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Congratulations on making it to 10th grade! This Survival Kit is here to support you as you step into a new school year. Its designed to introduce you to key topics you'll explore as a sophomore. Use it to review important ideas, catch up if you fall behind or even get ahead of your classmates.

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1.) Literary Elements

2.) Informational Elements

3.) Vocabulary

4.) Writing

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Literary elements are essential because they help writers create a compelling and meaningful story. They provide structure, context, and depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the story on a deeper level.

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Mood is the feeling or vibe a reader gets while reading a story. Authors create mood by using setting, word choice, and imagery. For example, if a story takes place in a quiet forest with fog and shadows, it might create a creepy or mysterious mood. Some common moods are peaceful, sad, tense, or romantic. Tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic or the reader. You can figure out tone by looking at the words they use and how they describe things. A sarcastic tone might include jokes or exaggeration, while a serious tone would be more focused and calm. Mood shows how the story feels, and tone shows how the writer feels.

🔗 Mood in Literature Video
🔗 Tone Worksheet

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Diction is the choice of words an author uses in their writing. It affects how a story sounds and feels, and it can change how readers understand the characters or message. Different types of diction can create different tones—like serious, funny, or dramatic. For example, a character saying, “I regret to inform you” sounds way more formal than “Sorry to tell you.” Authors can use formal diction, which follows grammar rules and sounds professional, or informal diction, which is more relaxed and sounds like how we talk in real life. There’s also poetic diction, which uses creative language like metaphors or unusual word choices. The diction a writer chooses can tell us a lot about the mood, setting, or even the character’s personality. Paying attention to diction helps us understand why the author picked certain words and how it affects the meaning.

🔗 Diction in Literature – LiteraryDevices.net

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What does diction mean in literary terms?

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Answer (1 of 5): Literally, diction is nothing but choice and/or arrangement of words. In reality, however, diction is much more than that. There are many types of diction. One way of understanding it is to see it as High Diction and Low Diction. These are relative terms. It is a matter of appro...

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Figurative language is a writing technique that authors use to go beyond the literal meaning of words to create more vivid or imaginative expressions. It includes figures of speech like similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and more.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight a shared trait or quality.
Example: Her smile was as bright as the sun.

🔗 Link to definition:
Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simile

3. Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which non-human things are given human qualities or characteristics.
Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

🔗 Link to definition:
Merriam-Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personification

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The main idea is the central message or the most important point that an author wants to communicate in a piece of writing. It summarizes the key concept of the text and ties together all the supporting details. The main idea helps readers understand the purpose of the text and what it is primarily about.

🔗 Source – Fiveable

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Main Idea | English For Kids | Mind Blooming

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Rhetorical Appeal: A strategy used in persuasive writing or speaking to influence an audience, often categorized into ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos.

Ethos: The credibility or trustworthiness of the speaker or writer. It’s about establishing authority and convincing the audience that the speaker is reliable and knowledgeable.

Pathos: An appeal to emotions, where the speaker or writer attempts to evoke an emotional response from the audience to persuade them.

Logos: An appeal to logic and reason, where the speaker or writer uses facts, statistics, or logical arguments to persuade the audience.

Kairos: The appeal to the opportune moment. It involves using the right timing and context to persuade the audience more effectively.

🔗 Source – Literary Devices

🔗 Source – ThoughtCo

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Definition of Rhetorical Devices:

Rhetorical devices are techniques that writers and speakers use to persuade, inform, or entertain their audience more effectively. These tools help shape language to provoke emotional responses, emphasize key points, and make arguments more memorable.

Examples of Rhetorical Devices:

1. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.
Example: “We will fight for freedom. We will fight for justice. We will fight for peace.”
This repetition reinforces determination and unity, creating a rhythmic emphasis that resonates with listeners.

2. Rhetorical Question

A rhetorical question is asked to make a point rather than to get an answer.
Example: “Isn’t it time we stood up for what’s right?”
The speaker isn’t expecting a literal reply but is instead pushing the audience to reflect and agree silently.

3. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect.
Example: “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”
It dramatizes the speaker’s frustration and helps convey strong emotions or urgency in a relatable way.

