Strategies for Comprehending by Robert Pottle

Similar in appearance to a brainstorming web. A circle starts in the middle with the key term, then other connected circles containing related words radiate outward. Words may also radiate out from these secondary words. To see an example search online for a visual thesaurus.

1.1.1.2.2

semantic gradient

semantic gradient:

An activity sorting words based upon the dregrees of intensity. For example a sematic gradient for the terms happy, elated, glad, content, and ecstatic, could be: content, glad, happy, elated, ecstatic.

1.1.1.2.3

context

context:

At the word level, context can be used to figure out unknown words by using the words around the unknown.

1.2

sentence-level

1.2.1

semantics

1.2.2

grammar

1.2.2.1

syntax

1.2.2.2

semantics

1.2.2.2.1

metaphor

metaphor:

A figure of speech which compares by highlighting a similarity between unrelated items. "The moon is a frisbee" would be an example of two unrelated items are compared through the similarity of shape.

1.2.2.2.2

idiom

idiom:

A combining of words that through common useage take on a meaning different than the words literal meaning. "It is raining cats and dogs" would be one such example.

1.2.2.2.3

similes

similes:

The means of comparison are like that of a metaphor, the main difference being that a simile uses a connecting word such as like or as.

1.2.2.3

1.3

1.3.1

1.3.2

1.3.2.1

Fiction

1.3.2.1.1

narrative

narrative:

Writing that is an account of either real or imagined experience that are related and conveyed in a deliberate structure. Sometimes used synonymously with story.

1.3.2.1.1.1

literary device

literary device:

A writing technique that is used to create a certain effect for the reader.

1.3.2.1.1.1.1

foreshadowing

foreshadowing:

A mirroring or suggestion of what is to come.

1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1

red herring

red herring:

A misleading clue or diversion. Often a false foreshadowing.

1.3.2.1.1.1.2

personification

personification:

Assigning personal attributes to an animal or inanimate object.

1.3.2.1.1.1.3

symbolism

symbolism:

Using one object, person, or concept to either explicitly or subtly represent or stand for another object, person, or concept through association

1.3.2.1.1.1.4

parody

parody:

Imitation using satire or humor.

1.3.2.1.1.2

point of view

point of view:

The position of the narrator in relation to the story being told, who is telling the story.

1.3.2.1.1.2.1

first person

first person:

Narrator uses the pronoun "I" to describe actions and reactions.

1.3.2.1.1.2.2

second person

second person:

Narrator uses the pronoun "you" to describe actions and reactions.

1.3.2.1.1.2.3

third person

third person:

Narrator uses the pronouns such as "he, she, they, it..." to describe actions and reactions.

1.3.2.1.1.2.4

alternating

alternating:

Point of view changes throughout the writing. This is less typical than the use of a single point of view used throughout the entire piece of writing.

1.3.2.1.1.3

voice

voice:

Describes how the story is told by the narrator.

1.3.2.1.1.3.1

stream of consciousness

stream of consciousness:

Typically a first person account that attempts to mimic the thought process of the narrator.

1.3.2.1.1.3.2

character

character:

The narrator is also a character in the story.

1.3.2.1.1.3.2.1

unreliable character

unreliable character:

The narrator is a character in the story who can't be trusted to give an unbiased or accurate account of events.

1.3.2.1.1.3.3

epistolary

epistolary:

A story told through a series of letters or other documents such as news clippings or journals.

1.3.2.1.1.3.4

third person

third person:

Narrator uses the pronouns such as "he, she, they, it..." to describe actions and reactions.

(The following narrative voices are employed with a third-person point of view.)

1.3.2.1.1.3.4.1

subjective

subjective:

Narration conveys the thoughts of more than one character.

1.3.2.1.1.3.4.2

limited

limited:

Narration is limited to a single character's thoughts.

1.3.2.1.1.3.4.3

objective

objective:

The story is told in an objective manner. Events are not interpreted or judged, but conveyed in a neutral manner.

1.3.2.1.1.3.4.4

omniscient

omniscient:

A narrator that is not typically part of the story and has access to all of the characters' thoughts and actions.

1.3.2.1.1.3.5

universal omniscient

universal omniscient:

A narrator that is not typically part of the story and has access to all of the characters' thoughts and actions and additionally has access to information that the characters do not have. A narration that uses phrases such as "Little did he know..." would be an example of universal omniscient narration.

