Academic Vocabulary
Figurative Language
Grammar
Test Strategies
Writing-Before Reading the Texts
Types of Writing and Writing Structure
Actual Writing
100

This is the definition for the word clarify

To make something clear or easier to understand. 
100

This type of figurative language uses like or as to compare two unlike things.

What is a simile? 

100

Thrill seekers might be interested in learning about the greatest roller coaster in the world.However, finding the greatest roller coaster in the world is challenging. This is because the term “greatest” can be unclear in the world of roller coasters. Researchers examining roller coasters classify it as the fastest, tallest, or the most fun.

What is option A? 

100

When taking the regular ELA portion of the text, you should draw a ________ after the first chunk of text and stop when you get there to check ________________. 

What is a "line" and "your understanding?"

100

You should read this first when taking the writing test.

What is the writing prompt?

100

This type of writing does NOT have a thesis statement or claim.

What is narrative writing?

100

Write a thesis statement for the following prompt: 

You have now read American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Write an essay describing how each character transforms throughout the novel. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

What is Each character transforms throughout the novel? 

OR 

Each character transforms throughout the novel American Born Chinese.

200

This is what the word portray means. 

What is show, illustrate, or depict? 

200

This type of figurative language compares two things without using like or as.

What is a metaphor?

200

What is option C?

200

Asking yourself these two questions and circling the answer can help you write your thesis statement if you know you struggle with recognizing sentence fragments.

What is "who" and "what?"

200

When taking the writing test, you should find and underline this before you start reading the passages. 

What is the magic sentence? 

200

Your introduction (very first paragraph) in an informational or argument essay should include these three parts in this specific order. 

What is hook, bridge, and thesis?

200

Write two possible thesis statements/claims  for the following prompt: 


You have now read The Odyssey by Homer. Write an essay arguing whether or not Odysseus is a hero. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

What is Odysseus is a hero AND Odysseus is not a hero?

300
This is the word that describes sections/groups/chunks of lines in a poem. 

What is a stanza?

300

This type of figurative language uses vivid, descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste) to create images in the reader's mind.

What is imagery? 

300

What is option d?

300

You should stop periodically in your reading and ask yourself if you understand what you are reading. If not, go back and reread and ask yourself these questions. 

What is who, what, where, when, why, how?

300

You should cross these words out from the underlined sentence to help you write your thesis statement. 

What are words that sound like instructions

300

Your body paragraphs should include these three parts in this specific order. 

What is topic sentence, evidence, and analysis?

300

Write a bridge sentence to connect the following hook and thesis statement (text info also provided): 

HOOK: When I first started school, I used to kick and scream in protest because I hated going and didn’t believe school benefitted me.

THESIS: Malala’s decision to stand up for education sparked social change.


PROMPT: You have now read I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. Write an informational essay explaining how Malala’s decision to stand up for education sparked social change. 

What is something like this? 

Malala Yousafzai tells a very different story about going to school in her novel, I Am Malala.

400

This word means to tell or show the difference between two things. 


Ex: It's sometimes hard to  _______ Danny from Greg.  

What is distinguish? 

400

This type of figurative language repeats the beginning sounds of words:


While I nodded, nearly napping...

What is alliteration?

400

What is option A?

400

You should always, always go back to this when answering multiple choice questions. 

What is the text? 

400

You should include this in your notes for the writing test so that you know where to find your evidence/quotes when you actually start writing.

What is a page/paragraph number?

400

What is one strategy for a hook that you can ALWAYS rely on? 

What is a definition? or What is a quote?

400

Write an introduction paragraph that to go along with the following prompt: 

You have read two articles about teen driving: “Should the Driving Age Be Raised to 18?”and “Do Teens Need Graduated Licenses?” Write an essay arguing whether or not the driving age should be raised to 18. Use evidence from both texts to support your answer. Your answer should be written in standard written English.

What is an intro paragraph that looks something like this? 


Many people say that aging comes with power. One power that some people think should come with more age is the power to drive a car. This issue is debated in the texts, "Should the Driving Age Be Raised to 18?" and "Do Teens Need Graduated Licenses?" The driving age should be raised to 18. 

500

This word means to strengthen by adding more support. 

If you see this on a test item, this word implies that the idea that follows it is not new (has been mentioned before or already established)

What is reinforce?

500

This type of figurative language gives human-like qualities to non-human things. 

Ms. Pennell heard the last Mr. Goodbar calling her name.

What is personification? 

500

What is option C?

500

This strategy may work well for other subject areas, but you should avoid doing this on the ELA test unless you have starred or noted a question that you plan to go back to. 

What is second guessing answers?

500

If you get a narrative writing prompt, this is what you should do on scratch paper to take notes as you read.

What is a plot diagram?

500

The third "body" paragraph in an argument essay consists of these four parts in this specific order. 

What is counterclaim, rebuttal, evidence, and analysis?

500

Your paragraph should have the following: 

Counterclaim (what the other side thinks)

Rebuttal (what you think)

Evidence (supports what YOU think)

Analysis (explains why your evidence proves that YOU are right)

600

This is the definition for the word "connotation."

What are all the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests?

600

What is personification, alliteration, metaphor, rhyme, simile.

600

What is option B?

600

If you are struggling to come up with a bridge sentence, you can always rely on doing this.

What is...This connects/relates to {name of text(s) and/or authors}. ?

600

If you get an argument essay on the writing test, you should create this chart before you begin reading the passages.

What is a T-Chart?

600

This is the one thing you MUST do in your conclusion AND the two other things that help make it stronger. 

What is restating the thesis, summarizing the main points, and including a lasting statement?

600

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