TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Making inferences, reading all the way through, circling unfamiliar words, making margin notes, and summarizing are all important steps of this reading strategy.
What are "close" reading strategies? CRUMS/annotating
What is an acronym to help with properly responding to a text-based essay prompt? What does each letter in the acronym mean?
ASE: Answer, Support, Explain
The narrator's point of view. Provide textual evidence for your answer: "You must get the golden key from the Sugar Toast Forest," said the Peanut Butter Wizard. He knew that their quest would be hard, so he gave them a bit of advice, "All you have is one another, so stick together." Jelly Girl and Banana Boy nodded eagerly. They were both afraid of the Sugar Toast Forest. Neither of them had ever left home before, but they had heard tales, frightful tales.
What is Third-Person Omniscient Explanation: That was third-person omniscient because the narrator reveals the internal thoughts and feelings of more than one character (Peanut Butter Wizard, Jelly Girl, and Banana Boy).
Jalen felt a surge of apprehension as he stepped onto the stage, his hands trembling and his heart pounding.
What context clues help you know that apprehension means nervousness?
Hands trembling and heart pounding
Used around textual evidence (Support) to show that it's the author's words and not yours.
What are quotation marks?
What is an acronym to help with properly responding to a paired text-based essay prompt? What does each letter in the acronym mean?
ASESE: Answer, Support, Explain, Support, Explain
The place, time, period, and atmosphere of a story.
What is the setting?
The hallway buzzed with excitement, but Jordan lingered by his locker, rereading the note in his hand. He glanced toward the gym, then back at the paper, as if weighing two different paths. With a quiet sigh, he folded the note and slipped it into his pocket before walking in the opposite direction.
Which annotation would be MOST helpful for understanding Jordan’s actions in the passage?
A. Circle “buzzed with excitement” to show the setting
B. Underline “rereading the note” and write: “important object”
C. Highlight “weighing two different paths” and write: “Jordan is deciding between choices”
D. Box “walked in the opposite direction” and write: “he leaves”
C. Highlight “weighing two different paths” and write: “Jordan is deciding between choices.”
Evan clenched his fists, trying to hide his frustration. He couldn’t believe he had been left out again. Across the room, Maya smiled and chatted with the others, completely unaware of how hurt Evan felt.
What point of view is used in the passage?
Third-person limited
Darius stared at the unfinished project on his desk. He had spent hours working on it, only to realize it wasn’t good enough. Across the room, laughter echoed as his classmates shared their ideas with confidence. Darius quietly closed his notebook, telling himself he would try again tomorrow.
What can the reader most reasonably infer about Darius?
A. He is proud of his work
B. He feels discouraged but still has some determination
C. He is angry at his classmates
D. He does not care about completing the project
Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Darius stared at the unfinished project on his desk.”
B. “He had spent hours working on it…”
C. “Darius quietly closed his notebook, telling himself he would try again tomorrow.”
D. “Laughter echoed as his classmates shared their ideas…”
B. He feels discouraged but still has some determination
C. “Darius quietly closed his notebook, telling himself he would try again tomorrow.”
When the power went out, the entire apartment building fell silent. At first, people stayed behind their doors, waiting for the lights to return. But as the hours passed, someone lit a candle in the hallway. Then another neighbor brought out a flashlight. Soon, doors began to open. People who had lived side by side for years without speaking now shared stories, food, and laughter in the dim light. When the electricity finally returned, the hallway was bright again, but the doors slowly closed.
What is the theme of he passage?
Adversity can bring people together, but that connection is often temporary.
At first, the new schedule seemed like a disaster. Students rushed through lunch, teachers struggled to adjust their lessons, and confusion filled the hallways. However, within a few weeks, the changes began to show unexpected benefits. Students reported feeling more focused in class, and teachers found they had more uninterrupted time for instruction.
What is the author’s primary purpose in this paragraph?
A. to argue that schedule changes should never happen
B. to explain how an initially negative change can lead to positive results
C. to describe why students dislike school schedules
D. to compare two completely different schools
Which sentence from the paragraph best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “At first, the new schedule seemed like a disaster.”
B. “Students rushed through lunch…”
C. “However, within a few weeks, the changes began to show unexpected benefits.”
D. “Confusion filled the hallways.”
B. to explain how an initially negative change can lead to positive results
C. “However, within a few weeks, the changes began to show unexpected benefits.”
This story element is revealed through a character’s actions, thoughts, and dialogue, helping readers understand their personality.
Characterization (or character traits)
The news hit her like a sudden clap of thunder.
What is a simile?