit, so if you take the advice of the example sentence, when you're about to say great things about yourself, you should first think about who's listening, whether they would be interested, and whether this is a useful opportunity to make your case about your greatness.

The given definition shows "author" as a verb, but in the example sentence, the word class (also known as part of speech) to which "author" belongs is noun.

"Capitalization" also means "an estimation of the value of a business"--that is how the word is used in the example sentence. But the given definition is about CAPITAL LETTERS--of which there are 4 in the example sentence. In the case of Google, the G is capitalized because it is a proper noun that is the name of a company, and because it is at the start of the sentence.

Cause-and-effect is an organizational pattern that highlights the relationships between ideas in a text--this means that a piece of writing can be organized so that it describes one event, shows how this first event CAUSED a second event, and then describes the EFFECTS of this second event (although this should not be a habit, note how the important words are capitalized so that they stand out).

In many stories, the character whom readers cheer for is the protagonist (the main character); the character that gives the protagonist the most trouble is the antagonist. But no matter what role the characters have, the most interesting thing about them would be their ability to change others, situations, and themselves (this makes them dynamic).

The example sentence uses "characteristic" as a noun, but the word looks like an adjective and can also be used to mean "typical or distinctive." Here's a sentence that uses the word as an adjective: Texas is a characteristic example of a state with a highly dynamic population.

This example sentence can apply to almost anything, including vocabulary. The larger your vocabulary is, the more choices you have to make your words sound and mean exactly what you want. As a reader, you also need to consider the word choices of the writer to see whether there are additional meanings that are included or left out with the use of a specific word instead of another.

The statement is categorical ("not restricted by reservations") in nature, but it is not a categorical claim, since it is focused on a specific accusation of Russian involvement, and it does not state how one thing or action of one category is either similar or unlike a thing or action of another category. Here are examples of categorical claims: All Russian leaders are speakers of nonsense. No speaker of nonsense can be a leader in any country except Russia.

The given definition is broader than the one often used to refer only to the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. But it is not as positive as this definition that is also suggested by the example sentence: of recognized authority or excellence.

Cut the example sentence where the comma is to see the first half is a dependent (or subordinate) clause, because it depends on the second half to make sense. The second half of the sentence is an independent (or main) clause, because it expresses a complete idea by itself.

The given definition is for the word as a noun. It has a similar meaning as an adjective: "forming a whole." Collective nouns describe groups. Here are some examples:
groups of people: society, class, family, team.
groups of animals: herd, flock, pack, swarm.
groups of objects: set, batch, bunch, fleet.

As the example sentence and definition suggest, a colon can be used to introduce many things: a quote, a series, a list of examples, or an explanation. See this note and the one above for several uses of the colon.

In addition to being the essay itself, composition can refer to the act of writing the essay, and it could refer to the way in which the words, sentences, and paragraphs are put together.

Compound expressions can be words such as "background" or "brainstorm" or sentences that are created by joining at least two independent clauses. The example sentence can be turned into a compound sentence: remove "not only" before switching the order of the verb and subject (so the sentence starts with "People are"); replace the conjunction "but" with "and" before reading the sentence aloud and realizing that this new composition is not as strong.

As the example sentence suggests, conflict is often the most important part of a story. The five major types are: human vs. human, human vs. environment, human vs. nature, human vs. society, and human vs. self. The first four are external conflicts that a character might face in the outside world. Dealing with external conflicts can create internal conflicts within a character, and a character's internal conflict can affect the way external conflicts are dealt with.

In the example sentence, "particularly" is an adverb, but it is not a conjunctive adverb, because it does not connect any clauses. Rather, it modifies the adjective "careful" (find the conjunctive adverb in this independent clause). Conjunctions are words that connect two or more words, clauses, or sentences (in this sentence, the same conjunction is used twice; in the first sentence, there are two different conjunctions).

As seen in the given definition and example sentence, "contemporary" is an adjective that is often used to mean the opposite of "classical" (especially in describing art forms). "Contemporary" also has a definition that does not compare to other times, but instead, describes two things that are happening in the same period of time. As a noun, "contemporary" means "a person of nearly the same age as another."

The Latin verb "monstrare" means "to show"--this meaning is demonstrated by the example sentence, because the winners are athletes who have both put on a sports show and shown evidence of their dedication, strength, and courage. The choice of these winners demonstrates this idea: the personal qualities of individual players become more important when the team is losing.

The word "schadenfreude" is derived from German ("schaden" means "damage" and "freude" means "joy"). The word "derive" is derived from Latin ("de" means "away" and "rivus" means "stream").

As the example sentence suggests, the amount of detail should be tailored to fit; this is true for stories, clothes, or anything else. Too few details will leave holes, and too many details will get in the way. The placement of details is also important to add to the whole picture.