1.3.2.1.1.4

chronology

chronology:

The structure of time in a narrative. Also called narrative structure.

1.3.2.1.1.4.1

linear

linear:

Events occur in chronological order.

1.3.2.1.1.4.2

nonlinear

nonlinear:

Events occur in a non-chronological order.

1.3.2.1.1.4.2.1

flashback

flashback:

A passage in a text that is telling something that happened in the past in relation to the main chronology.

1.3.2.1.1.4.2.2

flash forward

flash forward:

A passage in a text that is telling something that happens in the future in relation to the main chronology.

1.3.2.1.1.4.2.3

reverse chronology

reverse chronology:

Passages are structured in order from most recent events to least recent events.

1.3.2.1.1.5

tense

tense:

The grammatical tense of the narration.

1.3.2.1.1.5.1

past

past:

Most common tense for stories to be written in, where events are written about as having happened in the past.

1.3.2.1.1.5.2

present

present:

Events are written about as if they are currently happening.

1.3.2.1.1.5.3

future

future:

Least common tense for stories to be written in, where events are written about as if they have not yet happened, but will.

1.3.2.1.1.6

Sections

1.3.2.1.1.6.1

forward

forward:

Written by someone other than the author to lend credibility and praise the work. Usually proceeds the main text of the book.

1.3.2.1.1.6.2

preface

preface:

Usually written by the author of the book to share purpose, scope and/or background of the book. Usually proceeds the main text of the book.

1.3.2.1.1.6.3

introduction

introduction:

Usually written by either the author or editor in order to share theme and/or details of or about the book.

1.3.2.1.1.6.4

prologue

prologue:

A part of the book's story that is shared before the first chapter of the book.

1.3.2.1.1.6.5

afterword

afterword:

Similar in content to the foreword, but differs in location, appearing after the main text of the book.

1.3.2.1.1.6.6

epilogue

epilogue:

Concluding and wrap-up thoughts about the book addressed to the reader and found after the main text of the book.

1.3.2.2

Non Fiction

1.3.2.2.1

text box

text box:

Text that is visually separated from the main body of text typically set aside in a rectangle. This text may be a short sentence of passage from the main text that has been placed in a text box to draw attention to its importance or it may be an important piece of information that did not fit well in the main body of text.

1.3.2.2.2

caption

caption:

A text label for a visual element such as a photograph or illustration.

1.3.2.2.3

table

table:

Typically a visual organization of text or a combination of text and images. Tables are typically organized into rows and columns, figures may or may not share this organization.

1.3.2.2.4

graph

graph:

A visual means of numerically comparing elements or showing trends or patterns. Common types of graphs include; line, bar, and pie.

1.3.2.2.5

maps

maps:

Visual representations of geographical or architectural spatial relations.

1.3.2.2.6

bulletted information

bulletted information:

Textual information organized in a list. Each item in the list is preceded by a bullet point to aid in reading and scanning.

1.3.2.2.7

photo/illustration

photo/illustration:

Includes visual images either drawn or photographed.

1.3.2.2.8

typeface

typeface:

Bold, italic, and underlined text indicates importance of the text or adds meaning as in the case of book title being underlined to indicate that it is a book title.

1.3.2.2.9

timeline

timeline:

Events represented by either text or images and visually organized by chronology.

1.3.2.2.10

diagram/figure

diagram/figure:

A visual representation of either a physical object or a concept that has the goal(s) of showing scale, relationships between parts, and/or organizational structures.

1.3.2.2.11

heading/subheading

heading/subheading:

Structural titles for various passages or units of the text.

1.3.2.2.12

pronounciation guide

pronounciation guide:

Phonemic notation used to convey the correct articulation of a word.

1.3.2.2.13

Sections

1.3.2.2.13.1

table of contents

table of contents:

An ordered list of chapters or sections of a book with corresponding page numbers. Typically found it the front matter of a book.

1.3.2.2.13.2

index

index:

Typical found in the back matter of a book. Important terms are arranged alphabetically and the page(s) where they can be found in the book are listed.

1.3.2.2.13.3

glossary

glossary:

Typical found in the back matter of a book. Important terms are arranged alphabetically and defined.

1.3.2.2.13.4

appendix

appendix:

Typically found in the back matter of a book. Contains various supplemental materials to the topic of the book.

