Vocabulary
The "message" of the story
Theme
The first fiction genre frame question
Who are the characters and what do we know about them?
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Literal Meaning: People wear masks
Figurative Meaning: Many people exist hiding their true feelings from other people
When beginning a multiple choice question, this is the first step
Read the question
Albany
An author's point of view about a topic
Perspective
The first nonfiction genre frame question
What is the topic?
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Deeper Meaning: People of color are treated like second class citizens, but they are still part of America and are growing stronger every day in spite of oppression
The genre of a text that is described as an "article"
Nonfiction
The author's word choice and style creating a feeling for the text
Tone
The second fiction genre frame question
What is the conflict?
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Literal Meaning: A guy is walking through the woods and took a different road than other people
Deeper Meaning: Taking the time to do things others do not do can be life changing
(Think connotation)
Positive/negative language
Charged words
Mr. Kennedy's favorite food
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
The last sentence of an introductory paragraph, the sentence that answers the prompt and describes what the essay is about
Thesis Statement
The poetry genre frame questions
What is the literal meaning and what is the figurative meaning?
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Literal Meaning: The author is talking to someone who is writing lies abut her, saying she will get up despite the circumstances
Deeper Meaning: Despite the weight of oppression, you should always hold your head high and rise above your circumstances.
Restate and strong claim
The name of Ms. Denson's cute little 1 year old boy
Chance
A recurring or repeated element of a story that reinforces a central theme
Motif
The third and fourth genre frame questions for realistic or historical fiction
What is the resolution? What is the theme?
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He may still leave thy garland green
Literal Meaning: Rose briars and holly trees have different qualities
Deeper Meaning: Love and friendship are both wonderful feelings, but friendship is more consistent and important than just love
As a group, name five different transition words that can be used instead of "This shows" or "For example"
This highlights
This illustrates
This conveys
Furthermore
Moreover
etc
The name of the hockey team in Buffalo
Buffalo Sabres