8th Grade PSSA ELA Review (Mr. Paull)

Grammar & Language

1

A person, place, thing, or clause represented by a pronoun is called an?

What is antecedent?

2

You can fix this problem with a period & capital letter, a comma & conjunction, or a semicolon

What is a run-on sentence?

3

A sentence with an independent clause + a dependent clause is called this.

What is a complex sentence?

4

To make sure your subject agrees with your verb, you may have to eliminate these distracting word groups.

What are prepositional phrases?

5

When a reader does not know the meaning of an isolated word, he can use his knowledge of these to get 'in the ballpark." Identify at least 2 parts! 

(Not Context Clues)

What are prefixes, roots, and suffixes?

Literary Texts

1

The general topic of the story is called it's?

Theme

2

The overall, worldly lesson that can be learned from the story; a repeated idea or lesson in a literary text that deals with the author's abstract questions, beliefs, or truths about people or life.

What is theme?

3

Written conversation between two or more characters and identifiable by quotation marks.

What is dialogue?

4

When a character does something 'out of character' for his personality this makes them a ________ character.

Dynamic

5

Name the sections of a plot diagram in order.

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

TDA writing

1

A Thesis statement is also know as your __________?

Answer to the question.

2

One of the main ways students lose focus points on their TDA (Focus on TDA prompt) is by not looking for this.

What is a second question within the prompt?

3

Each Body paragraph should begin with a ________?

Topic Sentence.

4

The explanation for each text quote you cite should follow these guidelines.

What is explain how the quote connects with the thesis statement, making sure the explanation is longer than the quote itself? 

5

What are all the parts of a well constructed Intro paragraph? In order!

Main Idea/Hook + Main Points (Brought up in your body paragraph) + Thesis Statement

Informative Texts

1

Essays can have one or more of these purposes. Tell me "3"

What are to persuade, to inform, and to entertain?

2

Define an argumentative essay.

An opinion that is defended.

3

This feature informs the reader of important words/vocabulary found within the paragraph.

-Glossary -Captions - Index - None of the Above

Glossary

4

A reader of an informative text will miss important details unless he/she reads *these* on a deep level (close reading). List at least 2

What are graphics/figures, sidebars, subtitles, and bolded/italicized words/phrases, background paragraphs?

5

List all 5 Text Structures

What are cause and effect, problem and solution, chronological order, descriptive, Compare & Contrast

Figurative Language

1

Identify the type of figurative language: "It is tough to get much sleep at my grandma's house since she is an early bird."

What is a metaphor?

2

Identify the type of figurative language: " My dad said we will go grocery shopping and get the oil changed while we are out so we can kill two birds with one stone."

What is an idiom?

3

Identify the figurative language: "The hot chocolate warmed Zoe up like a fluffy blanket."

What is simile?

4

Identify the figurative language: "Your budget?  Think about it this way:  You will more likely get to your vacation destination if you draw a map and stick to it.  Same with your money goals."

What is an analogy?

5

Identify the figurative language: "The lifeguard warned the little boys at the beach not to go into the riptide, or they could end up in Davey Jones's locker!"

What is allusion?