text structure
What is the most important point the author is trying to make?
what is The central idea
The primary message of a story that tells what it is mostly about.
These specific details, facts, statistics, or quotations from the text are used to support a point or a claim.
What is evidence (or supporting details)?
Questions about the specific way an author expresses ideas fall under this general heading.
What is style?
Using surrounding words and sentences to figure out the meaning of an unknown word is known as using these.
What are context clues?
This text structure uses signal words like "first," "second," "then," and "next" to organize events in order.
What is chronological order (or sequence)?
This is the underlying message or lesson a story teaches, often expressed as a moral, rather than just the plot summary.
What is the theme?
When you are asked to "read between the lines" and draw a conclusion based on evidence that is not literally stated in the text, you are making one of these.
What is an inference?
When analyzing an author's attitude towards their subject, you are evaluating this literary element.
What is tone?
This text feature organizes facts and numbers in a visual format to make them easier to read and understand.
What is a table or graph?
A text using words like "similar," "different," "both," and "instead" is employing this type of organizational pattern.
What is compare and contrast?
A single sentence that connects one of the identified themes with specific proof from the text, forming an arguable claim for a literary analysis.
What is a thesis statement?
To properly introduce evidence in an explanation, the reader should provide this to make clear which part of the story the evidence comes from.
Identifying the specific facts and information an author chooses to include, or the lack thereof, helps a reader understand this element of the author's craft.
What is detail (or diction or language)?
This part of a nonfiction book or article explains what a photograph or image is about.
What is a caption?
When an author presents a dilemma and then potential ways to fix it using words like "issue," "as a result," and "solution," they are using this structure
A single sentence that connects one of the identified themes with specific proof from the text, forming an arguable claim for a literary analysis.
What is a thesis statement?
This term describes the ability to reflect on what a character is thinking or feeling, which helps a reader interpret their actions.
What is theory of mind (or empathy)?
Considering the intended recipient of the text helps a reader better understand the author's choices and purpose.
What is the audience?
This resource, often at the back of a book, lists key terms and their definitions
What is a glossary?
Signal words like "because," "due to," and "as a result of" indicate that the author is likely explaining this type of relationship.
A good reader will look for the topic sentence, repeated ideas, or this main point in the first and last paragraphs to figure out the central idea.
What are strategies to find the main point?
Explaining how the provided evidence helps prove the main point or theme of the text is known as explaining its this.
What is the effect (or significance)?
This acronym for literary analysis helps students remember to look at Structure, Meaning, Imagery, Language, and Effect to understand a text.
What is SIMILE?
Understanding how an author uses literary devices like metaphors or symbolism falls under this broader skill.
What is textual analysis?