Reading
What is the difference between theme and main idea?
Main idea is what a text is mostly about and is specific to each story. Theme is a lesson or moral of a story and many stories share the same theme.
What is a simile?
A comparison using "like" or "as."
What does ACES stand for?
Answer, Cite, Explain & Expand, Summarize
What should you do first when you read a question?
Read it carefully and underline keywords.
What should you write on your scrap paper immediately at the start of the test?
Helpful reminders like grammar rules, sentence starters, or test strategies.
What is the difference between explicit and implicit details in a text?
Explicit details are directly stated; implicit details require inferences.
What kind of figurative language is "The classroom was a zoo"?
A metaphor
What should you do after including a quote in your writing?
Explain how it supports your claim.
When you’re stuck between two answers, what strategy should you use?
Eliminate clearly wrong answers first.
How can you use scrap paper to help with text evidence questions?
Jot down brief quotes or keywords from the passage.
When identifying the author’s purpose, what are the three most common reasons an author writes?
To persuade, inform, or entertain.
If you encounter an unfamiliar word on the ISAT, what can you do?
Use context clues, look for prefixes/suffixes, or check nearby sentences.
When making a claim, how many pieces of evidence should you include?
At least 2-3 strong pieces.
If you have extra time at the end of the ISAT, what should you do?
Review your answers and check for mistakes.
If you’re working on paired passages (compare and contrast), how could you organize your scrap paper?
Use a Venn diagram, thinking map, or T-chart to compare and contrast the texts.
In a fiction passage, how can you use scrap paper to track character traits?
Create a T-chart with the character’s name and their traits.)
What type of figurative language uses exaggeration for effect?
Hyperbole
What’s a counterclaim?
The opposing viewpoint to your argument.
How can annotating the text help you?
It helps you locate evidence and understand the main idea.
When solving a vocabulary question, how can you use scrap paper?
Write the word, break it into parts, and guess the meaning.
What does it mean to analyze how the setting impacts the plot?
Explain how the time and place influence the events, characters, and conflicts.
How can you use scrap paper to decode unknown words?
Write the word, break it into parts (prefix, root, suffix), and guess its meaning.
When using scrap paper for writing, what’s one way to stay organized?
Create a quick outline with thesis, evidence, and explanations.
What’s the benefit of rereading a passage before answering questions?
You can catch details you missed and make stronger inferences.
During a writing question, how can scrap paper help you with organization?
Create a mini outline with claim, evidence, and explanation.