OST ELA Grade 4 key terms

The central message or lesson about life that a story, poem, or play keeps returning to. It is usually not stated outright, so readers infer it from what the characters learn or how the story ends.

The most important point an informational passage makes about its topic. It is often stated in a topic sentence and is supported by details throughout the text, unlike a theme, which applies to stories.

Facts, examples, reasons, or quotations that explain or prove the main idea. They answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how, and a strong reader can point to them in the text.

A short retelling of a passage that states only the most important ideas or events in the reader's own words. A good summary leaves out minor details, repeated information, and personal opinions.

A conclusion a reader reaches by combining clues in the text with what the reader already knows. The answer is not stated directly, so the reader must use evidence plus background knowledge to figure it out.

Details that are stated directly in the text and can be pointed to word for word. Questions asking who, what, when, or where often have explicit answers, unlike inference questions.

Specific words, sentences, or details from a text that a reader uses to support an answer, opinion, or claim. Strong answers quote or point to evidence rather than relying on feelings alone.

The reason a character acts, thinks, or feels a certain way, such as fear, friendship, or wanting to prove something. Readers infer motivation by noticing what a character says, does, and wants.

Words that describe what a character is like inside, such as brave, selfish, curious, or patient. Traits are shown through actions, thoughts, and dialogue rather than stated as a list of adjectives.

The sequence of events in a story, usually built around a problem, rising action, a turning point, and a resolution. Plot is what happens, while theme is what the story means.

The problem or struggle a character faces in a story. It may be between characters, between a character and nature or society, or inside a character's own mind.

The part of a story where the conflict is settled and the reader learns how things turn out. It usually follows the turning point and may reveal what a character learned.

The perspective from which a story is told. First-person narration uses I or we, while third-person narration uses he, she, or they and may be limited to one character's thoughts or all-knowing.

The voice or person telling a story. The narrator is not always the author and is not always a character; the reader must notice what the narrator knows and how that shapes the telling.

The words characters speak to one another, usually shown with quotation marks. Dialogue can reveal personality, move the plot forward, and hint at how characters feel about each other.

Language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to create pictures or comparisons, such as similes, metaphors, and personification. It is common in poetry and helps readers visualize and feel the text.

A comparison between two unlike things that uses the words like or as, such as brave as a lion. Similes help readers picture an idea by linking it to something familiar.

A comparison that says one thing is another without using like or as, such as the classroom was a zoo. Readers must recognize that the statement is not literally true.

Giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea, such as the wind whispered through the trees. It is a type of figurative language that can make descriptions more vivid or emotional.

A group of lines in a poem that are set apart from other groups, similar to a paragraph in prose. Stanzas help organize ideas and can signal a shift in mood or topic.

The repetition of ending sounds in words, such as cat and hat, often used at the ends of lines in poems. Rhyme can create rhythm, make lines memorable, and connect ideas.

The pattern of stressed and unstressed beats a reader hears when reading a poem aloud. Rhythm gives poetry its musical quality and can change speed to match the feeling of the words.

Parts of an informational text that are not the main body paragraphs, such as headings, captions, bold words, diagrams, maps, and indexes. They help readers locate and understand information quickly.

The way an author organizes information in a passage, such as cause and effect, compare and contrast, chronological order, or problem and solution. Recognizing the structure helps a reader follow the author's thinking.

A text structure that explains why something happened and what resulted from it. Signal words such as because, so, as a result, and therefore often point readers to these relationships.

A text structure that shows how two or more things are alike and different. Signal words include both, similarly, unlike, and however, and graphic organizers like Venn diagrams often match this pattern.

A description of an event written by someone who was there, often using I or we. It gives a personal perspective, while a secondhand account is written by someone who researched the event.

A description of an event written by someone who did not experience it directly, often based on interviews, books, or other sources. It may include more facts but less personal feeling than a firsthand account.

The reason an author wrote a text: to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain. Readers figure out purpose by noticing the topic, the tone, and whether the text uses facts or story elements.

Writing that states a point of view and supports it with reasons and evidence. A strong opinion piece names the topic clearly, groups reasons logically, and uses linking words such as because and for example.

Writing that explains or teaches a topic using facts, definitions, and details rather than opinions. It usually opens with a topic statement, groups related information, and ends with a concluding section.

Writing that tells a story, real or imagined, with characters, a setting, and a sequence of events. It often uses dialogue, description, and a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Words and phrases such as first, next, however, and as a result that connect ideas and show how sentences or paragraphs relate. They help readers follow order, contrast, and cause and effect.

The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph, usually near the beginning. The other sentences in the paragraph should support it with details, examples, or reasons.

The final part of a piece of writing that wraps up the ideas and gives the reader a sense of closure. It may restate the main point or leave the reader with a final thought.

To restate a passage's meaning in your own words without copying the author's exact phrasing. Paraphrasing shows understanding and is used when taking notes or writing a summary.

Using another person's words or ideas as if they were your own, without giving credit. Even copying a sentence from a source into your writing without quotation marks counts as plagiarism.

Punctuation marks used to show the exact words someone spoke or to mark a title of a short work, such as a poem or article. They signal that the words belong to someone else.

A group of words that begins with a preposition, such as in the garden, under the desk, or after lunch. It usually tells where, when, or how and can appear at the start or end of a sentence.

A group of words that has a subject, a predicate, and expresses a complete thought. A fragment is missing one of these parts, and a run-on joins two sentences without correct punctuation.

The two main parts of a sentence: the subject tells who or what the sentence is about, and the predicate tells what the subject does or is. Both are needed for a complete sentence.

Marks such as periods, commas, question marks, and apostrophes that make writing clear. They show where sentences end, separate items in a list, and indicate possessives or contractions.