Text Structures
A passage explains how volcanoes form, then describes the steps scientists use to monitor eruptions.
sequence
A passage includes a labeled picture showing the parts of a plant, helping readers understand information not fully explained in the paragraph. What text feature is this?
diagram
A student reads the sentence: “The politician was described as “frugal” in one article and “cheap” in another.” Both words mean similar things, but the reactions are very different. Explain the connotation and denotation of these two words in quotations.
frugal has a positive connotation while cheap has a negative connotation
In the sentence: “After losing the game, the team was devastated and walked off the field in silence,” what does devastated most likely mean?
extremely upset or emotionally crushed
What is the purpose of this sentence: “Please turn in your homework before leaving class.” The speaker is trying to get someone to act.
Imperative
A student says a text is “cause and effect” because it includes the words since and therefore. However, the passage mainly compares two types of renewable energy.
the student is incorrect; the structure is compare and contrast, not cause and effect
A nonfiction article has words like photosynthesis in bold, and the definitions are found at the back of the book. What two text features are used?
bold print and glossary
In a story, a character is described as “slender” in one sentence and “skinny” in another. Both words describe body size. Explain these two words with connotation and denotation.
slender has a more positive connotation, while skinny can have a negative connotation
In the sentence: “The scientist made a careful observation of the experiment before drawing conclusions,” what does observation most likely mean in this context?
a detailed or careful watching and noting of information
A student writes: “The hurricane destroyed homes, flooded streets, and knocked out power for days.” What is the purpose of this sentence?
Declarative - to inform
A passage introduces the problem of plastic pollution in oceans, then presents several possible solutions and evaluates their effectiveness.
problem and solution structure
A section titled “Causes of the American Revolution” appears before several paragraphs explaining the topic. What text feature is used?
Heading
A student argues that the words “home” and “house” mean the same thing, but only one word creates an emotional feeling of comfort and belonging in a poem.
Which use would be a positive connotation and which would have a neautral connotation?
home has a stronger positive connotation, while house is more neutral denotation
In the sentence: “The ancient artifact was fragile, so it had to be handled with extreme care,” what does fragile most likely mean?
easily broken or delicate
A student reads the sentence: “The dog barked loudly, and the cat ran under the bed.” They say it is a simple sentence because it has one idea. What sentence type is this?
Compound
Two articles discuss school uniforms. One lists similarities and differences, while the other argues uniforms improve behavior by reducing distractions.
compare and contrast & cause and effect
A box on the side of a page provides extra facts about space exploration that are not included in the main paragraphs. What text feature is used?
Sidebar/Text box on the side
A writer changes the word “said” to “whispered” in dialogue. Both describe speaking, but the tone of the scene changes.
Which use shows a secretive connotation and how does it change the mood of what could be written?
whispered has a softer, more secretive connotation than said, changing the mood by _________
In the sentence: “The author’s argument was compelling, convincing many readers to change their opinion,” what does compelling most likely mean?
very convincing or persuasive
A sentence reads: “Although the game was canceled, the students still met for practice, and they reviewed their plays.” A student must explain why this is not just a compound sentence.
compound-complex sentence because it has a dependent clause (at the beginning) and two independent clauses
A passage begins by describing a historical event in order, then explains what caused it, and finally compares it to a modern situation. A student claims the structure is only chronological. What is the text structure(s)? Hint: 3 structures!
sequence, cause and effect, and compare and contrast-- not just chronological
An article includes a chart comparing the population of cities over time, along with a short explanation beneath each image that adds more detail. What text feature is used?
chart (or graph) and captions
A passage describes a group as “youthful rebels” instead of “teenagers breaking rules.” A student must explain how the meaning changes even though both describe the same group. Which uses of these phrases have a positive connotation, and which have a negative connotation?
youthful rebels have a more positive/admiring connotation, while teenagers breaking rules is more negative and literal (denotation)
In the sentence: “The athlete was exhausted after the marathon but still managed a weak smile for the crowd,” what does exhausted most strongly suggest in this context?
extremely tired, drained of energy, or beyond just being tired
A student writes: “I finished my homework, and I went to bed early.” Another student rewrites it as: “After I finished my homework, I went to bed early.” You are asked to explain how the structure changed. The first sentence is a _________, while the second sentence (the revised) is now a __________________.
The first sentence is compound (two independent clauses), while the second is complex sentence (one dependent and one independent clause).