Lessons Learned
Answer question #1 on the theme worksheet!
Divide and conquer; more gets done when you work as a team
The man's uniform implied that he worked some sort of manual labor job, like a plumber or mechanic.
What is the meaning of "implied" as it's used in the above sentence?
Suggested
Describe what the below test question is asking you to do:
"What can be inferred about the protagonist based on their dialogue in paragraph 3?"
This question is asking me to make a guess about the main character's thoughts/characterization by analyzing paragraph 3.
Define claim.
Argument
And the Days are Not Long Enough by Ezra Pound
What is the purpose of the simile in lines 3-4?
A. To give imagery as to how life smells.
B. To show how life bites like mice bite.
C. To provide a visual of life slipping by too quickly, like a mouse running.
D. None of the above.
C. To provide a visual of life slipping by too quickly, like a mouse running.
Answer question #2 on the theme worksheet!
Don't be greedy.
"That word looks funny," the student mumbled.
"Just give the closest denotation of the word that you can," the teacher said kindly.
"Okay," the student sighed. "I think the definition is..."
What is the meaning of "denotation" as it's used in the above excerpt?
Definition
Define conflict.
The struggle between two sides in a story due to disagreement in values, morals, motivations, desires, et cetera.
Demonstrate means . . .
"Which statement best demonstrates the theme?"
to show
And the Days are Not Full Enough by Ezra Pound
What is the author's tone?
A. Elated
B. Mournful
C. Hopeful
D. Exaggerated
B. Mournful
Answer question #3 on the theme worksheet!
Be careful who you help.
Clara, though nervous, tried her hardest to invoke enough confidence to give her graduation speech without shaking.
What is the meaning of "invoke" as it's used in the above sentence?
Bring forth, summon, muster
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is the author's feelings/attitude toward what they're writing; mood is how the reader feels about the story (the "vibes" of the story)
Develop (in testing context) means . . .
"How do the main character's actions help to develop the theme?"
to grow/cause to grow; to elaborate on; evolve/advance
And the Days are Not Long Enough by Ezra Pound
Which of the following BEST describes the theme of the poem?
A. We should appreciate mice and what they do for farming.
B. Nighttime goes by too quickly.
C. Life feels too short, we should try to appreciate it while it lasts.
D. Life feels too long, we should try to appreciate it as it drags on.
C. Life feels too short, we should try to appreciate it while it lasts.
Answer question #4 on the theme worksheet!
Don't be greedy.
Mrs. Hill found herself steadily becoming more irritated as she repeatedly reminded Billy to follow classroom directions, his whining increasing each time he was reprimanded. After he stuck his lip out like a child at the fourth reminder, Mrs. Hill snapped: "Billy, stop being so impudent!"
What is the meaning of "impudent" as it's used in the above excerpt?
Sassy, annoying in a childish way, whiny
What is the difference between theme and main idea?
Theme is the lesson/moral of the story; main idea is what the story/passage is generally about.
Refine means . . .
"How does paragraph one develop and refine a key concept in the test?"
to make more precise; to simplify
And the Days are Not Long Enough by Ezra Pound
Which of the following best describes why the author may have chosen to use the mouse in grass as a comparison to life?
A. The mouse represents how insignificant a single life can be as it slips by quickly.
B. The mouse represents the repetitiveness of life.
C. The grass represents how humans are hurting the earth, shortening all of our lives.
D. The mouse in the grass has no figurative meaning.
A. The mouse represents how insignificant a single life can be as it slips by quickly.
Answer question #5 on the theme worksheet!
Don't take too long to make decisions *or anything close!*
Biscuit snarled at Freja, her fur raising in annoyance. Freja would not stop barking in her face and trying to initiate playtime despite Biscuit's clear wish to be left alone. Finally, Freja chose to play by herself, freeing Biscuit from her petulant behavior.
What is the meaning of "petulant" as it's used in the above excerpt?
Annoying
How do first person POV and third person POV affect our understanding of a fictional text?
First person means we only know the story from one person's point of view (we only get one side); third person gives us all sides of the story (unless third person limited is used, in that case we get some information from other characters but not as much as we get from third omniscient)
A "key concept" is . . .
"How does the author refine the key concept in paragraph 3?"
A BIG or very important concept. Remember that concept means idea; so "key concepts" are just the big ideas in a text.
And the Days are Not Long Enough by Ezra Pound
How does the use of repetition in the poem demonstrate the theme?
A. The repetition is easier to read, thus reinforcing the theme of life being too short by making the reading faster.
B. The repetition is simple, thus reinforcing the theme of life being too easy by making the poem simpler to read.
C. Repetition is used as an aesthetic piece in poetry, thus serving no purpose to the theme.
D. The repetition makes the poem harder to read, thus reinforcing the theme that life is difficult and too long.
A. The repetition is easier to read, thus reinforcing the theme of life being too short by making the reading faster.