Link to the Explanation & Examples:

Here’s a shared Google Doc with the definition and examples:
Click to view Rhetorical Devices Examples

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Definition of Context Clues:

Context clues are hints or bits of information within a sentence or paragraph that help readers understand the meaning of unfamiliar words. These clues can come from the surrounding words, phrases, or overall situation in the text. Writers use them to support vocabulary comprehension without needing to directly define every word.

📄 Download Context Clues Definition PDF

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Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words—where they come from, how they were formed, and how their meanings and structures have changed over time. It traces a word's lineage across languages and cultures, often revealing deeper or original meanings that may not be obvious today.

📄 Download Etymology Definition PDF

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Connotation is the emotional or cultural meaning associated with a word, beyond its literal dictionary definition. These associations can be positive, negative, or neutral, and they shape how a word is perceived or interpreted in context.

📄 Download Connotation Definition PDF

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Denotation is the literal, dictionary definition of a word—its most direct and specific meaning, without any emotional or cultural associations. It’s what the word objectively refers to, as opposed to the feelings or ideas it may suggest.

📄 Download Denotation Definition PDF

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Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

It’s what the word explicitly means, without emotion or cultural influence.

Example: “Snake” = a legless, scaly reptile.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning a word carries beyond its dictionary definition.

It reflects how the word feels or what it implies in context.

Example: “Snake” may connote danger, betrayal, or evil.

📄 Download Connotation vs. Denotation PDF

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Lindsay Ann Learning - English Teacher Ideas

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How to Teach Connotation vs. Denotation (with Examples)

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Argumentative writing is a form of writing where the author presents a clear position on an issue and supports it with evidence, reasoning, and logic. Its main purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s viewpoint or to consider a different perspective. This type of writing uses claims, counterclaims, and rebuttals to build a convincing argument. It relies on credible sources, facts, and structured reasoning rather than emotions. Argumentative writing is commonly found in essays, editorials, debates, and research papers.

📄 Download Argumentative Writing Definition PDF

A claim is a clear statement or assertion that presents the main argument or position of the writer in an essay, especially in argumentative writing. It expresses the writer’s viewpoint on a specific issue and serves as the foundation for the argument. A strong claim is specific, debatable, and supported with evidence. It guides the structure and purpose of the entire piece of writing.

📄 Download Claim Definition PDF

Evidence is the information, facts, or examples used to support a claim or argument in writing. It helps persuade the reader that the writer’s viewpoint is valid and trustworthy. Evidence can include statistics, expert opinions, research data, real-life examples, or personal experiences. Strong evidence is relevant, reliable, and clearly tied to the point it supports.

📄 Download Evidence Definition PDF

Reasoning is the explanation that connects the evidence to the claim in an argument. It shows why the evidence supports the point being made and helps the reader understand the logic behind the argument. Strong reasoning makes the argument clear, logical, and persuasive.

A counterclaim is an argument that opposes the writer’s main claim. It represents the other side of the issue and shows that the writer has considered alternative perspectives. Including a counterclaim makes the argument more balanced and credible.

A rebuttal is the writer’s response to a counterclaim. It explains why the counterclaim is flawed, less important, or incorrect, using reasoning and evidence. A strong rebuttal strengthens the original argument by addressing and refuting opposing views.

📄 Download Definitions PDF

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Informative writing is a type of writing that aims to educate or inform the reader about a specific topic. It presents facts, explanations, and details without expressing the writer’s opinion or trying to persuade the reader. The goal is to clearly and accurately convey information so the reader gains understanding. Common forms include reports, essays, articles, manuals, and research papers.

📄 Download Informative Writing Definition PDF

A thesis statement is a concise sentence or two that clearly expresses the main point or central argument of a piece of writing, usually found at the end of the introduction. It tells the reader what the essay is about and what the writer intends to prove or explain. A strong thesis is specific, arguable, and provides a roadmap for the rest of the writing. It helps focus the content and keeps the writer and reader on track.

📄 Download Thesis Statement Definition PDF

A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph that clearly states the main idea or focus of that paragraph. It helps guide the reader by summarizing what the paragraph will discuss. All the other sentences in the paragraph should support or develop the idea introduced in the topic sentence. A strong topic sentence keeps the writing organized and focused.

📄 Download Topic Sentence Definition PDF

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Informational Writing for Kids - Episode 1: What Is It?