character: Who the story is about
setting: Where and when the story happens
plot: What happens in the story
problem: The trouble the characters face
solution: How the problem is solved
beginning: Where the story introduces characters and setting
middle: Where the problem grows
end: Where the problem is solved
main idea: What a text is mostly about
supporting details: Facts that back up the main idea
theme: The lesson or message of a story
summary: A short retelling of the important parts
sequence: The order in which events happen
cause: Why something happens
effect: What happens as a result
compare: To tell how things are alike
contrast: To tell how things are different
fact: Something that can be proven true
opinion: What someone thinks or feels
inference: A smart guess from clues
prediction: A guess about what will happen next
context clues: Hints in the text that help explain a word
author's purpose: Why the author wrote it: to inform, persuade or entertain
point of view: Who is telling the story
visualize: To make a picture in your mind while reading
connection: Linking a text to yourself, another text, or the world
text feature: A heading, caption or bold word that helps readers
heading: A title for a section
caption: Words that explain a picture
glossary: A mini dictionary at the back of a book
index: An alphabetical list of topics at the back with page numbers
table of contents: A list of chapters and page numbers at the front
bold print: Heavy type that shows an important word
diagram: A labeled drawing
genre: A type of writing
fiction: Made-up stories
nonfiction: True information
narrator: The one who tells the story
dialogue: Characters talking
conflict: A struggle between forces
climax: The most exciting part
resolution: The way the story's problem ends
mood: The feeling of the story
tone: The attitude of the author
evidence: Facts or quotes that prove a point
claim: A statement you argue is true
reasoning: The logic linking evidence to a claim
fluency: Reading smoothly with expression
decoding: Using letter sounds to read a word
comprehension: Understanding what you read
skim: To read quickly for the main idea
scan: To look quickly for specific information

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/la-story-elements