All Things Literary
What is symbolism?
an object, a person, a situation, or an action that has a literal meaning in a story but suggests or represents other meanings.
What parts of a text should you analyze when trying to determine the central idea of a text? (2)
Title, headings, subheadings, topic sentences, background/context, illustrations, footnotes, etc.
"S.T.E.A.L" is an acronym used to analyze characters and the methods an author uses to develop the character. What does each letter of the acronym stand for?
Speech, Thoughts, Effects on Others, Actions, Looks.
Which of the following is an example of a THEME?
a. Running with scissors is dangerous.
b. Life is short; make the most of it.
c. Fruit is the healthiest breakfast choice.
d. You can get in trouble if you don't do your homework.
b. Life is short; make the most of it.
There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy. The bad reputation of the coyote traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation, ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than they would shoot their dogs.
a. Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man.
b. The coyote is feared because of his fondness for small animals
c. Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs.
d. The coyote usually prefers rabbits and other rodents to sheep and poultry.
a. Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man.
a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”
Simile
What are transition words/phrases? Give one example of a transitional word/phrase.
Words that help maintain the flow of ideas in a text and signal the author's purpose. Connecting words. (For example, however, but, in other words, on the other hand, therefore, etc.)
"P.I.E" is an acronym used to determine the author's purpose in a text. What does each letter of the acronym stand for? In other words, what are the three different types of "purposes" within P.IE?
Persuade, inform, or entertain.
True or False: A theme should be a statement, not just one word.
True.
The attitudes of Americans toward gambling are amazingly contradictory. You may find, for example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play poker for money on your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they are supposed to purchase a federal license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling, while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo games. Gambling laws are inconsistent from state to state or even from town to town and are very difficult to enforce.
a. Americans have negative attitudes toward gambling.
b. Gambling laws are difficult to enforce
c. Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community.
d. Churches do not have uniform ideas about gambling.
c. Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community.
Provide an example of a metaphor.
N/A
List at least two different text structures a nonfiction text would use.
An organizational structure found in nonfiction (sequence or chronological order, question/answer, cause/effect, problem/solution)
What is text structure?
The author's method of organizing a text.
N/A.
People often refer to taxes in terms of their being much too high. In reality, they are probably even higher than you think, because in addition to the federal income tax we are now studying, there are many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes, inheritance taxes, state income taxes, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others. These are just some of the most obvious ones.
a. Taxes are much too high.
b. We pay more taxes than we may realize.
c. Inheritance taxes and real estate taxes are unfair.
d. Some taxes are hidden.
b. We pay more taxes than we may realize.
What is the term that describe the moral or main message of a story?
Theme
List at least TWO examples of informational/ Nonfiction texts
Nonfiction text, written primarily to convey factual information, informational texts include textbooks, newspapers, reports, directions, brochures, and technical manuals.
What strategies does an author use to develop the theme (message) of a story? (2)
Authors use (1) characters & their development (S.T.E.A.L) and (2) major events within the story (turning points & conflict).
There was once some hardworking ants and a grasshopper who hated to work. The ants gathered food all spring while the grasshopper played. When winter came, the ants had enough food, but the grasshopper had nothing to eat.
What is the story's theme?
N/A.
In earlier days those who had overseas business which they believed should be discussed personally, took ship and set out across the briny deep. Once aboard they transacted their affairs, engaging in commercial and social matters or conducting government business. Today ships and passengers continue to sail the seven seas, and airplanes soar overhead. But above them all, words speed through the sky – telephone conversations quickly bring together in the most personal fashion people who are separated by thousands of miles.
a. Overseas telephone service today is ruling out all need for overseas travel.
b. Nothing can take the place of person-to-person conversation in settling business, social, and government problems.
c. Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone.
d. Even with modern overseas telephone service people continue to travel abroad by ship or by plane.
c. Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone.
What type of language uses figures of speech (such as similes, metaphors and clichés) to suggest new pictures or images, or to create stronger effects within a story?
Figurative Language
What term is used to describe what the informational text is mostly about?
Central idea
What strategies does an author use to develop the central idea of a text? (2/4)
The author might (1) illustrate abstract ideas, (2) create relevance for the reader, (3) give context, (4) support claims with research.
A hare once bragged to all the animals that he could beat anyone in a race. A tortoise said, I challenge you," So, they raced. The hare ran faster and the tortoise plodded along. Soon, the hare got tired and took a nap. The tortoise kept up his steady pace and won the race.
What is the story's theme?
N/A
The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade. Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds. Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about four cents an acre.
a. The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.
b. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals.
c. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.
d. Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.
a. The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.