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

  1. synopsis (overview)
  1. a)camera shots (for films)
  1. b) P.O.V (for novels)
  1. opinion
  1. Star Rating
  1. 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