English Study Notes
Short Story's
Key elements of a short story
A Character/Characters
A conflict
a resolution
Plot
Start - Middle - Finish
the action of solving a problem or contentious matter.
a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.
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a person in a novel, play, or film.
synonyms: persona, person, role, part; dramatis personae
a part played by an actor.
a person seen in terms of a particular aspect of character.
Purpose
setting
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the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.
"a romantic house in a wonderful setting beside the River Wye"
synonyms: surroundings, position, situation, environment, background, backdrop
Theme
the subject of a talk, piece of writing, exhibition, etc.; a topic.
"the theme of the sermon was reverence"
synonyms: subject, topic, subject matter
eg. the purpose of the short story licked is to entertain
the main events of a play, novel, film, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence.
"the plot consists almost entirely of a man and woman falling in love"
synonyms: storyline, story, chain of events, scenario, action, thread
terms of speech
elements of the text
plot
setting
character
narrator
purpose
audience
what happens in the story
the people in the story. characters may have a main or minor role in the texts
where and when the story takes place
The one who tells the story. not necessarily the author
the authors reason for writing
the Particular group of people the author aims the text at
plot structure
perspective
first person narration- when the story is written using 'I'. the reader is made aware of the thoughts of only that character
Third person narration- pronouns such as he, she, they, them are used to tell the story
Word classes
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Preposition
Conjunction
Determiner
Exclamation
Parts of speech song (courtesy of Mrs McCormick)
every name is called a Noun
as field and fountain street and town
in place of a Noun a Pronoun stands
as he or she can clap their hands
an adjective describes a thing
a magic wand of bridal ring
a Verb means action something done
to read to write to jump to run
how things are done the adverb tells
quickly, slowly, badly, well
a Preposition shows relation
as in the street or at the station
the Interjection cries out hark
I need an exclamation mark
language techniques
Alliteration
simile
metaphore
symbolism
colloquial language
tension
The emotional feeling experienced by readers as they move through parts of a text
The use of specific objects to stand for more general and abstract
ideas
a simile is a comparison using 'like' or 'as'
a metaphor is a comparison without using 'like' or 'as'
repetition of initial constants
informal, acceptable 'everyday' language
essay writting
climax
the main event
eg. the theme of this story is 'don't judge a book by it's cover'
Antagonist
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
"the woman was forcing her antagonist's face into the mud"
synonyms: adversary, opponent, enemy, foe, nemesis, rival, competitor, contender
protagonist
the leading character or one of the major characters in a play, film, novel, etc.
"the novel's main protagonist is an American intelligence officer"
an advocate or champion of a particular cause or idea.
"he's a strenuous protagonist of the new agricultural policy"
synonyms: supporter, upholder, adherent, backer, proponent, advocate, promoter, champion, exponent, standard-bearer, torch-bearer, prime mover, moving spirit, mainstay
how to structure a paragraph
P- Point
E- Example
A- Analysis
R- Response
Introduction
a) this essay will insert the essay question
b) the purpose of this essay is to insert the essay question
List the three main points (in chronological order)
Paragraphs
P1 - P, E, A, R
P2- P, E, A, R
P3- P, E, A, R
Conclusion
in conclusion the theme of acceptance is shown throughout the film by characters, +* the director of the film uses these elements of the film to teach the audience insert essay question
Barnum's character summaries the overall message when she says "no one ever made a difference by being like everyone else"
example essay question 'describe the theme of acceptance in the
film the greatest showman
inference
reading between the lines
thinking beyond the words
finding a deeper meaning of a text
using evidence to reach a conclusion
Static Image
definition
Static - still
image - picture
a poster is a static image
Visual Techniques
D.I (dominant image)
Backround
lighting
Verbal techniques
Title
Body copy
sub heading
Static images need to grab attention
Static Images have visual techniques/language (things you see) and verbal techniques/language (things that are written)
things to think about when analyzing a static image
Who/What is being advertised/presented (product/service)
who is the target audience. Is the product/service for Kids, Adults,
Teenagers, Infants, Elderly. who would be most interested in this
product
What is the overall idea we are intended to get from the text (whats the message)
language techniques eg. alliteration, simile ect...
light source
amount of light
eg. busy, plain, light, dark
Main text part of a text that describes the product or service
the name of the static image
separate ideas in the body copy
Novel study
important words
Text- Anything made up with words
Genre- The type of book eg. romance, Action, Thriller ect...
