"What's the Point?" (Central Idea & Theme)
This is the main message or life lesson an author wants the reader to learn.
Theme
The sentence below contains what kind of error and how can it be fixed?
Next week I am taking the English II EOC I know I will do great.
Run - On Sentence
Next week I am taking the English II EOC, and I know I will do great.
Next week I am taking the English II EOC; I know I will do great.
These are the words or sentences around an unknown word that help you figure out its meaning.
Context Clues
What kind of connotation do the following words have?
eerie, creaking, pitch black
Spooky/Scary
This appeal uses logic, facts, and statistics to convince the audience.
Logos
This is a one-sentence statement that summarizes what the entire passage is mostly about.
Which of the following is a reliable source for a research paper about the Vietnam Memorial construction?
A. an interview with a relative who has visited the Vietnam War Memorial
B. a documentary about how the Vietnam War Memorial was created and built
C. a podcast by a Vietnam War veteran who was at the opening of the memorial
B. a documentary about how the Vietnam War Memorial was created and built
This is a word that means the same, or nearly the same, as another word.
Synonym
The author’s attitude toward their subject, such as "sarcastic," "serious," or "playful."
Tone
This appeal aims for the heart, using emotions like pity, fear, or joy to win people over.
Pathos
To find the central idea, you should look at the first and last sentences of a paragraph, which are often called these.
Topic Sentences/Concluding Sentences
A high school senior is researching possible career paths. Which question would best guide the student’s research?
A. What is the most highly paid computer programming job?
B. What careers will be in the most demand in the next five years?
C. What career choices are most popular among college students?
B. What careers will be in the most demand in the next five years?
This is a word that means the opposite of another word.
Antonym
The feeling a reader gets from a text, often created by the setting or atmosphere.
Mood
This appeal focuses on the credibility or character of the speaker—why should we trust them?
Ethos
This term refers to the specific facts, examples, or statistics an author uses to prove their point.
Supporting Evidence
What is a reliable source? Give one example.
A reliable source is one that is well researched and does not include personal bias.
Examples: News stories, scientific journals, interviews, documentaries, reference materials, etc.
The Sentence: "Even though the rest of the team was jubilant after the win, Marcus felt incredibly sad and sat alone on the bench."
The Clue: The words "Even though" and "sad" tell us that Marcus feels the opposite of the team.
The Question: Based on the context, what does jubilant mean?
Extremely happy
The moral, message, or lesson of a story is called the _____________.
Theme
"As a doctor with 20 years of experience, I recommend this treatment." This is an example of which appeal?
Ethos
This is a conclusion you reach based on evidence from the text and your own background knowledge, even if the author doesn't say it directly.
Inference
A student is writing about working from home. Which of the following research questions would most help to narrow the topic appropriately?
A. Which companies have the best remote work policies?
B. How has remote work changed over time?
C. What factors influence an employee's desire to work from home, as opposed to in the office?
C. What factors influence an employee's desire to work from home, as opposed to in the office?
The Sentence: "The explorer found the cave to be perilous, filled with slippery rocks, steep drops, and loose stones that could fall at any moment."
The Clue: The list following the word (slippery rocks, steep drops) describes things that are dangerous.
The Question: Based on the context, what does perilous mean?
Dangerous
List the three main Author's Purposes within writing.
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
A commercial showing a sad, shivering puppy in a rainstorm to get you to donate money is primarily using this.
Pathos