Words in Context
Grandpa didn’t know that Suzie was coming along on the fishing trip, and now he had to alter his plans.
change
A conclusion based on evidence.
What is Inference?
The reason an author writes a text. The main three are Persuade, Inform, and Entertain, but texts can fall into multiple categories.
What is Author's Purpose?
The stones in the field ripped from the ground like jagged swords.
The stones are pointy.
What do you do if the story mentions a specific location in the text?
Go back and reread (plus reread for context)
Unlike Bob, who treated others rudely and kept to himself, Bobby was jovial, friendly, and outgoing.
funny / silly
The universal truth in a story. Something the author believes to always be true.
What is Theme?
Locations a Central Idea can be found (name 3).
Your eyes are a shadowy sea
In the starry darkness of night
What does this figurative language mean?
The subject has dark eyes.
What do you do when all of the answer choices look the same?
Focus on the differences between each answer choice.
With the field torn up by the players’ cleats, and the cold rain falling in waves, conditions on the playing field were dismal.
Bad
The lens through which the story is told. This determines what actions the characters take.
What is Perspective?
Mr. McElhaney walks in with a closed energy drink, a bags under his eyes, and his hair is a mess.
This can be inferred from his behavior.
Mr. McElhaney is tired.
For I knew his eyes
Like an old, old song.
What is the effect of this figurative language and what does it mean?It makes the speaker and subject seem familiar to each other. They've known each other a long time.
If a question uses pronouns (he, she, they, etc.), what is important to figure out?
Who the pronouns are referring to.
After Mom found the devoured cake, the dog crouched furtively behind the couch...
secretively / timidly / scared
To look at something in-depth in order to understand its meaning as a whole.
What is Analyze?
An article titled "Test Scores are the Worst in a Decade" probably has this type of Author's Position.
What is a Negative Author's Position?
Life is a frail moth flying,
Caught in the web of the years that pass,
What does this figurative language mean? What mood does it create?
Life is fragile and years can become complicated.
It creates a sad/dreary/melancholy mood.
If a question makes you look at evidence, what are two things you have to consider?
-Does it answer the question?
-Is it accurate?
-Is it said by the person the question is talking about?
-etc.
He offered me twenty dollars to eat a dragonfly. I need money so badly that I am inclined to accept his challenge.
tempted
The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.
What is Context?
Consider an article containing the following:
Title: Coming of age during a war, Ukrainian teens find their “mission”
Subheadings: A Sudden War, School is Secondary, Hope for The Future
This would likely be the Central Idea.
Multiple Answers: Rebuilding Ukraine is more important than school for Ukrainian teens
The soul of the man showed itself for a moment like an evil face in the window of a reputable house.
What can be inferred about the man from this figurative language?
The man looks good, but he's actually evil.
What you can use scrap paper for on the reading test (name 3 things).
Notice and Note, writing summaries, answering questions in your own words, making organizers, etc.