Author- the writer of the book
narrator- the person who tells the story
character- the people in the story
Setting- the location and time period of the story
style- features of the authors writting
narritive- the storyline
plot- main events that happen in the story (when listed use chronological order) eg. baby born, baby stolen, baby dies
Characterization
P.O.V (Point of view)- the person who's eyes we see the story through
Theme- issues/messages explored through the text
Backstory- Everything that happens before the Story begins eg.the childhood of an adult character in the story
Objectives- the character peruses the objective
Actions- the way the character achieves the objective
is your character a protagonist (the main character)
is your character the antagonist (the "bad guy")
film study
key features
diegetic sound
sounds the characters can hear eg. gunshot
non-diegetic sound
sound the characters cannot hear eg. background music
lighting
low light = hard to see mysterious
high light = expose the whole shot so the audience can see everything
certain lights are used for specific things eg. spotlights create the appearance of the character but can also be used to create a silhouette through a screen
transitions
changing the camera angle
to cut fade in or out eg. jump cut, dissolve, cross fade ect..
types of shots
montage
often used to show change in time
Establishing shot
Long shot
Sets the scene eg. panoramic, landscape
shows the whole subject with room to spare at the top and bottom of the frame
Medium shot
Shows the figure from the waist up
Two shot
shows two people in a medium or long shot used to demonstrate a conversation
extreme close up
Point of view- seeing through the characters eyes
medium close up
head and chest
Over the shoulder
viewing from behind the character
close up
shows the head used to show emotion
understanding text structures can help you figure out important points
key ideas and details
point of view
cause and effect
how to write a review
- synopsis (overview)
- a)camera shots (for films)
- b) P.O.V (for novels)
- opinion
- Star Rating
- concluding statement
Helpful words
Portrays
message/theme
director/author/writer/source
for example
summarizes
elements
relatable
respond
personally
describe
explain
introduces
contrast
Font style & size
different colors are associated with different things eg. blue can be represent sadness
celebrity endorsement
symbols/ logos
Persuasive language Devices and Techniques
alliteration
appeals
anaphora
appeal
anecdote
attacks/invective
commands
comparatives and superlatives
emotive language
exaggeration/hyperbole
flattery
generalisation
hyperphora
imagery/ descriptive language
repetition of the inital constanant sound
repetition of a word or phrase "I have.....I have......i have"
a comparison of things that are similar in some way
a short interesting story about someone used to make a connection with the audience
seems appealing to peoples personalities and interests
tests that 'attacks' or insults a person (usually using negative language)
to direct with authority
adjective- a strong person-describes things , Comparative- a stronger person or more worried-compares things, Superlative-the strongest person or the weakest-states or imply's that something is the highest or lowest quality
words or phrases that makes the audience feel something
a figure of speech that dramatizes the topic
saying nice things to get the reader on your side
a statement made everyone or everything based on limited evidence
raising a question to maintain curiosity
'a picture painted with words
Irony
a contract between what is expected and what actually happens
metaphors & similes
comparisons
Modality
a degree of certainty expressed by the author eg. high modality = high certainty, low modality = low certainty
opinion as fact/assertion
to present beliefs as if they were true
oxymoron
apparently contradictory words placed near each other eg. 'larger half', 'plastic glasses
personification
giving human qualities to non living things eg. the stars danced playfully in the moon lit sky
Problem solution format
uses language to clearly identify a problem them quickly follows it with a solution
Pronouns
the use of collective pronouns (eg. we feel that, surely you can see) makes the audience feel involved and important this builds the relationship between the audience and the author
puns
a 'play on words' or a phrase that has two meanings eg. what do you call a pig that does karate..... A PORK CHOP
refuting/rebutting
to prove something is false
repetition
using a word or phrase lots of times eg. I know..... I know....I know
Rhetorical question
a question that does not require or is not expected to recive an answer eg.'isn't the solution obvious?'
statistics/evidence
including specific facts to support an argument
technical vocabulary/jargon
the use of vocabulary that is specific to a particular trade or group. when used this indicates the author is a part of the specific group so the audience assumes the author is an 'expert'
tricolon
a three part series with units equal in length eg. "I came, I saw, I conquered" Julius Ceaser
triples/ rule of threes
to repeat an idea or image three times, usually in slightly different ways eg. 'hunting is cruel, evil and outdated
Understatement
a figure of speech that makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is eg. 'hitting that pole certainly didn't do that car any good
angles
side angle
above character
below character
makes the character look big and powerful and strong
shows the side of the face potentially hiding the other side of the face to keep a secret eg. a burn or scar or injury
makes the character seem small and weak