Literary Elements
What is the main idea of a story?
central idea
big idea
what is the story mostly about?
What is a subject in a sentence?
who or what the sentence is about.
What does it mean to make inferences while reading?
Making inferences while reading means using clues from the text plus what you already know to figure out something the author doesn’t say directly.
What is a thesis statement?
is a sentence in an essay or paper that clearly presents the main idea or argument the writer will discuss or prove.
What is a synonym for "happy"?
joyful
Define "theme" in literature.
moral, lesson, message
Identify the correct form of "to be" in the sentence: "She _ excited."
"is"
What is the author's purpose?
The author’s purpose is the reason why the author wrote the text.
Usually, an author writes to do one (or more) of these three things:
Persuade (try to convince you of something)
Inform (teach you or give you information)
Entertain (tell a story or make you enjoy reading)
Explain the importance of an introduction in an essay.
it grabs the reader's attention, introduces the topic, and presents the thesis statement, setting the tone for the rest of the essay.
Define "context clues."
Context clues are hints or information in a text that help readers figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the surrounding words and sentences.
What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
hero, main character
villain
What is a compound sentence? Provide an example.
A compound sentence is two complete sentences (independent clauses) joined together by a coordinating conjunction like and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet.
What are some ways to describe a character?
personality, thoughts, feelings, actions, appearance
What are transition words? Provide two examples.
Transition words are words or phrases that help connect ideas and show the relationship between them; examples include "however" and "therefore."
How can you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word?
You can determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, such as nearby words, sentences, or examples, to infer its definition.
What is setting? Provide an example.
Where the story takes place.
Define "punctuation" and give two examples.
Punctuation is the set of marks we use in writing to help make our meaning clear.
Define conflict
The problem in the story
What are the steps of the writing process?
prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing
What does it mean to "summarize" a text?
To "summarize" a text means to briefly restate its main ideas or key points in your own words, focusing on the most important information.
What is tone?
is the author's attitude toward the story or the audience
What is the difference between "affect" and "effect"?
Affect is usually a verb — it means to change or influence something.
Effect is usually a noun — it means the result or outcome of something.
This term describes the turning point of the story, when the main character faces a major challenge
the climax
What makes a conclusion effective in writing?
An effective conclusion summarizes the main points, reinforces the thesis, and leaves the reader with a final thought or call to action, creating a sense of closure.
Explain the term "figurative language" and give an example.
Figurative language uses expressions or phrases that go beyond their literal meaning to create vivid images or convey deeper meaning