OVERVIEW
NEW WORDS
Nouns.
- abstract (plural: abstracts) a statement summarizing the important points of a text.
- article (plural: articles) a nonfictional literary composition that forms an independent part of a publication, as of a newspaper or magazine.
- atlas (plural: atlases) a book or bound collection of maps, sometimes with supplementary illustrations and graphic analyses.
- author (plural: authors) the writer of a book, article, or other text.
- autobiography (plural: autobiographies) the biography of a person written by that person.
- barcode number (plural: numbers) a series of vertical bars of varying widths, in which each of the digits zero through nine are represented by a different pattern of bars that can be read by a laser scanner.
- bestseller (plural: bestsellers) a product, such as a book, that is among those sold in the largest numbers.
- biography (plural: biographies) an account of a person’s life written, composed, or produced by another.
- book (plural: books) any written or printed work of literature on a particular subject matter. In other words, it is a compendium of written words made available to define the basic concepts of a field in focus.
- bookcase (plural: bookcases) a piece of furniture with shelves for holding books.
- book club (plural: clubs) a group of readers who meet periodically to discuss assigned books.
- bookdrop (plural: bookdrops) a convenient dropbox where things can be returned to the library.
- bookstore (plural: bookstores) a place where books are sold.
- call number (plural: numbers) is like an address: it tells us where the book is located in the library.
- catalog (plural: catalogs) a complete, usually alphabetical list of items, often with notes giving details.
- character (plural: characters) a person represented in a drama, story.
- circulation desk (plural: desks) the place at any library where you can check out and return books, pay fines, pick up your holds.
- citation (plural: citations) a quotation of or explicit reference to a source for substantiation, as in a scholarly paper.
- dialogue (plural: dialogues) a conversation between two or more people.
- dictionary (plural: dictionaries) a reference work containing an alphabetical list of words, with information given for each word, usually including meaning, pronunciation.
- drama (plural: dramas) a prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action.
- editor (plural: editors) a person who edits written material for publication.
- encyclopedia (plural: encyclopedias) a comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects, usually arranged alphabetically.
- essay (plural: essays) a short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
- fairy tale ( plural: tales) a children’s story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
- fiction literature consisting of imaginative stories and characters, as novels and short stories.
- genre (plural: genres) a category of literary or artistic work.
- historical fiction the genre of literature, film, etc., comprising narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and personages.
- illustration (plural: illustrations) a picture or image that is used to decorate or clarify a text.
- imagery (plural: imageries) figurative or descriptive language in a literary work.
- index (plural: indices) an alphabetical list of persons, places, subjects, etc, mentioned in the text of a printed work, usually at the back, and indicating where in the work they are referred to.
- interlibrary loan (plural: loans) the process by which a library borrows material from, or supplies material to, another library.
- journal (plural: journals) a periodical presenting articles on a particular subject.
- keyword (plural: keywords) a word used as a reference point for finding other words or information.
- librarian (plural: librarians) a person in charge of or assisting in a library.
- library (plural: libraries) a place in which reading materials, such as books, periodicals, and newspapers, and often other materials such as musical and video recordings, are kept for use or lending.
- magazine (plural: magazines) a periodical containing a collection of articles, stories and pictures.
- manuscript (plural: manuscripts) a version of a book, article, or other work before being published or prepared for publication.
- memoir (plural: memoirs) an account of the personal experiences of an author.
- mystery (plural: mysteries) a work of fiction, such as a novel or a movie, that has a story centered around solving a puzzling crime or mysterious event.
- newspaper (plural: mysteries) a publication, usually issued daily or weekly, containing current news, editorials, feature articles, and usually advertising.
- nonfiction the category of literature, drama, film, or other creative work, including essays, expository prose, and documentaries, whose content is based on fact and is not imagined.
- novel (plural: novels) a fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.
- paperback (plural: paperbacks) a book having a flexible paper binding.
- periodical (plural: periodicals) a publication issued at regular intervals, usually monthly or weekly.
- plot (plural: plots) the pattern or sequence of interrelated events in a work of fiction, as a novel or film.
- poetry literature written in verse.
- prose spoken or written language as in ordinary usage, distinguished from poetry.
- publisher (plural: publishers) a company or person engaged in publishing periodicals, books, music, etc.
- reference (plural: references) a note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source.
- reference desk (plural: desks) a service point where you can ask for help in finding library information.
- romance (plural: romances) a story, novel, film, etc, dealing with love, usually in an idealized or sentimental way.
- science fiction a literary or cinematic genre in which fantasy, typically based on speculative scientific discoveries or developments, environmental changes, space travel, or life on other planets, forms part of the plot or background.
- setting (plural: settings) the time and place an author chooses for a literary work.
- story (plural: stories) a narration of a chain of events told or written in prose or verse.
- short story (plural: stories) a story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel.
- stacks the bookshelf area where most of the materials are stored in each library.
- suspense the quality in a work of narrative art, such as a novel or film, that causes the audience to experience pleasurable excitement and anticipation regarding an outcome.
- symbol (plural: symbols) an object, person, idea, etc, used in a literary work, film, etc, to stand for or suggest something else with which it is associated either explicitly or in some more subtle way.
- symbolism the use of words or images to symbolize specific concepts, people, objects, or events.
- table of contents a list, usually on a page at the beginning of a piece of academic writing, which outlines the chapters or sections names with their corresponding page numbers.
- textbook (plural: textbooks) a book used in schools or colleges for the formal study of a subject.
- thesaurus (plural: thesauruses) a book of synonyms, often including related and contrasting words and antonyms.
- travelogue (plural: travelogues) a lecture, slide show, film, etc., describing a person’s travels or depicting travels in a particular, often distant place.
- vocabulary (plural: vocabularies) all the words of a language.
- writer (plural: writers) a person who writes books, articles, etc, esp as an occupation.
Verbs.
- to borrow to obtain or receive (something) on loan with the promise or understanding of returning it.
- to check out when People check books out of libraries, the library records their library-card number and issues them a date by which the book is due back.
- to edit to prepare written material for publication or presentation, as by correcting and revising.
- to publish to prepare and issue a book for public distribution, especially for sale.
- to renew the process of extending the loan period of library materials.
- to request to ask for politely.
- to write to produce written material such as books.
Adjectives.
- illustrated decorated with or making use of pictures.
- literary related to writers and literature.
- overdue past the time specified, required, or preferred for arrival or payment.
VISUAL VOCABULARY
- Meet some famous writers from New York City
KEY PHRASES
GRAMMAR TIPS
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