Citing Evidence
What does it mean to analyze a text?
To analyze a text means to break it down and look closely at how and why it works the way it does.
What is a theme?
Big ideas or messages that many stories explore
What is the exposition of a story?
The exposition of a story is the beginning part where the background information is provided to help the reader understand the world of the story. It typically introduces the setting, main characters, and sometimes a hint of the central conflict or problem that will drive the rest of the plot.
What does "diligent" mean?
The word "diligent" means showing persistent effort, careful attention, and hard work in doing something. A diligent person is someone who is thorough and dedicated to completing a task, often paying close attention to detail.
What is the author's tone in a passage?
To determine the author's tone in a passage, you'll want to focus on the choice of words, sentence structure, and overall mood the author creates. Tone reflects the author's attitude toward the subject, characters, or audience.
Name one way to find evidence in a text.
look for key details that support your idea
Give an example of a theme in literature.
friendship, courage and bravery, good vs evil, coming of age, identity, love, forgiveness, etc
What is the climax of a story?
The climax of a story is the turning point or the most intense, dramatic moment in the plot. It's where the main conflict reaches its highest point and the outcome of the story becomes clear. After the climax, things start to fall into place and move toward the resolution.
Determine the meaning of "joyful" based on context.
The word "joyful" generally means feeling or showing great happiness, delight, or pleasure. However, its exact meaning in context depends on how it is used in a sentence or situation.
The author develops a character’s perspective by using various literary techniques to reveal the character’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. This helps the reader understand how the character sees the world and reacts to the events around them. Here are some key ways authors develop a character's perspective:
internal thoughts, dialogue, actions and reactions, narrative point of view, descriptive language, conflict and challenges, and interactions with other characters
"How can you use evidence from the text to support your answer when explaining your opinion or answering a question?"
direct quotes, textual details and descriptions, summarizing key events, analyzing the author's intent, making connections, and citing page numbers
What details support the theme?
Details support the theme by showing examples, events, character actions, or words that connect to the deeper message the author wants to share.
How do characters respond to conflicts?
Characters respond to conflicts in different ways depending on their personality, beliefs, and circumstances. How they react to the challenges they face is often key to understanding their development and the theme of the story.
Provide a figurative meaning of "it's raining cats and dogs."
The figurative meaning of the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is that it's raining very heavily or it's raining a lot. This expression is an idiom, meaning it doesn't literally refer to animals falling from the sky, but instead emphasizes the intensity of the rain.
Explain how the author's background influences their writing.
An author’s background—including their upbringing, cultural influences, education, personal experiences, and social environment—can greatly shape the themes, style, and perspectives in their writing.
Why is it important to support your claims with evidence?
It's important to support your claims with evidence because it builds credibility, strengthens your argument, clarifies your point, persuades your reader, and shows critical thinking.
What is the central idea of a text?
The central idea of a text is the main point or most important message the author wants you to understand. It’s like the big idea that ties everything together.
Explain the plot structure of a story.
The plot structure of a story is the sequence of events that make up the story. It follows a specific pattern that helps to build tension, develop characters, and lead to a satisfying conclusion. Most stories follow a traditional plot structure that can be broken down into several key parts:
Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
What is a connotative meaning of "home"?
The connotative meaning of a word refers to the emotional or cultural associations it carries, beyond its literal, dictionary definition. For the word "home", the connotative meaning is deeply tied to feelings of comfort, safety, belonging, and love.
How does the narrator's point of view affect the story?
The narrator's point of view (POV) has a significant impact on how the story is told and how the reader experiences the events, characters, and themes. The point of view determines the narrator’s relationship to the story and what information the reader can access.
What is an example of citing textual evidence?
A quote is pulled directly from the text and used to support the point.
Example:
In the novel Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte proves she is a true friend by helping Wilbur avoid being slaughtered. The narrator says, “She planned to save his life. I want to keep him from ending up as pork chops!” (White, Chapter 9). This shows that Charlotte cares deeply for Wilbur and is willing to go to great lengths to protect him.
How do details convey a theme?
Details convey a theme by showing how the characters, setting, events, and dialogue all work together to reveal the message or lesson the author wants the reader to learn.
Describe how the main character changes.
The main character in a story often undergoes some form of change throughout the narrative, whether it's in their personality, beliefs, or behavior. This change is key to the story’s theme and helps demonstrate how they’ve grown, learned, or adapted to their circumstances.
What does the word "elaborate" mean in context?
The word "elaborate" can have different meanings depending on the context, but it generally refers to providing more detail or explanation about something. It’s often used when someone is asked to clarify or expand upon a point.
What do you need to look for when you find examples from the text that show the author's point of view?
word choice, what the author includes or leaves out, and how characters or events are described