Plot & Main Points
What is the sequence of events that happens in a story from beginning to end?
What is the plot?
In your own words, explain what a theme is.
A theme is the underlying message or lesson that an author wants readers to understand from a story.
What does STEAL stand for, and what does each letter represent?
S = Speech, T = Thoughts, E = Effect on others, A = Actions, L = Looks
Define context clues and give an example of how you might use them to understand an unfamiliar word.
Context clues are words around a word that help you figure out what it means. Like if a sentence says "The benevolent teacher gave extra help to struggling students" — the phrase "gave extra help" suggests "benevolent" means kind or generous.
What should your introduction paragraph include?
A hook and a thesis statement
Describe what happens during the rising action of a story and explain why it's important to the plot.
Rising action is when things start to happen in the story. It's important because it gets interesting.
Explain the difference between a theme and the main idea of a text.
The main idea is what the text is mostly about or its primary focus. Theme is the deeper lesson or message the author wants you to learn.
Explain how a character's speech patterns reveal their personality and background.
The way someone talks shows who they are. If they use big words, they might be smart.
Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word: "The politician's obfuscation of the facts frustrated reporters who wanted clear answers."
It means hiding or making unclear because the reporters wanted clear answers and they were frustrated.
What is a thesis statement?
A sentence that states the main idea or argument of your essay?
What is the difference between a plot point and a subplot? Give an example of how each might function in a story.
A plot point is a major event in the main story that changes things. A subplot is a secondary story that supports or connects to the main plot.
For example, a main plot point might be when the hero discovers a secret, while a subplot might follow a friendship developing.
Describe three different ways an author can develop a theme throughout a story.
Authors use characters, events, and words to show the theme.
Describe how a character's actions and their thoughts might sometimes contradict each other, and what this reveals about character development.
Sometimes characters do things they don't want to do. This shows they are changing.
There are interlaced flavors of chocolate candy in the valentine present. What does the word "interlaced" mean?
Meshing together, intertwine
Name three things that make evidence "clear and supporting" in an essay.It comes from the text, it directly supports your point, and it's explained clearly?
It comes from the text, it directly supports your point, and it's explained clearly?
Explain how multiple plot points work together to build toward a climax.
Plot points happen one after another and make the story more exciting until the climax.
How might the same theme be expressed differently in two different stories? Explain your reasoning.
Different stories can show the same lesson in different ways because they have different characters and events.
How might a character's physical appearance (looks) change throughout a story, and what might those changes symbolize about their internal development?
A character might look different because they changed. Like if they got a haircut or new clothes.
"Excuse me," she said. "The train conductor told me what happened. You were on the wrong train car." Then she pointed to the large board that had previously mystified Patrick. "You will want to catch the next train to Milan," she said. "From there it is easy to get to Rome."
In the excerpt above, the word mystified most likely means
confused or baffled
How should you organize your essay body paragraphs?
Each paragraph should focus on one main idea with evidence and explanation?
Why do you think authors structure stories with exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution instead of just telling events randomly?
This structure helps readers understand the story better by introducing characters and setting first, building suspense gradually, reaching a peak moment, and then wrapping up. It creates a satisfying reading experience.
What is a thesis statement, and what role does it play in an essay about theme?
A thesis statement is a sentence in your introduction that states the main idea or argument of your essay.
Explain how character interactions reveal character development and what characters learn from each other.
When characters talk to each other, you can see how they change and what they learn.
Mahatma Gandhi is one of the best-known practitioners of civil disobedience. Born Mohandas Gandhi in India in 1869, he was educated in London and spent twenty years working for social justice in South Africa. Eventually, Gandhi returned to India and inspired a national movement against British hegemony. Ultimately, he led millions in acts of civil disobedience, including boycotts and symbolic marches. These actions helped India reach independence from British rule in 1947.
authority or dominance.
What makes a conclusion effective?
It restates your thesis in a new way, summarizes your main points, and leaves the reader with a final thought?