Context Clues
The teacher was SKEPTICAL about the student's excuse for missing the homework, doubting that his dog actually ate it.
Doubtful or questioning
"Best supports the idea"
Look for the evidence in the text that directly proves the answer choice is true.
A smart guess about what will happen next based on clues.
Prediction
Arranged in the order that events happened in time.
Chronological
"The AUTHOR"S PERSPECTIVE in this article is clearly against deforestation."
Action: Identify the author's opinion.
Describe
Paint a picture. List the who, what, where, and when.
"The wind whispered through the trees."
Personification
The mountain climber felt EXHILIRATED after reaching the peak; she was filled with pure joy and excitement.
Thrilled or extremely happy
"Primarily"
Filter out the small details; identify the main focus or the "big picture" of the passage.
The main point of an informational text (what it’s mostly about).
Central Idea
Looking at how two things are alike and different.
Compare & Contrast
"The teacher asked the student to DESCRIBE the main character."
Action: Tell all the details about the character.
Analyze
Take it apart. How is it built? Why did the author pick that word?
"I have a million things to do today."
-an exaggeration
Hyperbole
His LOQUACIOUS nature made him the life of the party, as he couldn't stop talking to everyone in the room.
Very talkative
"Impact of word choice"
Don't just define the word; explain how it changes the mood or the reader's opinion.
The "big lesson" or life message of a fictional story.
Explaining why something happened and what the result was.Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect
"You must COMPARE the life of Jonas in The Giver to his life after he gains memories."
Action: Find similarities and differences
Author's Perspective
Are they for it, against it, or just reporting facts? What does the author think about a subject?
"The fire crackled and popped."
Onomatopoeia
The AMBIGUOUS instructions left the students confused because they could be interpreted in two completely different ways.
Unclear or having more than one meaning
"Inferred"
Combine what the author wrote with what you already know to find the "hidden" meaning; to make an educated guess
The emotional "vibe" the reader feels while reading a story.
Mood
Describing an issue and how it was fixed or handled.
Problem & Solution
"Based on the evidence provided, EVALUATE whether the author's argument is convincing."
Action: Judge the quality.
Compare
List BOTH similarities AND differences
"He is as busy as a bee."
Uses "LIKE" or "AS" when comparing 2 unlike things
Simile
The treaty was meant to MITIGATE the conflict between the two countries, effectively lessening the tension and anger.
To make less severe or painful
"Develops the central idea"
Find how a specific paragraph, anecdote, or quote builds or reinforces the main point.
The extra "feeling" (positive, negative, or neutral) a word has.
Connotation
To show the reader the progression of a process or a series of steps.
Sequence
"If a question asks you to 'evaluate the author's argument,' you must use textual evidence to do what?"
Action: Judge whether the author's evidence is sufficient, relevant, and sound.
Evaluate
Be the judge. Is the evidence strong? Does the reasoning hold up?
"Time is a thief."
A direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as."
Metaphor