Theme
What is the theme?
The lesson or message about life that the author wants you to learn, not just what the story is about.
What is the main idea?
Tells you what a paragraph or whole text is mostly about.
What is an inference?
Using clues from the text + what u already know.
Which structure explains the reasons why something happened?
Cause and Effect.
True or False: The title of a book can give you a clue about the main idea
True.
In a story, a character acts selfishly and loses all their friends. What is a likely theme?
"It's better to share/be kind
Which part of a paragraph usually contains the main idea?
The Topic Sentence (usually the first one).
"Sara came inside, shaking and dripping water." What can you infer?
It is raining or she is wet.
What structure tells events in order, using words like first, next, or finally?
Sequence.
If a paragraph is about taking care of a cat, which sentence does NOT belong?
Cats need water
Cats like to sleep
I want a bike
I want a bike
A character works super hard, fails, but tries again until they succeed. What theme does this show?
perseverance/never giving up
If a paragraph talks about how dogs need walks, food, and grooming, what is the main idea?
Dogs require a lot of care.
A character slams their locker door shut and stomps down the hallway. What can you infer about how they feel
(Come on you Know this)
They are mad or upset.
A text explains the issue of littering and offers ways to fix it. What structure is this?
Problem and Solution.
What is a good trick to find the main idea if you are stuck?
Try to look for words that are repeated over and over
True or False: The theme is usually a one-word answer like "friendship."
False (It's a full lesson, like "Friendship requires trust").
What do you call the sentences that explain, prove, or expand on the main idea?
Supporting Details.
You walk into the cafeteria and see pizza boxes on the counter. What can you infer about lunch today?
They are serving pizza
What structure shows how a shark and a dolphin are similar and different?
Compare and Contrast.
If a text gives three reasons why recess should be longer, what is the main idea?
Recess needs to be longer. DUH
What is the difference between a theme and the main idea?
Theme is a lesson, Main Idea is what the story is about.
How is a summary different from the main idea?
A summary includes the main idea PLUS the most important supporting details in a shorter form.
What do you call the exact words in the text that support your inference?
Textual Evidence.
What text structure uses sensory details to explain what something looks like?
Description.
If you write a summary of a chapter, should you include your own opinion ?
No, only the facts from the text.
Tip: if you do this you may not fail Mrs. Blackman's class