Essential Vocabulary

Essential Vocabulary

Week 1

Narrative Definition: Tells a story Example: My grandpa loves to tell

stories about his childhood, so I guess he loves narratives.

Expository Definition: Explains an idea or a

process Example: Mrs. Cowan asked me to

write an expository essay which explained how World War II influenced American authors.

Grammar Definition: The study of the way

language works Example: When we study grammar

in my English class we review things like subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and pronoun usage.

Mechanics Definition: Capitalization,

punctuation, and spelling Example: Since I text a lot, I always

forget to capitalize and punctuate in my essays; therefore, Mrs. Cowan says my writing has a lot of mechanics errors.

Details Definition: Information or imagery used

to explain or describe a person, place, thing or situation

Example: She is such a beautiful girl. She has hair of spun gold, eyes like

the sea after a storm, and skin as perfect as porcelain.

Usage Definition: The customary way the

rules of grammar should be spoken or written.

Example: If you are trying to say that someone is difficult to deal with, you wouldn’t say, “She be trippin’,” you would say, “She is trippin’.”

Describe Definition: To tell about or create a picture in words Example:

“Maycomb was a tired old town, even in 1932 when I first knew it. Somehow, it was hotter then. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon after their three o'clock naps. And by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting from sweating and sweet talcum. The day was twenty-four hours long, but it seemed longer. There's no hurry, for there's nowhere to go and nothing to buy...and no money to buy it with.”

-Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Illustrate Definition: To make clear or

understandable, as by examples Example: Paragraph structure is like

making a hamburger. The main idea is the top bun, the conclusion is the bottom bun, the points of discussion are the meat in the middle, and the details are the ketchup, mustard, and pickles that give the paragraph some flavor.

Modify Definition: To change in form or

character; to describe Example: Mrs. Cowan said my essay

was too long so I had to cut some information out or modify it.

Apply Definition: To put into effect; to use Example: Grammar isn’t just for

worksheets and homework. You have to use correct grammar when you speak and write. Apply what you know!

Denotation Definition: the dictionary definition

of a word

Example: • Mother: Female who gives birth to and cares for her young

• Dog: four-legged canine who can be tamed

Connotation Definition: An idea of feeling

associated with a word, as opposed to the word’s dictionary definition (denotation)

Example: • Mother: Friend, counselor, comfort, enemy

• Dog: Fluffy, cuddly, man’s best friend, beast

Argument Definition: An address or

composition intended to convince or persuade

Example: The lawyer gave his closing argument to prove that his client did not commit the crime.