1.3.2.3

Argument (see in Genre Grammar)

1.3.3

genre grammar

1.3.3.1

Fiction

1.3.3.1.1

Elements

1.3.3.1.1.1

character

character:

The people, or that which is personified, who carries out the action of the story.

1.3.3.1.1.2

setting

setting:

The where and the when of a narrative. The setting consists of three components: place, time, and circumstance.

1.3.3.1.1.2.1

time

time:

The time in which the story takes place. This may range from very specific, a certain date/time, to very general, in the past.

1.3.3.1.1.2.2

place

place:

The location(s) where the events of the story happen.

1.3.3.1.1.2.3

circumstance

circumstance:

A feature of the setting that allow or promote the conflict to occur. In the book "The Cat in the Hat," the circumstance is that it is raining.

1.3.3.1.1.3

conflict

conflict:

That which causes tension or a problem in a narrative. The conflict can shift over the couse of a narrative, and there may be multiple conflicts.

1.3.3.1.1.3.1

problem

problem:

What the character(s) desires to be changed. This may change and evolve over the course of the story.

1.3.3.1.1.3.2

attempts/reactions

attempts/reactions:

The ways (typically multiple) the character(s) try to bring about the desired change.

1.3.3.1.1.3.3

solution/resolution

solution/resolution:

The attempt that succeeds in bringing about the desired change.

1.3.3.1.1.4

Structure

1.3.3.1.1.4.1

beginning

beginning:

Where the character and setting are established and the conflict is foreshadowed or setup.

1.3.3.1.1.4.2

middle

middle:

Where the conflict is defined, attempts are made toward a solution, and the conflict is eventually resolved.

1.3.3.1.1.4.3

end

end:

The loose ends that were created over the course of the story are tied-up and the story is concluded.

1.3.3.2

nonfiction

nonfiction:

(While some non-fiction texts fall neatly in to one of the following structures, many times a non-fiction text will combine multiple structures over the course of the text.)

1.3.3.2.1

enumerative

enumerative:

General information followed by discussion of the various subtopics.

1.3.3.2.2

sequential

sequential:

Presents information in a defined order. Often numerically or alphabetically.

1.3.3.2.3

chronological

chronological:

Presents information in the order of how events relate to each other in time.

1.3.3.2.4

compare and contrast

compare and contrast:

Information is presented through comparing similarities and differences.

1.3.3.2.5

cause and effect

cause and effect:

Information is presented by looking at events and their outcomes.

1.3.3.2.6

question and answer

question and answer:

A question is posed and then answered. This structure is repeated throughout the text.

1.3.3.2.7

narrative

narrative:

Uses a narrative structure to convey information.

1.3.3.3

Argument

1.3.3.3.1

Toulmin's Argument Model

1.3.3.3.1.1

claim

claim:

A refutable statement of fact. Typically one per argument.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1

reason

reason:

The line of reasoning which supports the claim. Typically multiple reasons to support a claim. As with much writing three is a good number.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1

warrant/connection

warrant/connection:

The connection between the reason and the claim.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.1

generalization

generalization:

An assumption that what is true for small set will extend to be true for the larger set.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.2

analogy

analogy:

Comparing similarities and claiming that when comparing a known situation to an unknown situation the outcome of the known situation can be projected onto the unknown.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.3

sign

sign:

Using certain indicators to suggest an outcome based on correlation.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.4

causation

causation:

Claiming that one event causes another. If the first event exists the second will necessarily occur or already has.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.5

authority

authority:

Using the prestige of the source to assert validity.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.1.6

principle

principle:

Applying a principle that is commonly considered valid as support.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.2

backing

backing:

Evidence to support the warrant.

1.3.3.3.1.1.1.3

qualifier

qualifier:

Strength of the connection. Often shown by words like most, may, often...

1.3.3.3.1.1.2

evidence/data

evidence/data:

Evidence or data that supports the reason. Typically multiple instances of evidence or data to support the reason. As with much writing three is a good number.

1.3.3.3.1.2

refutation

refutation:

The act of demonstrating the weakness in opposing points of view, in order to encourage the audience to reject the opposing view.

1.3.3.3.1.2.1

objection

objection:

A potential argument against the claim, reason, warrant, backing, or evidence. There may be multiple objections per argument.

1.3.3.3.1.2.2

rebuttal

rebuttal:

An argument against the objection. There may be multiple rebuttals per objection.