Literary Devices & Structure
This device gives human traits to nonhuman things. Identify it and give one short example from everyday life.
Personification. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."
What is a direct quote used for in supporting an answer about a text?
A direct quote gives exact wording from the text to support a claim or answer.
What are the three common purposes an author may have for writing a text?
To inform, to persuade, to entertain.
What does the word "explicit" mean?
Clearly stated; not left for inference.
Which punctuation mark ends a declarative sentence?
Which punctuation mark ends a declarative sentence?
Name the type of narrator when the story is told by a character using "I." Provide one brief reason this point of view affects how much the reader knows.
First-person narrator. Reason: The reader only knows what the narrator thinks, feels, and experiences.
Make an inference: Passage — "Jamal left his umbrella at home and came back with a wet backpack and a grin." What can you infer happened?
It probably rained while Jamal was outside; despite being wet, he is happy (maybe he enjoyed the rain).
Define "tone" in one short sentence.
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject or audience as shown through word choice and style.
Use context clues to define the italicized word: Passage: "The stern coach barked instructions, but his players responded with eager determination."
Stern means strict or serious, shown by barking instructions.
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence: "Neither of the students brought ____ book to class." Options: their / his or her
"his or her" (or the singular they if allowed; teach standard: "his or her").
Define "flashback." Read the short passage and identify the sentence that is a flashback: Passage: "Marcus sat on the bench, watching children play. He suddenly remembered how he used to race them down this very hill when he was eight. The memory made him smile."
A flashback is a scene that interrupts the present action to show an event from the past. The flashback sentence: "He suddenly remembered how he used to race them down this very hill when he was eight."
Read the short passage and cite a piece of evidence that supports the idea the character is afraid of failing. Passage: "Sara stayed up until midnight practicing her presentation and rewrote it three times, imagining every question the teacher might ask."
Evidence: "Sara stayed up until midnight practicing her presentation and rewrote it three times."
Read the passage and identify the author's purpose and tone. Passage: "Please recycle your bottles—small steps help the planet breathe easier. Join our campus clean-up this Saturday!"
Purpose: To persuade (encourage action). Tone: Encouraging / upbeat.
Replace the italicized word with a synonym that fits the sentence and explain why: Sentence: "The dilapidated house leaned toward the street."
Synonym: run-down or decrepit — both mean in poor condition and fit the sentence.
Identify the error and correct it: Sentence: "Running down the hall, the trophy fell from the shelf." Answer: Misplaced modifier — it implies the trophy was running.
"While he was running down the hall, the trophy fell from the shelf." (or "As he ran down the hall, the trophy fell from the shelf.")
Explain the difference between plot and theme. Then identify the theme in this short passage: Passage: "After failing the science test, Liya kept studying and asked for help. Months later she passed with confidence and helped a classmate who was struggling."
Plot is the sequence of events; theme is the central message or lesson. Theme: Perseverance / The value of asking for help and persistence.
Explain the difference between a summary and a paraphrase. Then paraphrase this sentence in one short sentence: Original: "The committee voted unanimously to postpone the event until the weather cleared."
Summary shortens main ideas; paraphrase restates the same information in different words. Paraphrase: "The group all agreed to delay the event until the storm passed."
Explain how word choice can reveal the author's bias. Provide a one-sentence example of biased wording about a school rule.
Word choice can show approval or disapproval by using positive or negative connotations. Example: Calling a rule "overbearing" reveals a negative bias; calling it "protective" reveals a positive bias.
Choose the correct meaning of "integrity" in this sentence and explain briefly: Sentence: "Her integrity made her a trusted leader."
Integrity = honesty and strong moral principles; it explains why others trust her.
Rewrite the sentence to combine two short sentences and avoid a comma splice: Original: "She studied all night, she still felt nervous."
Use a semicolon or conjunction (FANBOY): "She studied all night; she still felt nervous." OR "She studied all night, but she still felt nervous."
Describe how structure (chronological vs. nonchronological) can change a reader's understanding. Provide one short example of a text type that commonly uses nonchronological structure.
Chronological structure presents events in order they happen; nonchronological (e.g., flashbacks, framed narratives) can reveal motivations or create suspense by rearranging events. Example: A memoir or mystery often uses nonchronological structure.
Provide two pieces of textual evidence (short quotes or paraphrases) that would support the claim: "The narrator feels isolated." Passage: "He ate by himself, skipped the after-school games, and watched classmates laugh from across the hall."
Evidence 1: "He ate by himself." Evidence 2: "He watched classmates laugh from across the hall." (Both show isolation.)
Given a short editorial excerpt below, identify two persuasive techniques the author uses: Excerpt: "If we don't act now, our neighborhood will lose its only park. Imagine children with nowhere safe to play—will you let that happen?"
Techniques: Appealing to emotion (imagery of children losing park) and call to action / rhetorical question ("will you let that happen?").
Given the sentence, infer the meaning of the italicized word and justify with context: Sentence: "Despite his impromptu speech, the audience responded with rapt attention and applause."
Impromptu = unplanned or spontaneous; context: despite being unprepared, the audience still paid full attention ("rapt") and applauded.
Identify the verb tense and correct it if needed: Sentence: "By the time the show starts, they practiced for weeks."
Tense inconsistency. Correct: "By the time the show starts, they will have practiced for weeks." or if past: "By the time the show started, they had practiced for weeks."