Writing
H.O.T. stands for.....
What is: Hook, observation, thesis
What is the author’s primary purpose in this passage?
A. To entertain readers with humorous frontier anecdotes
B. To persuade pioneers to choose oxen over horses
C. To describe and reflect on the challenges and provisions of a westward journey
D. To explain the geography of the Plains
C. To describe and reflect on the challenges and provisions of a westward journey
Rationale: The passage focuses on the narrator’s reflections about oxen versus horses, provisions packed, and experiences on the Plains, rather than on pure entertainment, persuasion, or geographical description.
When do we use an exclamation point in writing?
To emphasize or exclaim something
How does the author contrast oxen with horses?
A. By noting oxen travel faster but tire more quickly
B. By explaining oxen are cheaper, stronger in rough country, and harder to run off at night
C. By arguing horses require less feed and are easier to shoe
D. By suggesting horses are better for long drives but oxen for river crossings
B. By explaining oxen are cheaper, stronger in rough country, and harder to run off at night
Rationale: The author contrasts oxen’s lower cost, superior work in prairie sod, ease of feeding, and security against theft with horses.
What is theme?
The underlying message of the text.
What 2 things must be included in an argumentative essay?
CounterArgument/Refutation
and
Call to Action
What can the reader infer about William Buck from the description “impulsive… yet a man of excellent judgment and honest as God makes men”?
A. He is reckless and untrustworthy.
B. He is energetic but fundamentally reliable.
C. He lacks experience on the Plains.
D. He resents the narrator’s leadership.
B. He is energetic but fundamentally reliable.
Rationale: The juxtaposition of “impulsive” with “excellent judgment and honest as God makes men” indicates Buck’s enthusiasm tempered by trustworthiness.
(14) Designers take advantage of gravity to generate speed on their ride as cars lower these slopes.
Greg would like to use a more appropriate word in sentence 14. Which word should replace lower in this sentence?
F. depart
G. extend
H. descend
J. increase
H
Which of the following most accurately describes the tone of the passage?
A. Bitter and regretful
B. Reflective and appreciative
C. Urgent and alarmed
D. Whimsical and fanciful
B. Reflective and appreciative
Rationale: The tone is contemplative—looking back on choices and experiences—and conveys gratitude for provisions, companionship, and the animals’ endurance.
what day is the staar for English?
Tuesday, April 15
What must each of your body paragraphs have - no exceptions?
Which sentence from the passage best supports the inference that the narrator values his wife’s cooking?
A. “The little wife had prepared the homemade yeast cake which she knew so well how to make and dry…”
B. “We baked the bread in a tin reflector instead of the heavy Dutch oven…”
C. “Then the buttermilk! What a luxury!”
D. “Besides, we did not have plenty of fresh butter…”
C. “Then the buttermilk! What a luxury!”
Rationale: The exclamatory tone and reference to buttermilk as a “luxury” clearly show the narrator’s appreciation for his wife’s provision and cooking.
True or False: Theme is something that can be explained in one word.
FALSE
How does the organization of the passage help develop its central idea?
A. It alternates between first‑person narrative and third‑person historical overview.
B. It presents a problem, then describes failed solutions, and ends with a final triumph.
C. It lists provisions and team details first, then reflects on their significance and outcomes.
D. It begins with a map of the route and concludes with statistical data on mileage.
C. It lists provisions and team details first, then reflects on their significance and outcomes.
Rationale: The passage opens with descriptions of wagons, provisions, and team selection, then moves into reflection on how those choices affected the journey’s success.
What are the 3 rhetorical devices (methods of persuasion) we studied?
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
What is a Gist statement where does it belong?
It is a short summary of what you've written. It belongs as the first sentence of a conclusion paragraph.
In context, the word “demijohn” most nearly means:
A. A small leather pouch
B. A sturdy wooden crate
C. A large glass bottle
D. A metal cooking pot
C. A large glass bottle
Rationale: A “demijohn” is a sizable, narrow‑necked glass container traditionally used for storing liquids such as wine or brandy.
(40) Designers aim to set new records with each new roller coaster they design because that is their objective.
Sentence 40 includes repeated information. Which revision MOST improves sentence 40? F. Designers aim to set new records with each new roller coaster they design.
G. Designers have an objective to set new records that they aim for when designing each new roller coaster.
H. Designers set new records to aim for them with each new roller-coaster design.
J. Designers aim to set new records because that is their objective with each new roller-coaster design.
F
Why does the author include detailed accounts of provisions such as bread, butter, and buttermilk?
A. To demonstrate how domestic skills contributed to pioneer survival
B. To show that frontier cooking was monotonous and unappealing
C. To argue that purchased goods were preferable to homemade foods
D. To highlight the narrator’s culinary expertise and pride
A. To demonstrate how domestic skills contributed to pioneer survival
Rationale: By emphasizing his wife’s homemade yeast cake and the “luxury” of buttermilk, the author highlights the critical role of domestic preparation and ingenuity in sustaining morale and health on the trail.
What type of irony is it when you knew that Mary Maloney fed the murder weapon to the cops,but the other characters dont know?
Dramatic Irony
What should you do after you write your essay and before you submit your work?
Review for typos, spelling/grammar errors, and punctuation.
Which phrase best reveals the narrator’s pride in his choice of team?
A. “not a pound of which but was useful (except the brandy) and necessary for our comfort.”
B. “Four steers and two cows were sufficient for our light wagon…”
C. “I had chosen steers that had never been under the yoke…”
D. “I am willing to claim credit to myself for the team, every hoof of which reached the Coast in safety.”
D. “I am willing to claim credit to myself for the team, every hoof of which reached the Coast in safety.”
Rationale: This statement directly expresses the narrator’s pride in having selected and managed a successful team.
What are the 3 reasons for writing?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
Which of the following best expresses a central theme of the passage?
A. Self‑reliance and careful planning are essential for a successful journey.
B. Frontier life inevitably leads to nostalgia for urban comforts.
C. Community cooperation outweighs individual effort on the trail.
D. Nature’s challenges render human preparation futile.
A. Self‑reliance and careful planning are essential for a successful journey.
What is a semi-colon used for?
joining two independent clauses