Central Idea
What is the difference between the topic of a text and the central idea?
Answer: The topic is the general subject (e.g., dogs), and the central idea is the author's main point/argument about the topic (e.g., Dogs make excellent therapy animals).
What is the main purpose of a glossary in a textbook?
To provide definitions for key or technical terms used within the text.
Identify the text structure: "Due to the factory closing, many residents experienced an increase in personal debt."
Cause and Effect (Signal words: "Due to," "experienced").
Identify the type of figurative language: "The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up."
Personification (Giving the clock the human ability to scream).
A student argues they should get an extension on a paper because they have never missed a deadline and currently have a 98% in the class. Which appeal are they using?
Ethos (Appeals to their credibility and reliable track record).
Name two types of supporting details an author might use to prove their central idea.
Answer: Facts, statistics, examples, expert quotes, anecdotes.
If you see a word written in bold or italics in the middle of a paragraph, what does this usually signal to the reader?
It signals that the word is important, a key term, or is being specifically defined or emphasized.
Name three signal words that typically indicate a Compare and Contrast text structure.
Similarities: Both, also, similarly, just as. Differences: Unlike, however, in contrast, on the other hand.
What is the main difference between a Simile and a Metaphor?
A Simile uses the words "like" or "as" for comparison; a Metaphor makes a direct comparison without "like" or "as."
A company's website shows a chart demonstrating that 9 out of 10 dentists recommend their brand of toothpaste. Which appeal is dominant?
Logos (Uses statistics/numerical evidence).
A text argues, "Electric cars are the future of transportation." Identify this statement as the topic, supporting detail, or central idea.
Central Idea (It is the main argument/thesis about the topic of electric cars).
Which text feature would you look at to quickly find out where the "Conclusion" chapter begins in a book?
The Table of Contents.
If an essay is detailing the steps to bake a loaf of bread, what is the structure, and what is the primary purpose?
Sequential/Chronological/Order of Importance. The purpose is to explain how to do something or how a process works.
Identify the type of figurative language and define it: "My feet are killing me."
Hyperbole. It is an extreme exaggeration used to emphasize a strong feeling (in this case, pain).
A political speech features sad music and shows images of neglected neighborhoods, urging the audience to donate to a community revitalization fund. Which appeal is the speaker relying on?
Pathos (Aims to elicit sympathy/sadness to drive action).
An author's purpose is to persuade readers to recycle. How might the central idea differ from a text where the author's purpose is simply to inform readers about recycling?
A persuasive central idea will contain an opinion/call to action (e.g., We must mandate public recycling), while an informative one will be a neutral statement (e.g., Recycling reduces landfill use).
You are reading a science article. It has a section separated from the main column of text that contains supplementary, interesting but non-essential facts. What is this feature called?
A Sidebar.
Describe the difference between a Chronological structure and a Problem and Solution structure.
Chronological orders events by time; Problem/Solution identifies a specific issue and then details proposed fixes, often using an organizational structure other than just time order.
Explain the effect of using figurative language in a poem or story (why do authors use it?).
It makes the writing more vivid, imaginative, engaging, and memorable. It helps the reader connect to the emotion or idea being expressed.
You are debating the school uniform policy. You cite a district study that shows a 25% decrease in bullying incidents since uniforms were implemented. Which appeal are you using, and why is it effective?
Logos. It is effective because it uses a measurable, objective statistic to prove a cause-and-effect relationship.