OST ELA Grade 4 flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Theme

The lesson or message about life that a story teaches. It is written as a complete sentence, such as "Hard work pays off," not as a single word.

Summary

A short retelling that includes only the main characters, the problem, the important events, and the solution. It leaves out small details and personal opinions.

Character trait

A word describing what a character is like inside, such as honest, stubborn, or kind. Traits stay steady, unlike feelings, which change quickly.

Setting

Where and when a story takes place. Setting can affect the plot when weather, time period, or location creates problems for the characters.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as, such as "her laugh was like a ringing bell." It helps readers picture an idea.

Metaphor

A comparison that says one thing is another without using like or as, such as "the classroom was a zoo." It creates a strong picture.

Personification

Giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea, such as "the wind whispered through the trees." It makes descriptions more vivid and interesting.

First-person point of view

The story is told by a character using words like I, me, and we. The reader knows only what that character sees and thinks.

Main idea

What a text is mostly about, usually stated in one sentence. Key details are the facts and examples that explain and support it.

Cause and effect

A text structure showing why something happened and what resulted. Signal words include because, since, so, and as a result.

Compare and contrast

A text structure that shows how two things are alike and different. Signal words include both, also, however, unlike, and whereas.

Firsthand account

A description of an event written by someone who was there. It uses words like I saw and we heard, and may include personal feelings.

Secondhand account

A description of an event written by someone who was not present. The writer learned about it from others and reports facts without personal memory.

Text feature

A tool that helps readers find and understand information, such as a heading, bold word, caption, diagram, timeline, glossary, or index.

Author's point of view

What the author thinks or believes about the topic. Reasons, facts, and examples in the text are used to support that belief.

Inference

A conclusion a reader draws by combining evidence from the text with background knowledge. It is not stated directly in the words.

Context clues

Words and sentences around an unknown word that hint at its meaning. They may give a definition, an example, a synonym, or an antonym.

Chronological structure

A text organized by time order, telling events from first to last. Signal words include first, next, then, after, and finally.

Opinion writing

Writing that states a clear claim and supports it with reasons and evidence. It ends with a conclusion that restates the writer's position.

Informative writing

Writing that explains or teaches a topic using facts, definitions, and examples grouped in a clear order, with linking words and a conclusion.

Narrative writing

Writing that tells a story with characters, a setting, a problem, ordered events, dialogue, and a resolution. It may use first or third person.

Topic sentence

The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph. Every other sentence in the paragraph should support or explain it.

Revising

Changing a draft to improve ideas and organization, such as adding details, reordering sentences, or clarifying meaning. It happens before editing for grammar.

Editing

Checking a draft for correct conventions: spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. It usually happens after revising the ideas.

Transition words

Words that connect ideas and show relationships, such as also, however, because, and finally. They help writing flow smoothly.

Relative pronoun

A word such as who, whom, whose, which, or that that connects a describing clause to a noun, as in "the girl who won."

Progressive verb tense

A verb form made with a helping form of be plus an -ing verb, showing ongoing action: was walking, is walking, or will be walking.

Modal auxiliary

A helping verb such as can, may, must, should, or would. It shows ability, permission, necessity, or possibility in a sentence.

Adjective order

The usual order of adjectives before a noun: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material. For example, "a small old wooden box."

Its versus it's

Its shows possession, as in "the dog wagged its tail." It's is a contraction meaning it is, as in "it's raining now."

Their, there, they're

Their shows possession, there points to a place, and they're means they are. Choosing the right one depends on the sentence's meaning.

Run-on sentence

Two or more complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a connecting word. It can be fixed with a period, comma plus conjunction, or semicolon.

Quotation marks in dialogue

Marks placed around a speaker's exact words. Commas and end punctuation go inside the closing quotation mark, as in "Come here," she said.