Read Between the Lines
When you use hints from the text to figure out what the author doesn’t say directly, you’re making a(n) ______.
What is an inference?
In an argumentative essay, your opinion is called your ______.
What is a claim or stance?
This is the most important point the author wants you to understand.
What is the main idea?
Fix the sentence with commas: “After school I went to the library.”
What is: After school, I went to the library?
Use a comma when a sentence begins with an introductory word or phrase.
What makes a source relevant?
What is it’s closely related to the topic or question you’re researching?
"Jennifer trudged into the house, dropped her backpack, and sighed loudly."
This can be inferred about Jennifer?
What is she is tired or had a long/hard day?
What do we call the facts, examples, or quotes that help prove your claim?
What is evidence?
What do we call the reason an author writes something—to persuade, inform, or entertain?
What is the author’s purpose?
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
A) "My sister who loves pizza, is coming over."
B) "My sister, who loves pizza, is coming over."
What is B?
Use a comma to separate nonrestrictive clauses from the rest of the sentence.
You’re writing a report about the planets. Which source is most reliable?
A) A blog titled “Aliens on Jupiter!”
B) NASA’s official website
What is B?
If you don’t know what a word means, you can look at the words and sentences around it to figure it out. What are those surrounding words called?
What are context clues?
In argumentative writing, this is the part where the writer mentions the other side’s viewpoint and explains why it's less convincing.
What is a counterargument?
"The author gives facts about how volcanoes form and erupt."
What is the author’s purpose?
What is to inform?
Fix the sentence with commas: Raj said "Last year Amy was president so she knows what it takes to win."
What is: Raj said, "Last year, Amy was president, so she knows what it takes to win."
Use a comma before or after a direct quotation.
True or False: A source from 1995 is always a good choice for a report on current technology.
What is False?
Choose the meaning of the word in context:
"The abandoned house was eerie, with creaky floors and shadows that danced on the walls."
What does eerie most likely mean?
What is creepy or spooky?
Which of the following is a supporting detail?
A) "Dogs are better than cats."
B) "Many dogs are trained to help people with disabilities."
C) "I think cats are sneaky."
What is B?
True or False: Supporting details are the same as the main idea
What is False?
Add a comma and a conjunction to correctly join these two independent clauses:
"She loves to read mysteries she also enjoys writing them."
What is: She loves to read mysteries, and she also enjoys writing them.?
Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a coordinating conjunction.
You find a website with no author listed and lots of spelling mistakes. Should you use it? Why or why not?
What is no, because it’s not credible?
"Mom raised an eyebrow and pointed to the overflowing trash can."
What message was mom probably trying to send?
What is that someone should take out the trash?
Which sentence best supports the claim: "Recess should be longer in middle school"?
A) "Studies show recess helps students concentrate in class."
B) "Recess is boring anyway."
C) "Some schools already do it."
What is A?
Which sentence best shows the main idea of a paragraph about recycling?
A) "Recycling helps reduce pollution and saves energy."
B) "Glass can be recycled many times."
C) "Plastic bottles can take hundreds of years to decompose."
What is A?
Add a comma where needed: “The long winding road led to the cabin.”
What is: The long, winding road led to the cabin?
Use a comma between coordinating adjectives. Coordinating adjectives: Can you switch the adjectives and still make sense? Can you insert "and" between them and still make sense?
You're writing about healthy school lunches. Which is the best piece of evidence?
A) “My friends think pizza is the best.”
B) “A CDC report says balanced lunches improve focus and behavior.”
What is B?