Context Clues
The arid desert made it difficult for plants to grow. The word 'arid' most likely means this.
What is dry?
This nonfiction text feature uses bars, lines, or pie shapes to present data or information visually.
What is a graph/chart?
A biography that starts with someone's birth and ends with their achievements is an example of this organizational pattern.
What is chrononlogical?
Samantha's eyes widened as she opened the envelope, and a big smile spread across her face,' you can infer this about the contents of the envelope.
What is it contained good news or something exciting?
Unlike the plot, the theme of a story focuses on this.
What is the main message/lesson/moral?
In the word 'preview,' the prefix 'pre-' means this.
What is before?
After running the marathon, James was utterly fatigued. The word 'fatigued' means this.
What is tired/exhausted?
If you wanted to quickly find information about 'Healthy Eating Tips' in a long article, you would look at these.
What is headings?
A nonfiction text about pollution explaining how littering leads to water contamination uses this organizational pattern.
What is cause and effect?
She carefully wrapped the fragile glass vase in bubble wrap before putting it in the box. You can infer this about the vase.
What is it might break easily?
If a story shows characters working together to overcome a challenge, the theme might focus on this.
What is teamwork or cooperation?
The suffix '-able' in 'readable' means this.
What is capable or or able to be?
The heavy, ominous clouds made us rush indoors before the storm hit. The word 'ominous' most likely means this.
What is threatening/dark/doomy?
This part of a nonfiction book lists the chapters in the order they appear and often includes page numbers.
What is the table of contents?
An article discussing the similarities and differences between cats and dogs is organized using this pattern.
What is compare and contrast?
Maria sighed and stared out the window as the rain poured down. You can infer this about Maria's mood.
What is she is bored or sad?
In a story where a character is rewarded for helping others, the theme might focus on this.
What is kindness/generosity?
The root word in 'undo' is this.
What is do?
The chef's meticulous attention to detail made every dish perfect. The word 'meticulous' means this.
What is careful/precise?
If you don’t know the meaning of a bolded word, you should check this text feature."
What is the glossary?
An article about reducing plastic waste by recycling and using reusable bags uses this pattern.
What is problem and solution?
She was often seen carrying heavy books and staying late at the library. You can infer this about the character.
What is she is hardworking/studious?
Clues about the theme can often be found in this part of the story, where the characters’ problems are resolved.
What is the resolution?
The word 'misunderstood' has this prefix.
What is mis-?
Despite their pleas, the ruler remained adamant and refused to change his mind. The word 'adamant' means this.
What is stubborn/unyielding?
A text feature that provides extra information or a quick fact in the margin is called this.
What is a sidebar?
A paragraph describing a tiger’s appearance, habitat, and diet uses this organizational pattern.
What is description/main idea?
If you see someone at a store with a shopping cart full of bottled water and canned food, you can infer this about what they are preparing for.
What is an emergency/storm?
Themes are often revealed through this part of a story, where characters face challenges or learn lessons.
What is the conflict?
The word 'biologist' has this suffix, which tells you it means a person who studies life.
What is -ist?