Things Good Readers Do and Know
Parts of Speech
Figurative Language
Poetry
Open Response
100

What does a good reader read before beginning an MCAS passage?

The directions, italics, all multiple choice questions, and the open response question.

100
What part of speech is a person, place, idea or thing?
A noun.
100
What is a form of figurative language that compares two things and does not use the words "like" or "as" EXAMPLE: Love is a beautiful rose.
Metaphor
100
Just like prose is chunked in paragraphs, poems are chunked into these
stanzas
100
What should the first sentence (topic sentence) of your open response should do?
T.T.Q.A. It should turn the question around.
200

What does a good reader highlight in the questions and the text?

For a question, underline what the question is asking. In the text, highlight the answers to questions. Good readers DO NOT highlight random sentences or words that do not answer questions.

200

What do we call a word that needs an 's, example...The Baker's mascot is a bobcat.

possessive

200
What is a form of figurative language that directly compares two things by using the words "like" or "as"? EXAMPLE: Her eyes sparkle like diamonds.
Similes
200

What do we call the message of a poem?

Theme

200
How many pieces of evidence or support should you include in your open response?
At least three.
300
What are the story elements?
Characters, Setting, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution
300

What is the predicate in the following sentence: The child thought about her dog all day.

thought (to think)

300
What is a form of figurative language that gives human traits to objects, animals or ideas? EXAMPLE: The rain danced on the roof all night long.
Personification
300
What is the author's tone or attitude in this poem and how do you know? His bark breaks the sound barrier His nose is as cold as an ice box A wag of a tail you will never see His jumping causes falling rocks He eats a mountain of food that costs a fortune Growls are how he greet you Can you take him with you
The author's tone is annoyed because the author is stating that the dog barks loud, he's mean, he's obnixous, he costs a lot to own, and he wants to give him away.
300

Name a pre-writing activity that will help you organize your thoughts before you begin writing your open response.

2 column notes

400
Name the three reasons why an author writes something (author's purpose):
1. to persuade 2. to inform 3. to entertain Easy as P.I.E.
400
What part of speech is the words "around and into" in the following sentence? The dog ran around the tree and into the house.
Preposition
400
What is obvious and intentional exaggeration? EXAMPLE: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
hyperbole
400
What is the name of the poetry device which begins two or more consecutive words with the same letter and sound? EXAMPLE: Two terrible tigers tortured two tiny turtles.
alliteration
400
T.T.Q.A. the following MCAS open response prompt: Based on the article, describe how roller coasters have changed over time. Support your answer with important details from the article.
Roller coasters have changed over time.
500

Name 4 elements you should include while writing an essay.

5 paragraphs, introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion, text evidence, text talk, non-negotiables, etc.

500
How many conjuctions are in the following sentence? The teacher and I worked on MCAS multiple choice and essay writing, but I forgot to use my strategies during the test either Wednesday or Thursday.
Four conjunctions
500
What do you call a word that imitates (sounds like) the sound it represents? EXAMPLE: buzz, bang, crackle, pop
onomatopoeia
500
Matching the final sound in two or more words is called? Example: rose, hose, doze, toes
rhyme
500
It is important that your open response has evidence from the text in "QUOTES", but the whole point is for you to explain HOW your evidence proves your answer. What sentence frames can you use to create this balance?
According to the passage in paragraph ______ , it states "_____________________." This shows that _________________________________.
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