Informational Text
What is the main idea of a text?
The most important point or message the author wants readers to understand.
What does “author’s purpose” mean?
The reason the author wrote the text (to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain).
The word plant comes from the Latin root planta, which means a young shoot or sprout. It can mean a living organism that grows in the ground or an object placed somewhere intentionally. Answer the following question.
How is it used in the following sentence? “She placed the plant carefully on the table.”
(A) living organism (B) object placed intentionally
What is a claim?
The writer’s main argument or position on a topic.
What does every complete sentence need?
A subject and a predicate.
What does it mean to use text evidence?
Using quotes or details from the text to support your answer or claim.
How can the author’s word choice shape meaning?
It affects the tone (how the author feels) and the mood (how readers feel or think about the topic.)
The word conduct comes from the Latin root conducere, which means to lead together. It can mean a person’s behavior or the act of carrying/leading something (like electricity).
How is it used in the following sentence? “The scientist conducted electricity through the wire.” (A) behavior (B) carrying/leading something
What is evidence in an argumentative text?
Facts, examples, or expert opinions that support the claim.
What are the FANBOYS used for?
Coordinating conjunctions to join two independent clauses.
What question helps you find the main idea?
“What is this mostly about?”
What are the three main types of author's purpose?
Persuade, Inform, and Entertain.
The word produce comes from the Latin root producere, which means to lead or bring forth. It can mean to create/present something (like a play) or to manufacture/make goods.
How is it used in the following sentence? “The farmer sells fresh produce at the market.” (A) create/present (B) manufacture/make goods
What does it mean to support your response?
Use text evidence and reasoning to back up your ideas.
noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, and adverb.
What are supporting details?
Facts, examples, or explanations that back up the main idea.
Why do author's use text features? What is an example of a text feature an author might use?
To show us information in a different way.
Possible answers:
Picture, Caption, Text Box, Bolded word, Subheading, etc.
The word address comes from the Latin root directus, which means straight or guided. It can mean to speak to someone directly or a location/place.
How is it used in the following sentence? “Please write your address on the envelope.” (A) speak to someone (B) location/place
What is a counterargument?
An opposing view that challenges the writer’s claim.
What is an independent clause?
A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is one strategy to summarize informational text?
Identify who/what, the most important events or ideas, and leave out unnecessary details.
What does tone mean in a text?
The author’s attitude toward the topic or audience.
The word draft comes from the Old English dragan, which means to draw or pull. It can mean selecting someone for a team or a preliminary version of writing.
How is it used in the following sentence? “I need to revise the first draft of my essay.”
(A) selecting someone (B) preliminary version of writing
Why is evidence important in an argument?
It makes the argument believable and convincing.
What are homophones? Give an example.
Homophones are two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling, for example: new and knew.