Grade 7: Literary Terms, Unit 2

Figurative language is writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally.

A simile compares two apparently unlike things using the words like or as: The rocket was like a speeding bullet that tore through the sky.

A metaphor compares two apparently unlike things by saying that one thing is another: The rocket was a speeding bullet that tore through the sky.

Personification is a comparison in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics: The rocket gently enfolded its passengers as it tore through the sky.

Often, however, there are subtle shades of meaning, or nuances, between synonyms.

A blog post is a piece of online writing added to an online journal, called a blog.

An editorial is a type of argument that typically appears in a newspaper and takes a position on a specific topic or issue.

In an argument, the writer states and supports a claim, or position, based on factual evidence and logical reasoning.

To make your position clear to readers, review your notes and develop a thesis statement—one strong sentence that states your claim.

In order to effectively make your claim, you must consider all sides of an issue. This means that you must identify counterclaims, or views that oppose your position, and explain why these views are flawed.

You can paraphrase, or restate in your own words, ideas and insights from the texts.

Ask your teacher what method of citation you should use, and be sure to include accurate citations for all of your sources to avoid plagiarism, or presenting someone else's ideas as if they were your own.

A biography is a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the life story of another person.

An argument is a logical way of presenting a specific belief, conclusion, or perspective on an issue or action.