Key Literary Elements
Themes and Central Ideas
Author’s Point of View
Author's Purpose
Summarization
100

Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  

What makes up the plot structure of a story? 

100

A universal theme is an idea that applies universally, such as love, loss, or conflict. Example: "The struggle for power."

What is a universal theme, and can you provide an example?

100

A first-person point of view creates intimacy and allows readers to experience the narrator's thoughts and feelings directly.

How does an author’s choice of first-person point of view affect the reader's connection to the story?

100

What are common purposes an author may have when writing a text?

Common purposes include to inform, persuade, entertain, or express feelings.

100

Key components include identifying main ideas, supporting details, and writing in concise language.

What are the key components of an effective summary?  

200

Character development helps readers understand motivations, growth, and relationships, enhancing emotional connection.

What is the role of character development in a narrative?

200

Historical contexts provide background that shapes themes, such as the impact of war on society in literature.

How do historical contexts influence the themes presented in literature?

200

Dramatic irony creates suspense by allowing the audience to know something the characters do not.

What is dramatic irony, and how does it create suspense in a literary text?

200

An author’s purpose influences essay structure by determining how arguments are presented and supported.

How does an author’s purpose influence the structure of an essay?

200

Paraphrasing restates information in one's own words, while summarizing condenses the main ideas.

Explain how paraphrasing differs from summarizing.

300

Setting influences mood by establishing the time and place.

How does setting influence the mood of a literary text?

300

An author develops a central idea by introducing it, providing supporting details, and reinforcing it throughout the text.

Describe how an author develops a central idea throughout a text.

300

Humor can be created through point of view by presenting absurd situations or character misunderstandings.

Analyze how an author creates humor through point of view.

300

An effective use of rhetoric includes logical appeals, emotional appeals, and credible sources to persuade readers.

Evaluate the effectiveness of an author’s use of rhetoric to support their purpose.

300

Summarizing enhances comprehension by distilling complex information into essential points.

Explain how paraphrasing differs from summarizing.

400

Dialogue reveals character personalities, relationships, and advances the plot through interactions. 

Explain how dialogue can affect character relationships and plot progression.

400

Resilience can be presented in a story about overcoming adversity versus a poem depicting the same theme through imagery.

Compare how themes of resilience are presented in two different literary works.

400

A third-person limited perspective provides insight into one character's thoughts, shaping the reader's understanding of that character.

Explain the impact of a third-person limited perspective on character development.

400

An author’s background can shape their writing style and purpose by incorporating unique experiences and viewpoints.

Explain how an author’s background affects their writing style and purpose.

400

Steps include reading the text carefully, identifying key ideas, and rewriting them in your own words.

Describe the steps to create a summary of a complex piece of literature.

500

Figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, adds depth and layers of meaning to literary works.

Analyze how figurative language enhances the meaning of a literary work.

500

An author’s background influences their themes by reflecting their experiences and perspective on societal issues.

Discuss how an author’s background may shape the themes they explore.

500

Shifts in perspective can change the tone from serious to lighthearted, impacting how the reader perceives the events.

Discuss how shifts in perspective can change the tone of a narrative.

500

Examples include using strong, persuasive language to encourage action or change in the reader.

Provide an example of how an author’s choice of diction advances their purpose.

500

Summarization plays a role in academic writing by providing clarity and focusing on essential arguments.

Discuss the role of summarization in academic writing.