Detective Skills
Story Elements
The Picnic Mystery
Non Fiction Know How
Essay Essentials
100

What is citing evidence?

Finding the exact words in the text that prove your answer is correct. 

100

What is the conflict?

The main problem in a story

100

Who is Buster?

The character who took the missing picnic basket.

100

What is it called when you are Using the words and sentences around a new word to figure out its meaning. 

context clues

100

The name for the first sentence of an essay that is meant to get the reader's attention

the hook

200

What is making an inference?

Using clues from the text plus what you already know to make a smart guess.

200

What are character traits?

Words like "brave," "shy," or "funny" that describe a character's personality

200

What is "A monster took it!"

What Tom first yelled when he saw the picnic basket was gone

200

This text structure shows how two things are alike and different

Compare and contrast

200

The final paragraph of an essay, also known as the "Wrap-Up."

the conclusion
300

What is "What I know?"?

The formula for an inference is "What the text says + _________."

300

What is an internal conflict?

A problem inside a character's mind, like trying to decide whether to tell the truth. 

300

What is "their Mom was on a work call"?

The reason Lily and Tom had to wait to go to the park

300

This text structure introduces a problem and then explains how it was solved.

What is Problem and Solution?

300

The one clear sentence at the end of the introduction that states your main point.

thesis statement

400

What are "a trail of small, muddy paw prints" and "a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich under the kitchen table"?

the two specific clues Lily found that pointed to the real culprit before she saw him.

400

What is character motivation? 

The reason WHY a character does something

400

Who is Tom?

This character had wide eyes and clutched a worn teddy bear.

400

Our solar system is just a tiny part of this, which is described as a "giant pinwheel in space."

Milky Way Galaxy? 

400

According to the guide, a body paragraph should start with this type of sentence.

topic sentence

500

 What is that she still loves him/isn't mad at him? 

At the end of the story, Lily packs extra treats for Buster.  This action lets you infer that she feels this way about him

500

What is point of view (POV)?

Who is telling the story

500

What are sunny days?

Lily was motivated to pack the picnic basket because she loved these.

500

According to the article, our Solar System is held in orbit around the Sun by this powerful pull

gravity (or gravitational pull)

500

The three steps, in order, for writing a body paragraph.

1. Topic Sentence, 2. Cite Evidence, and 3. Explain