Main Idea and Theme
What is another way to describe the main idea?
The main idea is what the passage or reading section is mainly about.
The restaurant was formal, so I bought a new suit. What does "formal" mean?
upscale, dressy
The boy lingered in the stands after the concert. He was hoping to watch the band members pack up. What does "lingered" mean?
stayed
Read the passage below and identify the text structure:
John didn’t know what to take to school for Show and Tell. He asked his mother for an idea. She suggested he take the ribbon his dog won at the pet parade.
Problem and solution
DAILY DOUBLE!!!
Identify the type of literary technique in the following definition:
A figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words.
Irony
What is the theme of a story?
The theme of a story is the lesson or moral that the author wants us to remember and apply in our own lives.
The student strives to get an A on the test. What does "strives" mean?
try or tries
My objective was to get to work on time each day, so I would not get fired. What does "objective" mean?
goal
DAILY DOUBLE!!!
Read the passage below and identify the text structure:
Gina was sad. Her dog had died the night before, and she couldn't think straight this morning. She had a big math test to take, but she just couldn't focus. She failed the test with a 47.
Cause and effect
Identify the type of literary technique in the following definition:
A warning of a future event to come.
Foreshadow
We read a story called, "The Landlady". This story was about a young man who goes to stay at a boarding house, and he discovers that the lady who owns the boarding house was initially very friendly, but in the end she exhibited some very strange qualities. What was the overall theme of this story?
People are not always what they appear to be.
The girl had a very distinct way of dressing. She did not dress like the rest of the crowd. What does "distinct" mean?
different
DAILY DOUBLE!!!
Our hockey team was far superior than any other team in the league. We had not lost a game yet! What does "superior" mean?
the best
Identify the text structure used in the following:
A set of directions on how to bake a cake.
Sequence
Identify the type of literary technique in the following definition:
A sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past.
Flashback
We read a story about a family who acquired a monkey's paw which would give them three wishes. Their wishes did not turn out as they had hoped. What was the theme of this story?
Be careful what you wish for.
The continuous pounding of the hammers gave me a headache. It seemed like they had been working on the new ramp for days. What does "continuous" mean?
non-stop
Identify the text structure in the passage below:
Living in space is very different from living on Earth. On Earth we experience gravity, which is the force that pulls things towards Earth. However, in space gravity is much weaker. On Earth objects stay where they are put, while in space objects float unless they are tied down. If you throw a ball on Earth, gravity will make the ball drop back to the ground. In space, though, the ball would continue to move without falling.
Compare and contrast
Identify the type of literary technique in the following definition:
A comparison of two things that does not use the words, 'like', or 'as'.
Metaphor
What is the difference between the main idea of a story and the theme of a story?
The main idea is mostly what the story is about (a short summary). The theme is the life lesson or moral that the author wants us to remember. It may have nothing to do with the details of the story itself.
The town is so rural that most of the residents are cows! What does "rural" mean?
country
Keep your speech concise to save time. We have many students who need to present their reports. What does "concise" mean?
short
Identify the text structure in the passage below:
My alarm clock was set for PM instead of AM, so I woke up really late. I just threw on some clothes and ran out the door. I rode my bike as fast as I could, and when I got to school, I was tardy.
Chronological
DAILY DOUBLE!!!
Identify the type of literary technique in the following definition:
The writer or speaker refers either directly or indirectly to a person, event, or thing in history, or to a work of art or literature.
Allusion