| Reading critically | Reading in which a questioning attitude, logical analysis and inference are used to judge the worth of text; evaluating relevancy and adequacy of what is read; the judgement of validity or worth of what is read, based on sound criteria. |
| Reading rate | The speed at which a person reads, usually silently. |
| Research | A systematic inquiry into a subject or problem in order to discover, verify or revise relevant facts or principles having to do with that subject or problem. |
| Satire | A literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness. |
| Self-monitor | Know when what one is reading or writing is not making sense; adjust strategies for comprehension. |
| Semantics | The study of meaning in language. |
| Simile | A comparison of two unlike things in which a word of comparison (like or as) is used (e.g., She eats like a bird.). |
| Sources Primary | Text and/or artifacts that tell or show a first-hand account of an event; original works used when researching. |
| Secondary Sources | Text and/or artifacts used when researching that are derived from something original. |
| Subject area | An organized body of knowledge; a discipline; a content area. |
| Style | How an author writes; an author’s use of language; its effects and appropriateness to the author’s intent and theme. |
| Synonym | One of two or more words in a language that have highly similar meanings (e.g., sorrow, grief, sadness). |
| Syntax | The pattern or structure of word order in sentences, clauses and phrases. |
| Theme | A topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work. |
| Thesis | The basic argument advanced by a speaker or writer who then attempts to prove it; the subject or major argument of a speech or composition. |
| Tone | The attitude of the author toward the audience and characters (e.g., serious or humorous). |
| Voice | The fluency, rhythm and liveliness in writing that makes it unique to the writer. |