Bilingual vocabulary guide with English and Spanish definitions and example sentences for Spanish-speaking students.
Guia bilingue de vocabulario con definiciones en ingles y espanol y oraciones de ejemplo.
Analisis del Tema
English Definition:
The central message, lesson, or insight about life that the author conveys through the story.
Definicion en Espanol:
El mensaje central, leccion o reflexion sobre la vida que el autor transmite a traves de la historia.
Example / Ejemplo:
The theme of the novel is that true courage means facing your fears.
English Definition:
A message or lesson that applies to all people, regardless of culture, time, or place.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un mensaje o leccion que se aplica a todas las personas, sin importar la cultura, tiempo o lugar.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Good versus evil" is a universal theme found in stories across all cultures.
English Definition:
A theme that is suggested but not directly stated; readers must infer it from the text.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un tema que se sugiere pero no se declara directamente; los lectores deben inferirlo del texto.
Example / Ejemplo:
The author never states "friendship matters," but we understand it through the characters' actions.
English Definition:
A complete sentence that expresses the theme as a message about life or human nature.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una oracion completa que expresa el tema como un mensaje sobre la vida o la naturaleza humana.
Example / Ejemplo:
Thematic statement: "Perseverance leads to success even when faced with obstacles."
Interacciones de Personajes
English Definition:
The methods an author uses to reveal a character's personality, including their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and appearance.
Definicion en Espanol:
Los metodos que un autor usa para revelar la personalidad de un personaje, incluyendo sus acciones, pensamientos, dialogo y apariencia.
Example / Ejemplo:
The author uses direct characterization when she writes, "Maria was stubborn but kind."
English Definition:
A character who changes significantly throughout the story as a result of events or experiences.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un personaje que cambia significativamente a lo largo de la historia como resultado de eventos o experiencias.
Example / Ejemplo:
The protagonist starts as selfish but becomes generous by the end - a dynamic character.
English Definition:
A character who remains the same throughout the story; their personality does not change.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un personaje que permanece igual durante toda la historia; su personalidad no cambia.
Example / Ejemplo:
The villain remains evil from beginning to end - a static character.
English Definition:
The reasons or driving forces behind a character's actions and decisions.
Definicion en Espanol:
Las razones o fuerzas impulsoras detras de las acciones y decisiones de un personaje.
Example / Ejemplo:
Her motivation for working hard was to provide a better life for her family.
English Definition:
A character whose qualities contrast with another character, highlighting the differences between them.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un personaje cuyas cualidades contrastan con otro personaje, resaltando las diferencias entre ellos.
Example / Ejemplo:
The cautious friend serves as a foil to highlight the hero's reckless bravery.
English Definition:
The character or force that opposes the protagonist and creates the main conflict.
Definicion en Espanol:
El personaje o fuerza que se opone al protagonista y crea el conflicto principal.
Example / Ejemplo:
The villain who tries to stop the hero's quest is the antagonist.
Punto de Vista y Perspectiva
English Definition:
The vantage point from which a story is told - who is narrating and what they can observe.
Definicion en Espanol:
El punto de observacion desde el cual se cuenta una historia - quien narra y que puede observar.
Example / Ejemplo:
The story is told from a first-person point of view using "I" and "me."
English Definition:
A character's or author's worldview, shaped by their experiences, beliefs, values, and background.
Definicion en Espanol:
La vision del mundo de un personaje o autor, formada por sus experiencias, creencias, valores y antecedentes.
Example / Ejemplo:
From the immigrant's perspective, America was a land of both opportunity and challenge.
English Definition:
A point of view where the narrator uses "he/she" and knows the thoughts of only one character.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un punto de vista donde el narrador usa "el/ella" y conoce los pensamientos de solo un personaje.
Example / Ejemplo:
"She wondered if her brother knew what she was planning" - limited to her thoughts.
English Definition:
A point of view where the narrator knows all characters' thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un punto de vista donde el narrador conoce los pensamientos, sentimientos y acciones de todos los personajes.
Example / Ejemplo:
The narrator reveals what both the hero and the villain are thinking simultaneously.
English Definition:
A narrator whose credibility is questionable due to bias, limited knowledge, or deception.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un narrador cuya credibilidad es cuestionable debido a prejuicios, conocimiento limitado o engano.
