Inference
It was 8:30 on Thursday night. Emily stared at the large, empty poster board on her bed. Then, she looked at the stack of books about Abraham Lincoln on her desk. Emily started to cry. Why do you think Emily was crying?
Emily was unable to finish her project, which was due the next day.
Figurative language where non-human things are given human attributes
personification
Why is it important for the reader to analyze the author's purpose?
Understanding the author's purpose helps readers understand what a text is about.
What is the problem faced by the character called?
conflict
What a character does and says is called?
External Character Response
Mandi thought everyone had forgotten her birthday. This morning at the breakfast table, no one had even wished her a "Happy Birthday!" No one mentioned it all day long--not even her mother, and Mom never forgot anything. She had noticed her sisters whispering at lunch. She thought that was kind of rude! Her mom sent her to the store for a loaf of bread in the middle of the afternoon. Mandi didn't know why she had to go. Why couldn't her sister Sarah go? Sarah was older. And since when was bread such an emergency? She grumbled to herself all the way to the store and back. It was bad enough everyone had forgotten her birthday, she also had to run everyone's errands! As she dragged herself into the kitchen, she was startled to hear, "SURPRISE!" They hadn't forgotten after all. What did Maddie's family plan for her? What clues helped you to make this inference?
Her family planned a surprise party for her birthday. Some clues from the passage include: Her Mom never forgets anything. She had noticed her sisters whispering at lunch. Mom sent her to the store for a loaf of bread. She was startled to hear, "SURPRISE!"
What form of figurative language is being used in the following sentence? The baby was as good as gold.
simile
"A charter school is a school that is publicly funded but privately run. Since the first charter school opened its doors in Minnesota in 1992, the movement has multiplied at a dizzying pace. Today half a million students attend more than 2,000 such schools in 35 states. And that number is sure to swell. The education bill approved by Congress last week gives students in low-performing schools the option, and the bus fare, to transfer to charter schools; schools that fail three years in a row could be shut down and reopened as charter schools."
Why did the author define "charter school" in the first sentence?
The author wants the reader to understand what a charter school is before he tells about it.
The most exciting or intense part of the story; a turning point
Climax
What a character thinks and feels is called?
Internal Character Response
Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. “9:48,” she shouted, “Holy cow!” Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door. What problem is Cassie having? What text evidence supports this finding?
Cassie woke up late for school. "9:48," she shouted, "Holy Cow!" Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she could grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door.
What form of figurative language is being used in the following sentence? Her feet were icicles on the warm floor.
metaphor
"Fast food gets bad press these days, especially since it often contains too much fat, sodium and calories, but it brings much needed convenience to our stressful busy world. Fast food is easily found and varied. At any mall, for example, customers have many choices at the food court. To avoid too much fat or salt, they can choose healthier options: salads, turkey sandwiches and so on. Fast food is also inexpensive; most menu items offer a full meal for under ten dollars. It is easy to see why fast food is so popular these days—it is convenient and reduces our stress. So don’t be afraid to enjoy a fast food meal."
What was the author's purpose in telling about "healthier options?"
The author told about healthier options like salads and turkey sandwiches to show that fast food does not have to be bad for you.
loose ends of the plot are tied up and conflicts are resolved
resolution
What is theme?
The lesson, ,message, or moral the author wants you to learn.
The little boy looked sheepishly down at the ground. His Mom clenched her teeth. She couldn't believe what he had just done! How is his Mom feeling? What clues helped you to infer this from the passage.
His Mom is upset. I know this because the text said, " His Mom clenched her teeth."
My mother was the spoonful of sugar that sweetened life's bitter medicine.
What figurative language is being used and what is the purpose?
metaphor
A mother is being compared to the sweetness of sugar
“His face appeared in the window. She knew he had been the cause of her waking at 3 a.m. Was she seeing things? Was his face real? She tried to lie still and decide what to do. Just then, the window shattered. She flew across the room to the hallway and straight into her mother’s room.”
What was the author's purpose in asking questions in this text?
The author asked the questions in the text to engage the reader and get them interested in who could be in the window.
The main part of the story that moves the plot along with complications, twists, and turns
rising action
Mrs. Smith was doing a unit on healthy living with her students. All week she taught her students about eating the correct foods like fruits and vegetables. Over the weekend, some of Mrs. Smith's students were at the mall and saw her eating pizza, a milkshake, and candy. Mrs. Smith's student Molly was going to order a salad, but now decided to order junk food too. What is the theme?
A Actions speak louder than words
B Never eat pizza at the mall
C Vegetables are good for you
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Mr. Craig was at the park with his family. He was the family cook and stood at the grill cooking the hot dogs while everyone else swam in the pool. The little boy had been standing by the tree for a few minutes before Mr. Craig really noticed him. "Do you need any help?" the boy asked. "No, I think I've got it under control!" Mr. Craig chuckled. Then he noticed the boy's dirty t-shirt and ragged pants. "I might need some help eating all of these hot dogs though," Mr. Craig said. "I think I may have cooked too many. Would you like one?" "Okay," the boy said. "I wouldn't want you to have too many." Why had the boy asked to help Mr. Craig? What clues helped you to make this inference?
The boy was homeless and hungry. Text evidence from the story that helped me to make this inference is " he noticed the boy's dirty t-shirt and ragged pants." Mr. Craig stated " I might need some help eating all of these hot dogs though."
A chill wind was blowing that nipped him sharply and bit with especial venom into his wounded shoulder. He lay down on the snow and attempted to sleep, but the frost soon drove him shivering to his feet.
— Adapted from Jack London, The Call of the Wild
What type of figurative language is used and what was the author's purpose in using it?
the wind nipped and bit is personification
The author is showing how extremely cold it is and that it caused pain.
“Film writer and director M. Night Shyamalan gained international recognition when he wrote and directed 1999's The Sixth Sense which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. (That’s the award for script writing!) His 2002 film Signs, in which he also acted, gained both critical and financial success.”
Why did the author include "That's the award for script writing!" in parenthesis?
The author included those words to explain to the reader what the "Best Original Screenplay" award is.
The first part of the plot where the characters, setting, and background information is shared.
exposition
Blaine opened up the present and began pouting. He screamed in a high-pitched voice, "This is Captain Thunder! I wanted Captain Lightning!" His mother looked at him with dismay and handed him another present, which he greedily opened. "Why did you get me a red hat? You know I like blue more," Blaine whined as he threw the hat across the room. His mother straightened her expression and squinted at him. Earlier she had hoped to take some pictures of this moment, but by now she had put away her camera. She sighed and handed him one more present in hopes that this year wouldn't be a total bust. Blaine huffed and opened it. "A Game Box 4000? wow. Where's the Game Box 5000 that I asked for?" His mother could bear his ingratitude no longer. The next time that Blaine returned from his father's house, he was shocked to find that all of these toys and gifts, along with many other of his things, had been generously donated to needy children. What is the theme?
Be thankful for what you have