Evidence and Inference
If a story says "The sky turned charcoal gray as Sarah grabbed her umbrella," what can you infer about the weather?
It is about to rain or a storm is coming.
What is the difference between Tone and Mood?
Answer: Tone is the author's attitude (e.g., sarcastic, serious); Mood is how the reader feels (e.g., spooky, joyful).
When comparing a video of a speech to the written transcript, what extra information does the video provide?
Answer: The speaker’s delivery (tone of voice, facial expressions, and emphasis).
What is an Intensive Pronoun?
Answer: A pronoun ending in -self or -selves used to add emphasis (e.g., "I did it myself")
What are the three parts of a TCAP essay?
Answer: Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion.
To get full credit on a TCAP "Evidence" question, what must you do with the quote you select?
Answer: You must cite it (state which paragraph or line it came from)
"The wind howled like a banshee." What kind of figurative language is this, and how does it affect the mood?
Answer: It is a simile; it creates an eerie or frightening mood.
What is a "delineated" argument?
Answer: An argument that has been broken down into its specific claims and evidence.
Is "Me and her went to the store" or "She and I went to the store" correct?
Answer: "She and I went to the store" (Subjective case).
What is a Counterclaim?
Answer: A statement that acknowledges the opposite side of your argument.
In a multiple-choice question about theme, should you look for a one-word topic (like "honesty") or a full-sentence message?
Answer: A full-sentence message (e.g., "Honesty is difficult but rewarding").
How does a First-Person narrator differ from a Third-Person Omniscient narrator?
Answer: First-Person uses "I" and knows only one person's thoughts; Omniscient knows what all characters are thinking.
If an author provides a claim but no facts to back it up, what is that claim called?
Answer: An unsupported or irrelevant claim.
Why does the possessive word its not have an apostrophe?
Answer: Because "it’s" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction for "it is."
What is the purpose of a Thesis Statement?
Answer: To state the main claim or "road map" of your entire essay.
If a character is "clenching their fists" and "narrowing their eyes," what is their internal state?
Answer: They are angry or frustrated.
What does it mean if information is explicitly stated?
Answer: It is written directly in the text (no guessing required).
What is the main goal of an Objective Summary?
Answer: To provide the central idea and main points without including personal opinions.
Which punctuation marks can be used to set off "parenthetical" (non-essential) information?
Answer: Commas, dashes, or parentheses.
Give three examples of Transition Words required for a high score.
Answer: Furthermore, Consequently, However, Additionally.
How do you distinguish between a "summary" and an "analysis"?
Answer: A summary retells the main events objectively; an analysis explains how or why the author used certain elements.
What is the purpose of an author using "formal" style in a speech?
Answer: To show authority, professionalism, or the importance of the occasion.
How do two authors' perspectives differ if they write about the same historical event?
Answer: They may emphasize different facts or have different opinions on the event's importance.
When do you use the Objective Case for a pronoun?
Answer: When the pronoun is receiving the action or is the object of a preposition (e.g., "The teacher gave it to him").
On the TCAP writing rubric, what is the highest score you can get for "Organization"?
Answer: A 4.