Example / Ejemplo:
The narrator claims innocence, but clues suggest he's hiding the truth.
Estructura del Texto
English Definition:
The way an author organizes information in a text, such as chronological, cause/effect, or compare/contrast.
Definicion en Espanol:
La forma en que un autor organiza la informacion en un texto, como cronologica, causa/efecto, o comparar/contrastar.
Example / Ejemplo:
The article uses a problem-solution structure to discuss pollution.
English Definition:
Events arranged in the order they happened, from first to last.
Definicion en Espanol:
Eventos organizados en el orden en que sucedieron, del primero al ultimo.
Example / Ejemplo:
The biography describes the scientist's life from birth to death in chronological order.
English Definition:
A text structure showing why something happens (cause) and what happens as a result (effect).
Definicion en Espanol:
Una estructura textual que muestra por que algo sucede (causa) y que sucede como resultado (efecto).
Example / Ejemplo:
Because the forest was cleared (cause), many animals lost their homes (effect).
English Definition:
A text structure that shows similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) between subjects.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una estructura textual que muestra similitudes (comparar) y diferencias (contrastar) entre temas.
Example / Ejemplo:
The essay compares city life and rural life, contrasting their pace and opportunities.
English Definition:
An interruption in the narrative that takes the reader back to events that happened before the present story.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una interrupcion en la narrativa que lleva al lector a eventos que ocurrieron antes de la historia presente.
Example / Ejemplo:
The character remembers his childhood in a flashback that explains his fear of water.
English Definition:
Hints or clues in a story that suggest events that will happen later.
Definicion en Espanol:
Pistas o indicios en una historia que sugieren eventos que sucederan mas adelante.
Example / Ejemplo:
The dark clouds gathering foreshadow the coming storm and conflict.
Afirmaciones y Retorica del Autor
English Definition:
The author's main argument or position on a topic that they try to prove.
Definicion en Espanol:
El argumento principal o posicion del autor sobre un tema que intenta probar.
Example / Ejemplo:
The author's claim is that students should have longer lunch periods.
English Definition:
An opposing argument to the main claim; a reason someone might disagree.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un argumento opuesto a la afirmacion principal; una razon por la que alguien podria estar en desacuerdo.
Example / Ejemplo:
A counterclaim is that longer lunches would shorten instructional time.
English Definition:
Facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions used to support a claim.
Definicion en Espanol:
Hechos, estadisticas, ejemplos u opiniones de expertos usados para apoyar una afirmacion.
Example / Ejemplo:
The evidence shows that 85% of students perform better after eating a full meal.
English Definition:
The logical explanation of how the evidence supports the claim.
Definicion en Espanol:
La explicacion logica de como la evidencia apoya la afirmacion.
Example / Ejemplo:
The reasoning explains that well-fed students can concentrate better in class.
English Definition:
The quality of being trustworthy, believable, and based on reliable sources.
Definicion en Espanol:
La cualidad de ser confiable, creible y basado en fuentes fiables.
Example / Ejemplo:
The scientist's credibility comes from 20 years of research in the field.
Recursos Retoricos
English Definition:
An appeal to the audience based on the speaker's or author's credibility, character, or expertise.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una apelacion a la audiencia basada en la credibilidad, caracter o experiencia del orador o autor.
Example / Ejemplo:
"As a doctor with 30 years of experience, I recommend..." uses ethos.
English Definition:
An appeal to the audience's emotions to persuade them.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una apelacion a las emociones de la audiencia para persuadirla.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Imagine the suffering of hungry children" uses pathos to create sympathy.
English Definition:
An appeal to logic and reason, using facts, data, and logical arguments.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una apelacion a la logica y la razon, usando hechos, datos y argumentos logicos.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Statistics show a 40% increase in test scores" uses logos.
English Definition:
A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer, to make a point or engage the reader.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una pregunta hecha para causar efecto, sin esperar respuesta, para hacer un punto o involucrar al lector.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Who doesn't want a safer community?" is a rhetorical question.
English Definition:
Repeating words, phrases, or ideas for emphasis or effect.
Definicion en Espanol:
Repetir palabras, frases o ideas para dar enfasis o efecto.
