Themes/Plots/Characters
This is the underlying message or "big idea" about life that an author conveys through a story, often implied rather than stated directly.
Theme
This literary device is used when an author gives human qualities to non-human things, such as "the wind whispered through the trees."
Personification
The techniques an author uses to reveal a character’s personality, such as their speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks.
Characterization
The scientist used a monocle to examine the tiny inscriptions on the ancient coin."
The Question: If the Latin root -ocul- means "eye" and the prefix mono- means "one," what is a monocle?
An eyeglass for only one eye
"Bees are essential to the world's food supply. They pollinate one-third of the food we eat, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without them, many of our favorite meals would disappear from grocery stores."
The Question: Based on the text, what is the central idea of this passage?
the importance of bees to human food sources
This specific plot element is the "spark" or event that triggers the central conflict and moves the story out of the exposition.
Initiating Event
This term describes the author’s choice of a narrator, specifically the "I" perspective that allows the reader to experience the story through one character's eyes.
First Person Point of View
'As the teacher handed back the tests, Marcus gripped the edges of his desk until his knuckles turned white.' Which type of characterization is being used here?
Indirect characterization, Direct characterization, or First person narration
Indirect characterization (the author SHOWS how he feels instead of just TELLING us)
"The move to a new city was arduous, involving twelve hours of heavy lifting, three flights of stairs, and an endless mountain of cardboard boxes."
The Question: Based on the context clues in the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of the word arduous?
difficult, strenuous, or exhausting
"As the sun began to set, the hikers noticed the temperature dropping rapidly and the clouds turning a heavy, bruised purple. They quickened their pace toward the shelter, checking their flashlights."
The Question: Based on the evidence in the text, what can the reader infer is about to happen?
A storm is about to come (it's about to get dark and dangerous).
this is the turning point or moment of highest tension where the protagonist makes a major decision or the conflict reaches its peak.
Climax
While "tone" is the author's attitude toward the subject, this term describes the overall emotional atmosphere or "feeling" a reader gets from a text.
Mood
"Sarah stared at the finish line, her lungs burning like hot coals. Even though her vision was blurring, she refused to slow down, ignoring the teammates who told her it was okay to quit."
The Question: Based on this indirect characterization, what is one character trait Sarah possesses?
Perseverance (being determined/stubborn)
'The chef's instructions were explicit; he left no room for doubt about how much salt should be added to the soup.'
Based on the context clues, what does explicit mean?
Stated clearly and in detail.
There was no doubt or uncertainty.
"To build a birdhouse, first gather your wood and nails. Next, measure the sides carefully. After that, cut the entrance hole, and finally, assemble the pieces together."
The Question: This passage uses which type of informational text structure?
What is chronological order?
this term describes a character who undergoes a significant internal change in personality, values, or outlook over the course of the story.
Dynamic Character
Authors use this specific type of figurative language to make a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."
Simile
Which of these is an example of 'Direct Characterization'?
The author clearly states the character's traits (patient and kind-hearted).
Secure:
Verb:
1) To fasten or tie down or fix something firmly in place.
2) To obtain or get possession of: To succeed in getting something, often with effort.
3) To protect: To make something safe from access or attack.
"After hours of negotiations, the two countries were able to secure a peace treaty."
Definition 2
The Text: "While both electric cars and gasoline cars are used for transportation, they operate very differently. Electric cars use a battery to power an electric motor, making them quiet and exhaust-free. In contrast, gasoline cars rely on internal combustion engines that require fossil fuels and produce emissions. However, both vehicles require regular maintenance to remain safe on the road."
The Question: Which informational text structure is the author using to organize this passage?
Compare and contrast
What is the name of the central character who drives the action toward a goal, and the character that stands in their way to create the central conflict.
Answer is TWO types of characters!
Protagonist
Antagonist
This term refers to the emotional associations a word carries beyond its literal dictionary definition or how the word makes you FEEL. Authors use this to influence the mood of a story.
Connotation
"In the year 2145, the oxygen domes were the only thing keeping the city alive. Outside the glass, the red dust of the Martian plains beat against the walls, a constant reminder that nature was no longer a friend."
In this passage, how does the setting act as a source of conflict for the characters?
Physical threat to their safety (person vs. nature)
"The hiker’s supply of water was depleted after the long trek across the desert; he peered into his canteen only to find a few useless drops clinging to the bottom."
The Question: What specific phrase in the sentence acts as a clue to the meaning of depleted?
"only to find a few useless drops"
The Text: "The researchers noted that the arctic fox’s coat had begun to turn from brown to white, even though the heavy snows weren't expected for another three weeks. They also observed the foxes burying extra food deep within the permafrost, a behavior rarely seen during the milder summer months."
The Question: Based on the text evidence, what can the reader infer about the upcoming season, and what specific detail supports this?
winter is arriving early (or will be unusually harsh), supported by the change in coat color or the storing of extra food?