CENTRAL IDEA & PURPOSE (ELA.9.R.2.2, ELA.9.R.2.3)
This is the author’s main claim about small talk in “Small Talk Is Overrated.”
What is small talk feels meaningless and prevents genuine connection?
This rhetorical appeal is used when Passage 2 cites psychologists and researchers.
What is appeal to authority?
“Puts my brain to sleep” helps establish this mood in Passage 1.
What is frustration or boredom?
In Passage 1, “phatic expressions” are conversations meant to do this.
What is maintain social relationships rather than share information?
Passage 1 opens with dialogue mainly to accomplish this purpose.
What is provide an example of small talk?
This central idea of Passage 2 is developed using multiple scientific studies.
The phrase “break the script” uses this rhetorical technique to describe small talk.
What is metaphor?
The figurative phrase that shows small talk follows a predictable pattern.
What is “break the script”?
The word disclosure in Passage 2 most nearly means this.
What is sharing?
Passage 2 primarily uses this structure to present its ideas.
What is problem-solution supported by evidence?
Both passages agree on this idea about small talk, despite having opposing viewpoints.
Passage 1 appeals to logic in paragraph 9 by arguing this benefit of silence.
What is that accepting silence can reduce stress and anxiety?
This mood is created by Passage 1’s repetitive opening dialogue.
What is monotony or dullness?
The word introvert comes from Latin meaning “to turn” and this direction.
What is inward?
Paragraphs 12–13 in Passage 2 follow this structure to show impact.
What is cause and effect?
This detail best supports the idea that small talk can increase happiness in Passage 2.
What is the Chicago commuter study showing people felt happier after chatting?
This technique allows Passage 2 to weaken the idea that silence is always better.
What is presenting counterevidence through studies and experiments?
Passage 2 uses positive imagery to create this mood about chatting with strangers.
What is optimism or pleasantness?
Context clues in Passage 2 suggest rebuffed most nearly means this.
What is rejected?
Both texts rely on this structure when building their arguments.
What is compare and contrast?
The author of Passage 1 mainly writes to do this: entertain, inform, or persuade?
What is persuade?
Both authors use this rhetorical strategy to influence how readers view conversation.
What is rhetorical reasoning supported by examples?
Both passages use figurative language primarily to affect this element of the text.
What is mood?
This strategy helps determine word meaning without a dictionary on FAST.
What is using context clues?
Recognizing text structure helps readers do this on FAST.
What is understand author’s purpose and reasoning?