"Determine" has other definitions that make the verb synonymous with "decide": 1) reach, make, or come to a decision; 2) settle conclusively. People who are determined would devote their full strength and attention, because they have already decided that they want to achieve that goal.

Many plot devices in a movie can also be seen in written stories, but movies can highlight visual effects, while writing relies on words to create effects. For examples, suspense is a plot device in both movies and writing, but a pun is a literary device that works better in writing because it often relies on the spellings, sounds, meanings, and contexts of words ("a good pun is its own reword").

In Greek, the prefix "dia" means "between" and the noun "logos" means "speech" (so a dialogue is speech between two or more people). Using the prefix clues in parentheses, figure out the meanings of the following words:
monologue (mono-one); prologue (pro-before); epilogue (epi-in addition to)

Your fingers are also called digits, so digital technologies could be tools designed for human hands. But the structure of the example sentence (especially the phrase "as well as") differentiates between digital technologies made possible by computers and skills that require the use of human digits.

As the given definition shows, "element" can refer to any part of any whole, whether it's one of the substances of the universe, one of the graphical marks of this sentence on your screen, or one of the conflicts in a story. This example sentence suggests that the same elements used to develop a good story can be used to develop a successful business.

Why would a writer want to leave out...?
1) to show a slight pause, unfinished thought, or awkward silence.
2) to create a mood of sadness or longing.
3) to shorten a long quote and focus only on the important points.
4) to suggest unprintable words.

The word "emphasis" is repeated to emphasize its importance. However, the example sentence uses the repetition to make fun of the country's emphases on testing and measurements; this disagreement with the emphases is seen in the last part of the sentence.

An expression can also be an individual word or phrase (verbal), or a movement on the face (nonverbal).

What makes a feature different from an element is that it has to stick out and be important. Thus, there are many elements that make up this page, but one text feature is the italic font that differentiates the example sentences from the notes. Facebook has many elements as a website, but one feature is the ability to share pictures. Your face has many elements, but which feature do others notice first?

The figure of speech "get the axe" means to get fired from a job. Although that can be painful, it would not be as painful as literally having an axe fall on you to chop off your head.

In the example sentence, "function" and "role" are synonyms--both refer to a manager's job. "Function" also means "what something is used for." Here, the word "function" functions as a noun, but it can also function as a verb in other sentences. Similarly, "change" is a word that can function as either a noun or verb. In both cases, the articles "a" and "the" are clues to the function of the words.

A graphic does not have to be generated by a computer; it can be any image, including a graph or chart, that is created and used to present ideas. As an adjective, "graphic" means "evoking lifelike images within the mind"--this sounds like a positive quality, but the adjective is often used to describe violent and sexual images that might negatively affect the mind.

"Historical" can describe anything that's connected to the past. Or it can be a synonym for "historic" and describe a past event or person that is important enough to affect many people and events throughout time.

The Greek prefix "hyper" means "over, above, beyond" (similar to "extra" in "extravagant"). The Greek verb "ballein" means "to throw." Throwing ideas over, above, and beyond their ordinary limits can be funny and memorable. But hyperactive hyperbole use can also lead audiences to lose their patience and trust in your words.

There are 7 words functioning as adjectives in this example sentence. Can you spot them all? Hints: a hyphenated adjective counts as 1 word; pronouns can also function as adjectives.

"Idiom" also means "a manner of speaking natural to a language's native speakers"--this definition is suggested by the example sentence, but its main focus is on those expressions that are difficult to translate from one language to another because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The first use of the word "image" means "the general impression that something presents to the public." Violence between protesters and police has created a negative image of Venezuela, so the country is trying to change that image by sending happy images through television screens. Images can be produced on any surface using any tool--this includes images produced in the mind through descriptive language.

According to this example sentence, "something" is an indefinite pronoun that cannot substitute for the definite event of death. This contrast between definite and indefinite states of knowing could be made stronger if the first definite article "the" were changed to the indefinite article "an" (an indefinite future vs. the immediate future).

In the example sentence, the first use of "inform" connects to the giving of information; the second use of "inform" connects to giving a form, shape, character, or essence to something (which in this case is "our judgment").

"Inform" and "informal" look similar and they both come from the same Latin root "forma" but the prefix "in" has two different meanings: "in" or "not."
Bonus information that will be informally given: uniform = unus (one) + forma (shape)

In the example sentence, there are 3 verbs, but only one is considered irregular because it does not follow the rule of adding a "d" or "ed" to create the past tense. Do you know which verb is the irregular one?

According to the chosen definition, the literary nature of James Bond cannot be questioned, because he is a fictional character created by Ian Fleming. However, the literary nature of Fleming's writing can be debated according to this definition: "appropriate to creative writing of recognized artistic value."

