Vocabulary
Define main idea in your own words.
What the text is mostly about.
Name 2 ways to find the main idea.
Look at the title or first sentence – It often tells what the passage is mostly about.
Find repeated ideas – If the same idea comes up more than once, it's probably the main idea.
Explanation:
The main idea is what the text is mostly about. Authors usually give hints by repeating it or putting it at the beginning or end of a paragraph.
What is a sentence fragment?
A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, so it doesn't express a complete idea.
Example of a Fragment:
Because he was tired.
(This is not a complete sentence—it leaves you wondering what happened because he was tired?)
Corrected Sentence:
Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
(Now it has a subject, verb, and complete thought.)
Think of a sentence fragment as an incomplete puzzle—some important pieces are missing!
Fix the errors: “i saw my friend on monday at the mall.”
Corrected:
I saw my friend on Monday at the mall.
Explanation for the Answer Key:
"i" should be capitalized → I
"monday" is a proper noun (day of the week) → Monday
What are 2 things a summary should include?
Answer:
A summary should include the main idea and the most important supporting details.
Explanation:
A summary briefly retells the key points of a text without including every detail. Including the main idea helps focus on the overall message, and supporting details give essential information that explains or supports that idea.
Which term means "a piece of information that supports the main idea"?
Supporting detail.
What clue words help you figure out sequence in a text?
Answer:
Clue words for sequence include: first, next, then, after, before, finally, and last.
Explanation:
These words help you understand the order of events in a passage so you can follow what happened step-by-step.
What is wrong with this sentence: I love reading books I never want to stop.
This is a run-on sentence because it connects two complete thoughts without the right punctuation or a connecting word.
Fixed versions:
With punctuation: I love reading books. I never want to stop.
With a conjunction: I love reading books, and I never want to stop.
Explanation:
Each part could stand alone as a sentence, so they need to be separated correctly.
Choose the right word: “Their/There/They’re dog got loose near they’re/their house.”
Sentence:
Their dog got loose near their house.
Explanation for the Answer Key:
Their = shows possession → Their dog (the dog belongs to them)
Their (again) = shows possession → their house (the house belongs to them)
Common Mistakes to Watch For:
There = refers to a place (e.g., over there)
They’re = contraction of they are
Why shouldn’t you copy the text word-for-word in a summary?
Answer:
You shouldn’t copy the text word-for-word because a summary needs to be in your own words to show understanding.
Explanation:
Copying word-for-word is called plagiarism and doesn’t demonstrate that you truly grasp the material. Paraphrasing the main ideas in your own words shows comprehension and respects the original author’s work.
Define “sequence.”
Answer:
Sequence means the order in which events happen.
Explanation:
It tells you what comes first, next, and last in a story or passage. Knowing the sequence helps you understand how things happen and why.
Make an inference: He turned off the TV, grabbed his backpack, and rushed out the door.
Sample Inference:
He was late for school or an appointment.
Explanation:
The sentence doesn't say he's late, but based on his actions (turning off the TV quickly and rushing out), you can infer that he's in a hurry to get somewhere important.
Fix the run-on: “She likes music she sings every day.”
Corrected Versions:
She likes music. She sings every day. (Two separate sentences)
She likes music, and she sings every day. (Use a comma and a conjunction)
Because she likes music, she sings every day. (Use a subordinating conjunction)
Add commas to this sentence: “We bought apples oranges grapes and bananas.”
Corrected Sentence:
We bought apples, oranges, grapes, and bananas.
Explanation for the Answer Key:
Commas are added between items in a list.
The Oxford comma (before "and bananas") is optional in some styles, but it's commonly taught and accepted for clarity.
What’s the first sentence in a summary supposed to say?
Answer:
The first sentence in a summary should state the main idea or the topic of the text.
Explanation:
Starting with the main idea gives readers a clear understanding of what the summary will be about. It sets the focus for the rest of the summary by introducing the key topic or purpose of the original text.
What’s the difference between an inference and a summary?
Inference = reading between the lines./ educated guess
Summary = retelling the key points.
What are two strategies to find supporting details?
Answer:
Look for facts, examples, or explanations that relate to the main idea.
Underline sentences that give extra information or prove a point the author is making.
Explanation:
Supporting details help explain or back up the main idea. They often answer questions like "how?" or "why?" related to the topic.
Correct the fragment: “Went to the mall.”
Answer:
“I went to the mall.” (Any subject will work)
Explanation:
The original sentence “Went to the mall.” is a fragment because it lacks a subject. Adding the subject “I” completes the sentence and makes it a complete thought.
Fix all mistakes: “on monday, we went to philly”
Answer:
On Monday, we went to Philly.
Explanation:
The sentence needed capitalization for the first word “On,” the proper noun “Monday,” and the city name “Philly.” The rest of the sentence is correct.
Capitalization rules require proper nouns and the first word in a sentence to be capitalized.
What should a summary never include?
Answer:
A summary should never include personal opinions or unnecessary details.
Explanation:
Summaries focus on presenting the original author’s ideas clearly and briefly. Adding personal opinions or too many minor details can distract from the main points and change the meaning.
Given this paragraph: Many students feel stressed during exam week. They have to study for multiple tests and complete projects all at once. Some students even lose sleep trying to get everything done. You can tell that managing time well is important for reducing stress.
Label each sentence as either: main idea, supporting detail, or inference.
Main Idea – "Many students feel stressed during exam week."
Supporting Detail – "They have to study for multiple tests and complete projects all at once."
Supporting Detail – "Some students even lose sleep trying to get everything done."
Inference – "You can tell that managing time well is important for reducing stress."
Explain what it means to make an inference from a text. What two things do you need to make one?
Inference = a conclusion based on clues from the text + your own thinking (evidence + reasoning).
Combine these two short sentences into one strong sentence.
Two short sentences:
She loves to read. She visits the library often.
Answer:
She loves to read and visits the library often.
Explanation:
The two short sentences were combined using the conjunction “and” to join related ideas. This creates a stronger, more fluid sentence without changing the original meaning.
What’s the difference between your/you’re and their/there/they’re? Explain and give an example.
Your = possession;
you’re = you are.
Their = possession;
there = location;
they’re = they are.
How can you tell if a summary is missing something important?
Answer:
You can tell a summary is missing something important if it doesn’t include the main idea or key supporting details from the original text.
Explanation:
A good summary captures the overall message and the most important points. If it leaves out these elements, it won’t fully explain what the original text was about.