Main Idea
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
Lions live in groups called prides. There could be up to thirty lions in a pride. Usually the pride is made up of mostly female lions because the male cubs will go off and start their own pride. The female cubs will stay with the pride they were born to.
Lions live in prides
What is the meaning of the figurative language?
The morning he was supposed to give a presentation in class, Joe woke up with a frog in his throat. ‘You sound awful.’, said Joe's friend Dan. Joe nodded. ‘I'm going to go talk to Miss Parsons about the presentation.’, Joe's voice strained.
His voice is scratchy and hoarse
What is hidden from the reader about Debra?
Debra was walking a big black Labrador along the beach. The dog was unleashed, but he didn't seem to stray far from her. As Debra walked in the sand, the Labrador bounded through the waves. As the dog fell a few feet behind Debra, she called out to him, "Come on, Duke! Come here boy!" Duke barked, ran from the water, and caught Debra quickly. Duke was sopping wet. He started licking Debra and almost knocked her down. Debra laughed and tried to wipe the paw prints off her outfit.
Debra's feelings
Dinosaurs existed about 250 million years ago to 65 million years ago. This era is broken up into three periods known as the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The Triassic Period lasted for 35 million years from 250-205 million years ago. Planet Earth was a very different place back then. All the continents were united to form one huge land mass known as Pangaea. The Jurassic Period was the second phase. The continents began shifting apart. The time scale for this famous period is from 205 to 138 million years ago. The Cretaceous Period was the last period of the dinosaurs. It spanned a time from 138 million to about 65 million years ago. In this period the continents fully separated. However, Australia and Antarctica were still united.
Chronological/Sequential
What part of plot is this?
The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I knew only from stories. The one just outside of town with big blue letters: MANIFEST: A TOWN WITH A RICH PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.
Exposition
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
Blue whales are on the endangered list. While they do not have very many predators, they are killed or injured by large ships. In the 1900's many Blue whales were killed by humans who wanted the oil from their blubber. Finally, in 1966 they became a protected animal.
The Blue Whale is endangered
What is the meaning of the figurative language?
Everyone was looking forward to watching the school play. Caleb kept getting bumped by all the kids filing in. ‘There is no elbow room in here.’, Caleb said to his friend Sara, ‘I feel smushed.’ Just then, Caleb spotted some open space on the bleachers.
There is not enough space
What is revealed to the reader?
Brandon pressed his nose against the glass case. There it was, Death Fighter 6, the latest video game. Brandon had never wanted anything more. Well, he really wanted Death Fighter 5 too, but this was different. The clerk walked over to him and said, "Is there anything that I can get for you, sir?" Brandon asked, "How much is Death Fighter 6?" The employee said, "$59.99 plus tax, like it says there on the rack, sir." Brandon sighed. This news saddened him. He only had $1.87.
The Cretaceous Period was filled with dangerous predators, but two of the most feared hunters were the tyrannosaurs rex and the velociraptor. The tyrannosaurs rex was one of the largest carnivores to ever walk the Earth. He was 20 feet tall and weighed seven tons. His jaws could crush down with 3,000 lbs. of force, enough to smash the bones of his prey. The velociraptor was very small compared to rex. Raptors only stood three feet tall and were seven feet long, weighing merely 35 pounds. But the velociraptor was fast. Scientists think that raptors could run 24 miles per hour and turn on a dime. Both dinosaurs used their jaws to kill prey, but the raptor had a secret weapon: a retractable toe claw that he pulled out like a knife to slash at his prey. Both dinosaurs had eyes on the front of their heads, which helped them track prey. If these two dinosaurs had fought, it would be difficult to say which would win; however since raptors died over ten million years before the first tyrannosaurs was born, scientists don’t believe such a fight ever occurred.
Compare/Contrast
What part of plot is this?
I’m sure the red fern has grown and has completely covered the two little mounds. I know it is still there, hiding its secret beneath those long, red leaves, but it wouldn’t be hidden from me for part of my life is buried there, too. Yes, I know it is still there, for in my heart I believe the legend of the sacred red fern.
Resolution
Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
What is the meaning of the figurative language?
Pete showed up late to work on his group project. There was so much snow that day he had to drive really slowly. When he got to the library he started digging through his bag. ‘I‘m going to take a shot in the dark here; you forgot your book.’ said Ryan. Pete nodded. ‘It's okay, we can share mine.’ said Ryan.