Compare with "journal"--the two words are often used as synonyms. But a journal can record daily personal observations with no particular focus; it can also be a monthly publication on a particular subject. A log is more focused on the events of a voyage that takes you to a new world in the sky or in a book.

Mechanics focus on how something is done, which, as this example sentence suggests, should not be confused with why something should be done. Similarly, in writing, you need to know the mechanics of word usage, punctuation, and sentence structure, but all the technical rules are meaningless if you have no ideas to present.

In Greek, "metron" means "measure"--this can apply to the measure of length, quantity, weight, time, etc. In poetry, the meter is the rhythm that can be measured by the accents of specific groupings of syllables. For example, the phrase "Milton's meter" has two metrical feet, and each foot is called a trochee (a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable).

A modifier qualifies a noun or verb by limiting its meaning with a descriptive word or phrase. For example, "service" is a noun that has many possible meanings, so the adjective "secret" can be used to modify it to avoid confusion with other types of services. According to this example sentence, the Secret Service is no longer so secret, and as a proper noun, it can be described with additional modifying words and phrases.

Fables have easy to spot morals. In longer works, such as novels, a moral is less likely to be found at the end, but throughout the story, the characters might struggle with moral decisions that test their principles of right and wrong.

The word "router" has multiple meanings. From among the following multiple choices, decide which best fits the example sentence:
a) a worker who routes shipments for distribution and delivery
b) a device that forwards data packets between computer networks
c) a power tool with a shaped cutter

As an adjective, "novel" means "pleasantly new or different." The term "catch-22" comes from the title of a novel published in 1961; thus it is no longer a novel way of describing a situation in which a desired outcome is impossible because of illogical rules or conditions.

Here are some examples of organizational patterns (or text structures) that can give order to a piece of writing: sequence of events, cause and effect, compare and contrast, argument and support, problem and solution.

Especially in a short essay, the concluding paragraph should not simply repeat what has already been said in the previous paragraphs. It should come to a conclusion (see word #52) about the topic and leave the readers thinking about how your opinion compares to theirs or how your position could be applied outside of your essay.

"Parallel" means "make or place alongside something"--this is usually done in order to compare two things and show how they are similar. In writing, parallel structure can also be used to create a repetitive rhythm that would emphasize the points being compared.

Parentheses enclose text that often departs from the main subject. As the example sentence suggests, parentheses can slow down readers (while they give you additional information or develop a mood), so they should not be overused.

The present participle of a verb can also function as a noun (technically called "gerund"), and the past participle can function as an adjective. Examples: Unhappy with the slow pace of the teaching (gerund), the student decided to become self-taught (adjective). But he soon learned (verb) that becoming a learned (adjective) person requires many ways of learning (gerund).

The example sentence focuses on visual patterns easily seen by the eyes, but in writing, there are also organizational patterns (see note for word #192) that need closer reading to recognize. A pattern can also be "a customary way of operation or behavior" or "a model considered worthy of imitation." In a classroom pattern of show and do, your teacher might show you an organizational pattern in an essay that you will then use as a pattern for your own writing.

Here, "perfect" is used as a verb meaning "to make perfect." It is also used in the present perfect tense, which shows an event that extends from the past to the present or beyond (he has perfected the dish and is still making the dish perfectly). The past perfect tense shows that an event was completed before another point in the past (he had learned how to make tamales before he turned 14). The perfect tenses always use the auxiliary verb “to have” with a past participle.

"Phenomenon" is a contranym that can be confusing because it can be both an ordinary thing known through the senses (such as the daily phenomenon of the sun rising) or it can be a remarkable development (such as the phenomenal discovery of life on another planet).

Poetry can be in the form of a poem, but it can also be found in "any communication rich in beauty or the evocation of feeling."

A story can be told from different points of view: first-person ("I"), second-person ("You"), or third-person ("He" or "She"). A first-person point of view is limited and often less trustworthy. A third-person point of view can be limited to one character, but it can also be omniscient and tell the thoughts and actions of every character. A second-person point of view is not often used, but it can be found in Choose Your Own Adventure books or in instruction manuals.

Compare with "perspective"--as nouns, the words can be synonyms. But "position" can also be a verb. Their different meanings can be traced to their Latin roots: "ponere" means "to place" and "specere" means "to look."

"Predicate" also means "to base a statement or action on"--this is the meaning used in the example sentence. The subject of the sentence is "This whole series" and the predicate of the sentence starts with the verb "is." "Predicated" functions as an adjective (see note for "participle") in the predicate of the sentence, but it is not a predicate adjective. Here's an example of a sentence with a predicate adjective: This whole series is mysterious.

Compare with "apposition"--as both words suggest, the position of the word or phrase is important: an appositive phrase is placed near, usually immediately after, the noun it is equivalent to; a preposition is usually placed before the noun it connects to some other word or phrase. In the example sentence, the prepositional phrase "according to" is used before two proper nouns, and the preposition "with" is used 3 times before a noun or noun phrase.

