Vocabulary
What word means “to examine carefully in detail”?
Analyze
What is the FIRST thing you should look for when determining theme?
A repeated idea / what the author is saying about a topic.
Who or what the story is about is called the _______.
Character
What do we call the main idea the author wants to communicate?
Central idea
What does it mean when a question asks you to determine a theme or central idea?
Figure it out based on key details in the text
What is the meaning of "infer"?
Use evidence plus reasoning to make a logical guess.
What does it mean to cite strong textual evidence?
Use specific quotes/details that clearly support the claim.
The struggle between opposing forces is called _______.
Conflict
Which text structure compares similarities and differences?
Compare/Contrast
A theme doesn’t appear all at once. What does it mean for a theme to emerge in a text?
It becomes clearer as the story or text continues.
A writer’s word choice is called _______.
Diction
What part of a story reveals how characters change or grow?
Character development
The time and place of a story is the _______.
Setting
What is the purpose of an author using anecdotes?
To illustrate or support a point with a brief story.
What does it mean when a standard says to analyze how an idea develops in a text?
Track how it changes, grows, or becomes more detailed throughout the text.
The emotion or idea associated with a word is its _______.
Connotation
What is an “objective summary”?
A neutral summary with no opinions or personal bias.
A character who does NOT change is called _______.
Static character
Why might an author use statistics?
To provide factual evidence to support a claim.
When the standard says authors refine a central idea, what does that mean?
They make it clearer through added details, examples, or contrasts.
The arrangement of words in a sentence is called _______.
Syntax
How does an author refine a central idea over time?
By adding details, examples, contrasts, or repeated ideas.
A universal message about life is the _______.
Theme
What is the difference between explicit and implicit information?
Explicit = clearly stated
Implicit = implied/inferred
If a question asks you to determine a central idea and analyze how it develops, what TWO things are you expected to do?
Identify the central idea, and
Explain how it emerges, changes, or is clarified over time through details in the text.