Historical Fiction & Nonfiction
Esperanza Rising
Poetry & Figurative Language
Story Elements
Argument & Writing Skills
100

When you compare and contrast two texts, what should you do?

Possible answers:

Look for similarities & differences

Summarize both texts

100

What do the roses planted in the family’s grotto stand for, in Esperanza’s thinking?

Papa's love and care for Esperanza

Her memory of Papa and life in Mexico

100

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Sugar is sweet

And so are you

Which lines use rhymes to create a pattern of sounds?

Lines 2 and 4

100

What is a monologue?

In a story or play, it is a long passage spoken by one character.

100

What is one key element in the introduction of a persuasive essay?

A claim statement

200

Describe historical fiction

It includes both historical facts and imagined details.

200

How does background knowledge help readers understand and enjoy a novel like Esperanza Rising?

Acceptable answers:

It helps readers predict what might happen next

It helps readers relate to characters and their problems

It helps readers understand the plot

200

Explain the difference between connotation and denotation

Connotation is the feeling provided by a word, while denotation is the literal definition of the word.

200

How do you know that something is written in second-person point of view?

Texts written in second-person point of view either use the word you explicitly, or the you is understood in a suggestion or a command.

200

What type of writing style is appropriate for a persuasive essay - formal or informal?

Formal

300

What purpose does textual evidence serve in a nonfiction essay?

It gives examples or evidence of the author's big idea for readers.

300

How does Miguel respond to the new workers from Oklahoma, to whom he loses his position in the machine shop during the chapter called “Los Duraznos: Peaches”?

He does not blame them because everyone must work to support their families.
300

Name a feature of poetry that helps readers imagine scenes or objects.

Some possible answers:

similes

sensory details

metaphors

300

How does precise language help characterize setting?

Precise language provides readers with an imaginative experience of the setting.

300

What is one way to figure out the meaning of a multiple-meaning word that you read or hear?

Listen to or look for words and phrases around the word to gather clues

400

What is a MAIN difference between informational articles and short stories?

Informational texts explain ideas directly while short stories show them using characters and plot.

400

 In Esperanza Rising, how do Esperanza and Miguel resolve their disagreement before Miguel's sudden departure?

Esperanza learns why Miguel took the money she had saved.

400

If someone tells you that your poem needs more images, what could you add?

Sensory details

400


In which part of a story are plot complications most likely to occur?

Rising action

400

What is sentence variety?

Sentence variety is using different kinds of sentences in one piece of writing. The sentences can differ, or vary, in terms of length, complexity, or how they begin. 

Using various sentence types can help your ideas flow more smoothly and make your writing easier and more pleasant to read.

500

What type of information might appear in a personal letter about a historical event?

A personal account of the event

Personal thoughts and feelings about the event

500

Which conflict do you think is most important in Esperanza Rising? Explain why you think it is the central conflict, and identify a plot complication that characters must face before it can be resolved.  

Some possible answers:

Esperanza’s struggle to adjust to her new life after losing her wealthy lifestyle in Mexico 

When Mama becomes sick with Valley Fever

500

What is the difference between a persona poem and one that simply uses personification?

A persona poem is written from the point of view of a character or speaker who is different from the poet. It uses "I."

 Personification is when a writer gives human qualities or actions to animals, objects, or ideas.

500

Why should authors imply some of a story’s details, instead of stating everything directly?

So that the reader can make their own inferences and conclusions

500

Why are transitions important in writing?

Possible answers:

They help ideas connect smoothly so the reader can easily follow the writer’s thinking. 

They show relationships between ideas - like cause and effect, contrast, or sequence - so the writing doesn’t feel choppy or confusing.

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