This word is derived from the Latin word Litera, which means letter (as in letter of the alphabet). If one follows the letter of the law, then they are interpreting it literally- strictly.

This word is important to understand because it allows us to look for deeper meaning in writing. Becoming aware that there are multiple levels of engagement with a text involves differentiating between the literal and figurative language. I could call literal language concrete language, but that description, which uses figurative language, is not in the spirit of literal communication.

Middle English: from late Latin figurativus, from figurare ‘to form or fashion’, from figura"

Definitions from:
“Figurative | Definition of Figurative in English by Oxford Dictionaries.” 
     Oxford Dictionaries | English, Oxford Dictionaries,   
     en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/figurative.

Figurative language is a broad category that encompasses all sorts of descriptive tricks. This comic is an example of an idiomatic expression being taken literally. This is why it's so important to appreciate the difference between literal and figurative language. Figurative language is poetic and adds depth to writing. We use figurative language all the time to spice up what we have to say. Similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification are just a few types of figurative language that a student can bring to the table.

definition from: https://www.dictionary.com/e/context-clues/

It is important students are able to recognize context clues. When they come to a word they do not know, their first thought should be to look for context clues in the surrounding text before they look the word up in a dictionary. Context clues help teach students how to use their reading to solve problems. Students need to know the different types of clues to look for and when it is acceptable to pick up a dictionary if they are still unsure.


picture source: https://www.tes.com/lessons/d2PsKgdEY8QpSA/context-clues

definition source: http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading-basics/fluency

It is very important students become fluent readers. Fluency combines many important aspects of reading. It shows students are phonetically aware, comprehend their reading by how they are expressing words, and can recognize pauses in reading. Fluency shows students are developing in their reading by reading at a proper speed as well. It shows how students have developed as readers and how advanced they are.

image source: https://www.tes.com/lessons/VAUX8UKAu82RjQ/reading-fluency

1: the art or practice of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations: such as
a : artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states
b : the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits

2: a system of symbols or representations

Definitions from:
“Symbolism.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbolism.

Symbolism is a literary device that authors employ to add a deeper level of meaning to their stories. It is important to understand, while reading, that some literal objects or actions could have a second layer of symbolic meaning attached to them. Recognizing the symbolic elements of a text provides a richer reading experience and clues to the theme of the work.

1: a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content 

Definition from:
"Genre." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2018

As we discuss literary elements like plot, subject matter, and theme we group similar works together. We refer to these groupings as genres. Knowing what is and isn't characteristic of a particular genre helps us position the works we read within the larger literary picture. As readers we have different expectations from different genres.

1: offering reasonable grounds for being believed.
e.g.
a credible account of the accident
a credible witnesses

"Credible." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2018.

It is important to know where your information comes from-- especially in this digital age where anyone with an opinion and internet access can mislead a researcher who is not careful.

1a: the way in which linguistic elements (such as words) are put together to form constituents (such as phrases or clauses)

b: the part of grammar dealing with this

"Syntax." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2018.

A small change in syntax could mean a big change in meaning. Syntax could be present even when meaning is not (e.g. Colorless green ideas sleep furiously). When we listen to Yoda or read Shakespeare we encounter unfamiliar syntactical structures that still make sense. Those two have been known to invert the typical sentence arrangement of Subject, Verb, Object. 

1a: a word or expression used in a figurative sense :FIGURE OF SPEECH

b: a common or overused theme or device : CLICHÉ the usual horror movie tropes

"Trope." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2018.

Tropes are both figurative language and familiar features of storytelling. It's important to distinguish whether trope refers to figurative language or common (cliche) elements of plot. Trope comes from the Greek word tropos for turn. In figurative language words take on new meaning and allow for more expression, in this sense they turn from their original purpose as the author applies them to a new use. In the thematic sense we can understand that the plot twists, or turns when a trope is introduced. If it is a predictable turn of evens that has been done to death it is a trope. The image below identifies tropes as elements of plot and character.

The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies, a perfect example.

Archetype derives via Latin from the Greek adjective archetypos ("archetypal"), formed from the verb "archein" ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun "typos" ("type").

"Archetype." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2018.

Archetypical characters, struggles, and symbols come from cultural or universal reference points. They are the original ideas that inform countless iterations and variations of themselves. Archetypes provide structure and relevance for almost all of literature. Seeing literature through the archetypical perspective allows for a more substantial understanding of the story relates to other stories as well as the human experience.

1: an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form — compare SUFFIX

"Prefix." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2018.

When we use morphic analysis to get at the meaning of a word, one of the components (morphemes) we must consider is the prefix. Prefixes change the meaning of the root word. To use the word itself as an example: the prefix "pre" indicates that it precedes something. We are looking at the noun form of this word, it can also be used as a verb.