In progressive scoliosis, the spine is curving more and more through time; the verb phrase "is curving" is in the simple present progressive tense. In the example sentence, the verb phrase "have been doing" is in the present perfect progressive tense, since the swimmer started doing the backstroke eight months ago and is continuing to do it.

"He" is a third-person singular pronoun. "Himself" is a third-person singular reflexive pronoun. "Whom" is an indefinite objective pronoun. "We" is a first-person plural pronoun.

As the example sentence suggests, content should have a purpose that serves an audience. As a writer, you should have a purpose for creating content. As a reader, you should try to figure out the author's purpose to see whether it matches or affects your thoughts on the content.

According to the given definition, a dictionary is a reference. According to the example sentence, a dictionary should include references that either show how a word is used or direct the reader to other sources of information (refer to word #33 for a synonym).

Rhetoric can have a negative meaning: "loud and confused and empty talk." Rhetoric is also the good use of language to please, persuade, or create a literary effect. A rhetorical question is not meant to be answered but to make a statement. For another example of a rhetorical device, refer to word #13. For an example of a rhetorical fallacy, refer to word #5.

A slant rhyme is also called a half-rhyme or a near-rhyme, because it rhymes either the vowel or consonant sounds but not both. Most rhymes you'll find at the end of a line, but internal ones can be heard before that time. A sight rhyme describes words that look like they should rhyme but are pronounced differently (examples: both and broth; most and cost).

As a verb, "root" means "come into existence, originate." This is what the word means in the example sentence, but the chosen definition for "root" as a noun is also suggested. Here is how the word "companionship" breaks down into its root and affixes: com (together) + panis (bread) + ship (quality, state, or condition).

A simple rhyme scheme is a couplet, which rhymes two lines (AA). A quatrain has four lines that could have an alternate rhyme scheme of ABAB. A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines that can be broken up into three quatrains with alternate rhyme schemes and one final couplet: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG.

Both parts of the example sentence are complex sentences that are made up of independent clauses and dependent clauses. The second complex sentence has an implied but missing "that" that starts the dependent clause ("I'm just glad that..."). A simple sentence is one independent clause (a complete thought with a subject and verb). A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a conjunction.
Examples: They didn't eat the baby. They were happy, so they didn't eat the baby.

Primary sources are materials written by people who were present at events, either as participants or observers. Examples are letters, diaries, autobiographies, and speeches. Secondary sources are materials written by people who were not present or directly involved when the events took place. Examples are encyclopedias, textbooks, biographies, most newspaper and magazine articles, and books and articles that review research.

Compare with "scheme"--the two can be synonymous, but "scheme" can also describe a simpler and rougher plan. As a verb, "scheme" can take on a negative tone with its connection to underhand plans such as lying. "Strategy" has a more upstanding nature, and this can be seen in its Greek roots: "strategein" means "to be a general" and it comes from "stratos" which means "army" and "agein" which means "to lead."

In the example sentence, "style" refers to the unique voice of the writer, but the sentences that need to be reread can also be analyzed according to how much they follow the styles of spelling, word usage, punctuation, and structure that are widely accepted.

In the example sentence, the word "subject" refers to the theft, and its grammatical function is as the direct object of the verb phrase "bring up." Thus, the topical subject is "theft" while "I" is the grammatical subject.

The given definition is for "superlative" as a noun. The definition for the word as an adjective shows the reason for adding "-est": highest in quality or degree. Here are the comparative forms of the adjectives that are shown in their superlative forms in the example sentence: longer, larger, faster-growing.

Compare with "device"--as the example sentence suggests, devices can be used to develop techniques; this makes devices specific tools while techniques are broader methods. For example, alliteration (see word #10) can be a literary device used in a story to make a character's name and personality stand out. Alliteration can also be a technique used throughout a poem to give it more rhythm and make it easier to recite.

As the example sentence suggests, authors of nonfiction pieces might intend to express specific points, but the tone of their words might reveal an attitude that they might not intend. When analyzing a fictional story, don't confuse an author's tone with the mood (see word #175) of the characters or the situations they're in. For example, a character could be in a sad mood because of a lost shoe, but the author could describe this in a funny tone.

Compare with "point of view" and "perspective"--although only two are nearly identical, all three can be synonyms. In nonfiction pieces, the author's viewpoint determines the information and tone that might be revealed; in fictional pieces, a character's point of view determines which thoughts and actions will be described.

A verb is in a passive voice when the subject is receiving the action. Examples: I ate the cake.(active) The cake was eaten by me.(passive) Both sentences describe the same thing, but the sentence in the active voice does it with fewer words. The chosen definition does not apply only to verbs and sentences but to a unique quality that writers should aspire to so that their thoughts can be recognized and remembered.