Theme
What does it mean when they ask for the theme of the story or text?
What is THE LESSON OR MORAL OF THE WRITNG or SOMETHING YOU CAN LEARN?
What does it mean when they ask for the central idea of the text?
What is THE MAIN IDEA or THE POINT OF THE TEXT?
What does it mean when they ask for the author's purpose of the writing?
What is THE AUTHOR'S REASON FOR WRITING?
What does it mean when they ask for you to infer from the text?
What is USING THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION?
What does it mean when they ask for a character trait?
What is DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION ABOUT A CHARACTER?
Which statement best describes the theme of a literary work?
A. The main character's physical description
B. The central message or insight about life that the work reveals
C. The time and place where the story occurs
D. The sequence of events in the plot
What is:
B. The central message or insight about life that the work reveals
How can you identify the main idea of a paragraph?
A. By looking only at the first sentence
B. By counting the number of sentences
C. By finding the thought that all sentences support or relate to
D. By analyzing the author's background
What is:
C. By finding the thought that all sentences support or relate to
What is the author's purpose?
A section in a history book describing the conditions and causes of the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s
What is:
to inform?
"Gus, I need to see you in my office," said Mr. Matthews. Gus nervously shut the door to Mr. Matthews' office behind him and took a seat. Mr. Matthews' office was so high up that Gus had to angle his chair awkwardly so that he couldn't see out of the window. Mr. Matthews pointed his finger at Gus and began talking, "You have been fitting in great over here, and that's one of the most important things you can do in this company." Gus let out a sigh of relief. Mr. Matthews continued speaking. "Gus, I want to invite you on a company trip. We will be taking a private jet to Colorado." Gus's eyes widened and his heart began thumping rapidly. "Wow, Mr. Matthews! I don't know what to say," Gus replied honestly. Mr. Matthews continued, "Then we will be climbing up a mountain to a private cabin." Gus loosened his tie a bit a gulped. He was hoping that it would be over but Mr. Matthews continued, "After completing some team building activities, we will take a hot air balloon ride over the mountains!" Gus's heart was now pounding so hard that he was worried that Mr. Matthews might see it thumping through his shirt. He was sweating excessively. Mr. Matthews slapped him on the shoulder, "So what do you say Gus?" Gus did not know what to say.
How does Gus really feel about this trip? Why won't he tell his boss?
What is:
He's scared of heights and doesn't want to go on this trip. He doesn't want to say this because it's a new job.
Courtney asked her neighbor if she could borrow an egg to complete a recipe that she had already started. The next day Courtney returned an egg to her neighbor along with a thank you card expressing her sincere gratitude.
What character trait does Courtney demonstrate?
What is:
grateful, appreciative, polite
How can a reader best identify the theme of a text?
A. By focusing only on the ending of the story
B. By counting the number of characters
C. By analyzing the patterns of character choices, conflicts, and outcomes
D. By looking at the length of each chapter
What is:
C. By analyzing the patterns of character choices, conflicts, and outcomes
Identify the central idea of the text:
Being a clown isn’t all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, 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. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
What is:
Rodeo clowns put their lives in danger protecting cowboys?
What is the author's purpose?
A story about a family trying to stick together and survive through the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s
What is:
To entertain?
Michael was the star quarterback of the football team and he was dating Amanda Barnes, the captain of the cheerleading squad. Everything was going perfectly for them until Michael was seriously injured during one of the last games of the season. The doctors told him that he would probably never play football again and that he would have to wear a large cast on his leg for several months. Amanda stayed really close with Michael immediately after the injury, but then she started to change. She would not visit him often. She would not wait by his locker or help him carry his books to class anymore. Also, he noticed that she was talking more and more with Ken Madsen, the new quarterback. This upset Michael greatly. Then one day Amanda told him that she and Michael needed to have a talk after school. Michael did not like the sound of that.
What does Amanda want to talk about? Why does she want to have this talk?
She wants to break up with him because he's not the quarterback anymore.
When Angela asked her mother if she could go to the party, her mother said that she could not. So Angela asked her father, who said that she could. She then played her parents off one another until she got her way. Angela enjoyed herself at the party.
What character trait does Angela demonstrate?
What is:
Manipulating and calculating
Read the excerpt from the short story "There Will Come Soft Rains."
Eight-one, tick-tock, eight-one o’clock, off to school, off to work, run, run, eight-one! But no doors slammed, no carpets took the soft tread of rubber heels. It was raining outside. The weather box on the front door sang quietly: “Rain, rain, go away; umbrellas, raincoats for today…” And the rain tapped on the empty house, echoing.
Which theme does the imagery in this excerpt best support?
a. The repetition of technology can be comforting.The repetition of technology can be comforting.
b. Humans find it easy to ignore technology in their daily lives.Humans find it easy to ignore technology in their daily lives.
c. Technology persists even in the absence of human beings.Technology persists even in the absence of human beings.
d. Nature survives any catastrophe, while technology fails.
What is:
c. Technology persists even in the absence of human beings.Technology persists even in the absence of human beings.
What is the central idea for the following text:
What’s that humming sound? Could it be hummingbird, the only bird capable of backward flight? Hummingbirds have many unique flight habits that distinguish them from other birds. Most birds flap their wings up and down to fly, but the hummingbird moves its wings forward and backward very rapidly in a figure eight pattern. This allows the hummingbird to hover in position, fly upside down, and move about very rapidly. And while other birds have to push off with their feet to begin flying, and work their ways up to their top speeds, the hummingbird can both start flying at maximum speed and stop flying instantaneously. After you’ve seen a hummingbird in flight, it’s unlikely that you’ll mistake them for another bird.
What is:
Hummingbirds have a unique flight pattern that distinguishes themselves from other birds.
What is the author's purpose:
A speech written by a professional athlete listing the negative effects of steroids and urging young athletes to not use steroids
What is:
To persuade?
"William, don't forget your towel!" Mom shouted as she applied sunblock on the baby. William threw the folding chairs in the back of the minivan and shouted through the garage door, "OK Mom!" He then ran up and grabbed his towel. "Georgie!" William shouted. There was no response. Mom packed the baby up into the car seat. "William, can you help me with his umbrella?" William ran down the stairs, almost tripping over a chew toy, and then he helped his mother load the large umbrella in the minivan. "Mom, I can't find Georgie," William said. His mother shrugged and replied, "That's OK, William. He probably shouldn't come with us anyway."
Where are they going?
Who is Georgie?
What is:
They are going to the beach/lake.
Georgie is the dog.
Kathy has a big project due in two weeks. She spends the next twelve days interacting with people from her school on Snapchat. The night before the project is due, she rushes to complete it and gets a C- as a final grade. She was happy with the grade.
What character trait does Kathy demonstrate?
What is:
Lazy, social, procrastinator