Reading Literature
The message or lesson an author wants readers to learn from a literary text is called the ___.
What is the theme?
The most important idea that a nonfiction text is mainly about is called the ___.
What is the central idea?
A sentence that clearly states the main idea of an essay is called a ___.
What is a thesis statement?
Understanding how a text is organized helps in analyzing its meaning. What is the term for the organization of a text, such as cause-effect, problem-solution, or chronological order?
What is text structure?
When analyzing two literary texts, students should examine elements such as plot structure and use of literary devices. What are these elements collectively known as?
What are literary elements?
A character who undergoes significant internal change is known as a ___.
What is a dynamic character?
Features like headings, subheadings, and captions help you locate key information and are called ___.
What are text features?
Words like "first," "next," and "finally" help organize writing and are examples of ___.
What are transition words?
A nonfiction text that explains how things are similar and different uses what structure?
What is compare and contrast?
Before starting the NJSLA ELA assessment, students should spend a few minutes previewing all questions, reading the reading tasks, and using scrap paper to organize their writing space. What is this initial step called?
What is test previewing/previewing the test?
When an author hints at future events in the plot, it's called ___.
What is foreshadowing?
When an author uses facts and examples to back up their opinion or claim, they are providing ___.
What is evidence?
A word that joins two independent clauses correctly (like “and,” “but,” or “so”) is a ___.
What is a conjunction?
A text that explains reasons and results is using what kind of structure?
What is cause and effect?
To assess a student's ability to analyze multiple informational texts and synthesize information to write an explanatory or argumentative response.
What is the objective of a research simulation task?
When you use clues in the text and your own thinking to understand what’s not directly stated, you’re making a(n) ___.
What is an inference?
The reason an author writes a text—whether to inform, persuade, or entertain—is called the ___.
What is the author's purpose?
Choosing just the right word to match the tone or audience in a piece of writing is called ___.
What is word choice?
Authors may employ varying structures, such as flashbacks or multiple perspectives, to explore similar themes, offering diverse insights and emphasizing different aspects of the theme in what type of structure?
What is narrative?
To evaluate a student's ability to read and analyze two literary texts and compose an analytical response that compares themes, characters, or other literary elements.
What is the purpose of a literary analysis task?
When a story is told from a character’s perspective using “I” or “we.”
What is first person point of view/narrative?
When two texts share a topic but explain it differently, comparing those differences shows your understanding of ___.
What is authors point of view or perspective?
When you address the opposite side of your argument in an essay, it’s called a ___.
What is a counterclaim?
Name at least two common elements students should analyze when comparing two literary texts.
What is/are: themes, character development, plot structure, and the use of literary devices?
Authors may employ varying structures, such as flashbacks or multiple perspectives, to explore similar themes, offering diverse insights and emphasizing different aspects of the theme in what type of structure?
What is narrative structure?