: an affix occurring at the end of a word, base, or phrase — compare PREFIX

"Suffix." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2018.

These affixes come at the end of a word to convey specific information, like tense and number, about the word they are affixed to. Using the correct suffix is a grammatical imperative.

1a: relatively close juxtaposition of similar sounds especially of vowels (as in "rise high in the bright sky")

b: repetition of vowels without repetition of consonants (as in stony and holy) used as an alternative to rhyme in verse

2: resemblance of sound in words or syllables

"Assonance." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2018.

This is one of the ways that we can use language creatively. Using assonance creates a sense of artistic unity like rhyming or alliteration, but is more difficult to detect.

: the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (such as wild and woolly, threatening throngs)— called also head rhyme, initial rhyme

"Alliteration." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2018.

It's fun to see and use alliteration. Unlike assonance, alliteration is usually apparent when reading, especially when reading aloud. It's important to know this word so that you can refer to this literary technique like an expert.

1: the study of versification especially : the systematic study of metrical structure

2: a particular system, theory, or style of versification

3: the rhythmic and intonational aspect of language
"Prosody." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2018.

This is an important concept to make students aware of because the way we read, aloud or to ourselves, affects the meaning that we derive from a text. Each text has a voice and knowing how to articulate that voice while reading makes a great deal of difference to our ability to comprehend the significance of what is written. We don't want to read in a monotone voice, certain words deserve special emphasis for us to fully appreciate the author's intended effect.

: the implicit or metaphorical meaning (as of a literary text)

A literary text often has more than one meaning: the literal meaning of the words on the page, and their hidden meaning, what exists "between the lines"—the subtext. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, for example, is about the Salem witchcraft trials of the 17th century, but its subtext is the comparison of those trials with the "witch hunts" of the 1950s, when many people were unfairly accused of being communists. Even a social conversation between a man and a woman may have a subtext, but you may have to listen very closely to figure out what it is. Don't confuse subtext with subplot, a less important plot that moves along in parallel with the main plot.

"Subtext." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2018.

Reading between the lines is a valuable 21st century skill. Looking at the context in which a text was created, looking critically at the author's intentions adds depth to our interpretation of a text.

2a: formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject

b: connected speech or writing

c: a linguistic unit (such as a conversation or a story) larger than a sentence

3: a mode of organizing knowledge, ideas, or experience that is rooted in language and its concrete contexts (such as history or institutions)critical discourse

"Discourse." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2018.

Discourse in the academic setting is a way to express and build upon our understanding of a subject by transferring our thoughts and ideas into words while listening and responding to the ideas of others. This approach to learning emphasizes communication and respect of others' points of view as well as fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. In the classroom discourse students build upon and present alternatives to each others' interpretations, generating a deeper understanding of the subject than they could acquire through their individual perspectives. For our purposes, the difference between discourse and discussion is that a discourse uses accountable talk as a key component of communication. A discourse can take place over a great deal of time or space. We want to introduce students to the discourses of our content areas to show them that professionals take part in the same analysis and reevaluation of ideas, with the same academic language, that we model and enact in our classroom discourses.

1: to call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)

2: to quote by way of example, authority, or proof cites several noteworthy authors

3a: to refer to especially : to mention formally in commendation or praiseShe was cited for bravery.

b: to name in a citation: cited by the trustees for his work in public health

4: to bring forward or call to another's attention especially as an example, proof, or precedent: cited the weather as a reason for canceling the picnic, cited several studies that support his theory

"Cite." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2018.

Because we make arguments and interpretations based on evidence within the texts we read it is important for us to back up our opinions with the snippets of the text that show where, within the text, our ideas come from. Using textual evidence like quotations or paraphrasing is important to interacting with the text and engaging in discourse. In the English Language Arts discipline we use MLA conventions to standardize the way this engagement with the texts looks. Here is an example below that illustrates how textual evidence is presented in the body of a paper, and authors are given credit in the works cited page. One of the most practical reasons to always cite your sources is to avoid accusations of plagiarism.

 \pä-ˈā-yə

"Paella." Merriam-Webster. merriam-webster.com. Accessed: 15 November 2018.

It is very important for students to understand traditional foods in Spanish speaking countries so that they have a more well-rounded idea. As a world language educator, students should have the opportunity to experience all aspects of a culture, which includes food.

1a: the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

b: a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony

c: an ironic expression or utterance

2a(1): incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result

(2): an event or result marked by such incongruity

b: incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play— called also dramatic irony, tragic irony

"Irony." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2018.

Irony is fun, but can also be tricky to identify and define. Even the definition above uses the word to define itself. Ironic statements, like the one below, contradict themselves by bringing attention to the gap between literal and figurative meanings.

"Pun." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2018.

Once homophones and words with multiple meanings stop confusing us we can have fun with them.