To guess
What is hidden about the trapeze artist?
The trapeze artist stood high on the platform. The whole crowd was silent. He was working without a net. The trapeze artist rubbed his hands on his knees, grabbed the flying trapeze, and sprung into the air. Just as the trapeze had swung its full length, the trapeze artist released his grip and did a triple flip. He narrowly caught a second trapeze bar and swung from it by his legs. The crowd cheered. Another trapeze artist ascended the platform.
His thoughts and feelings
There are many theories about why the dinosaurs vanished from the planet. One theory that many people believe is that a gigantic meteorite smashed into the Earth. Scientists believe that the meteorite was very big and that the impact may have produced a large dust cloud that covered the Earth for many years. The dust cloud may have caused plants to not receive sunlight and the large plant eaters, or herbivores, may have died off, followed by the large meat eaters, or carnivores. This theory may or may not be true, but it is one explanation as to why these giant reptiles no longer inhabit the Earth.
Cause and effect
What part of plot is this?
Darren was falling, still clutching the useless limb as it tore away from the tree. The team watched helplessly as he plummeted toward them. Ten feet up, the ripping wood held suddenly, firm. Darren cried out as the branch lurched violently and swung around in the direction of the house. Crash! The bough slammed into a downstairs window, shattering the glass & tossing the boy like a rag doll back into the Palomino home.
Climax
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
Some pennies are rare and valuable.
What is the meaning of the figurative language?
Michelle and Danielle were finally getting to paint their rooms. Michelle wanted a bright pink room and Danielle wanted blue. ‘What do you think of this shade?’ asked Michelle. ‘It's not my cup of tea, but if that is what you like you should get it.’ said Danielle.
Not something they like
What is hidden from the reader?
As the train pulled into the station, we finally met eyes. We had been avoiding this moment, but it was here now. Tears welled. Words choked. We hugged each other awkwardly before I grabbed my bags and jumped on the train. A chapter had ended. Things would never be the same between us again
How the other person feels
It’s important to think critically about the information that you receive, or else you may be led astray. For example, the brontosaurus is a type of dinosaur that never really existed. Many people still believe in the brontosaurus today, but the “brontosaurus” is actually the body of an apatosaurus with the head of a camarasaurus. This concocted creature was made from two mismatched fossils. Had more people thought critically about these findings, analyzing the components that were presented, entire generations of school children may not have been misinformed; therefore, think critically about the information that people tell you, even if it’s information you find on a book or in a worksheet. Keep these problems in mind when conducting your studies.
Problem and Solution
What part of plot is this?
Once a very kind old man and woman lived in a small house in the hills of Japan. Although they were good people, they were very, very poor, for the old man made his living by weaving the reed hats that farmers used to ward off the sun and rain, and even in a year’s time, he could not sell very many.
Exposition
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
The platypus has strange and unique attributes
What is the meaning of the figurative language?
For some reason Kim was always rude to Shawna, but Shawna never knew why. One day Shawna said to Kim, ‘It seems like we got off on the wrong foot. How about we start fresh?’ Kim thought about it and smiled.
Did not get along
What is hidden from the reader?
Patricia was dreaming of candy when the harsh sound of Mr. Herbert's voice woke her, "No sleeping in class, Patricia!" Her heart was beating fast. She turned around saw Mr. Herbert standing right behind her. This startled her. "Oh my gosh, Mr. Herbert. You didn't have to wake me up so rudely." Mr. Herbert scowled at her and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Is my lesson disturbing your beauty sleep? Get up now or leave!" Patricia felt too groggy to fight so she just said, "Ok, I'm sorry, Mr. Herbert. I'm awake." Mr. Herbert glared at her and continued teaching his lesson.
What Mr. Herbert is thinking
Avalanches (when a lot of snow falls from a mountain) may bury people under them. If the people are not found rapidly enough by rescue teams they will die of suffocation (not getting enough air) or of hypothermia (freezing cold). The chance of surviving an avalanche is as follows:
• 92% if found within 15 minutes
• 30% if found within 35 minutes (victims die of suffocation)
• nearly zero after two hours (victims die of injuries and hypothermia)
Cause and Effect
Throughout out which part of the plot are the conflicts revealed?
Rising action