Example / Ejemplo:
"We shall fight...we shall never surrender" uses repetition for power.
English Definition:
Using the same grammatical pattern in a series of words, phrases, or clauses for rhythm and emphasis.
Definicion en Espanol:
Usar el mismo patron gramatical en una serie de palabras, frases u oraciones para ritmo y enfasis.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people" is parallel structure.
Relaciones entre Palabras
English Definition:
The emotional feeling or association a word carries beyond its literal meaning.
Definicion en Espanol:
El sentimiento emocional o asociacion que una palabra lleva mas alla de su significado literal.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Home" has a warm connotation, while "house" is more neutral.
English Definition:
The literal, dictionary definition of a word without emotional associations.
Definicion en Espanol:
La definicion literal, de diccionario, de una palabra sin asociaciones emocionales.
Example / Ejemplo:
The denotation of "snake" is a legless reptile.
English Definition:
A comparison between two things to show how they are similar in certain ways.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una comparacion entre dos cosas para mostrar como son similares en ciertos aspectos.
Example / Ejemplo:
"Life is like a box of chocolates" is an analogy.
English Definition:
The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice.
Definicion en Espanol:
La actitud del autor hacia el tema o audiencia, transmitida a traves de la eleccion de palabras.
Example / Ejemplo:
The author's tone is sarcastic when describing the lazy politicians.
English Definition:
The emotional atmosphere or feeling that a text creates for the reader.
Definicion en Espanol:
La atmosfera emocional o sentimiento que un texto crea para el lector.
Example / Ejemplo:
The dark setting and mysterious sounds create a suspenseful mood.
Comparando Medios
English Definition:
The form or format used to communicate information (text, video, audio, image, etc.).
Definicion en Espanol:
La forma o formato usado para comunicar informacion (texto, video, audio, imagen, etc.).
Example / Ejemplo:
The story was adapted from the medium of a book to a film.
English Definition:
A work that has been recreated in a different form or medium than the original.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una obra que ha sido recreada en una forma o medio diferente al original.
Example / Ejemplo:
The movie is an adaptation of the popular novel.
English Definition:
Images, graphics, colors, and layout used to convey meaning in visual media.
Definicion en Espanol:
Imagenes, graficos, colores y diseno usados para transmitir significado en medios visuales.
Example / Ejemplo:
The documentary uses visual elements like photographs and maps.
English Definition:
The way someone understands or explains the meaning of a text, event, or idea.
Definicion en Espanol:
La forma en que alguien entiende o explica el significado de un texto, evento o idea.
Example / Ejemplo:
The director's interpretation of the play was darker than the original.
Resumir y Parafrasear
English Definition:
A brief retelling of the main ideas and key details of a text in your own words.
Definicion en Espanol:
Una breve narracion de las ideas principales y detalles clave de un texto en tus propias palabras.
Example / Ejemplo:
Write a one-paragraph summary of the chapter's main events.
English Definition:
Restating a specific passage in your own words while keeping the original meaning.
Definicion en Espanol:
Reformular un pasaje especifico en tus propias palabras mientras mantienes el significado original.
Example / Ejemplo:
Original: "Four score and seven years ago..." Paraphrase: "87 years ago..."
English Definition:
A summary that presents only facts without the writer's personal opinions or judgments.
Definicion en Espanol:
Un resumen que presenta solo hechos sin las opiniones personales o juicios del escritor.
Example / Ejemplo:
An objective summary states "The character moved to a new city" not "The character foolishly moved."
English Definition:
To quote or refer to a source as evidence or to give credit to the original author.
Definicion en Espanol:
Citar o referirse a una fuente como evidencia o para dar credito al autor original.
Example / Ejemplo:
Remember to cite the text when you use a quote: "According to paragraph 3..."
Use Cognates! Many of these ELA terms are cognates - words that look and sound similar in English and Spanish. Words like "theme/tema," "perspective/perspectiva," "characterization/caracterizacion," and "evidence/evidencia" share Latin roots. When you see a new English word, think about whether it sounds like a Spanish word you already know!
Usa los Cognados! Muchos de estos terminos de lectura son cognados - palabras que se ven y suenan similares en ingles y espanol. Cuando veas una palabra nueva en ingles, piensa si suena como una palabra en espanol que ya conoces!