Audience and Imagery
How does imagery help readers understand a text better?
To help the reader feel like they are there.
Why is it important to predict when reading non-fiction?
It is important because it helps you stay focused and think ahead about what might happen.
Name one type of organizational pattern used in non-fiction texts.
Problem and solution, cause and effect, list, compare and contrast, chronological, boxes and bullets.
What does it mean to summarize a text?
To briefly retell the main points of the text in your own words.
What does it mean to use evidence in a non-fiction text?
It means to use facts, examples, or quotes to support your ideas.
Why might an author use imagery when writing about a tornado?
To help the reader visualize the tornado, by helping them see it, feel it, hear it, and smell it.
What clues in a text can help you make a good prediction?
Clues like headings, key details, and pictures can help you make a good prediction.
What organizational pattern did you see in Tornado and Tsunami?
Comparing and Contrast
What are the key components of a good summary?
Main ideas, key details, and no personal opinions.
Why is it important to support your ideas with evidence?
It shows that your ideas are based on facts and are trustworthy.
How can you visualize the information presented in a non-fiction text?
You can visualize it by paying attention the details and looking at pictures.
How can you find the central idea in a paragraph?
Look for the main point the author is trying to make, usually in the topic sentence or repeated ideas.
Why do authors make claims in their writing?
Because a claim is the main idea or argument they will be writing about.
What does it mean to synthesize information from a text?
To combine different ideas from a text to form a new understanding.
What does it mean to make an inference while reading?
It means to figure out something that isn’t directly stated by using clues from the text.
What clues in a text can help you determine the audience?
Looking at the title, pictures, and the way it's worded.
Why is understanding the central idea important when reading?
It helps you understand the main point the author is trying to communicate.
Can you give an example of a claim made in a non-fiction article?
"Tsunamis are more dangerous than tornadoes because they cause widespread destruction."
Can you give an example of how you would synthesize information from two different articles on the same topic?
I could read one article about tornadoes and another about tsunamis, then combine the facts to understand how both natural disasters affect people differently.
How can you use clues from the text to make an inference?
Look at details and think about what they suggest beyond what’s directly written.
Why might an author write differently for children than for adults?
Because children and adults are different audiences and have different interests.
What is the central idea of the non-fiction article “How to Survive a Blizzard”?
The central idea is how to stay safe and survive during a blizzard by being prepared and following safety tips.
What evidence might an author use to support their claim?
Facts, statistics, expert opinions, or examples from the text.
What is the difference between summarizing and synthesizing?
Summarizing is retelling the main points; synthesizing is combining ideas to create a new understanding.
Can you make an inference based on the following sentence: "The ground was wet and muddy, but no rain had fallen"?
Someone or something must have spilled water or caused the ground to get wet.