Identifying Unfamiliar Words Methods!
What is the most effective strategy for identifying unfamiliar words?
Using Context Clues!
What is a point of view?
A perspective that the reader views the story from.
What method is being used in this sentence?
My goal in writing this paper is to convince you that water is wet.
1. Establishing an idea or thesis
What is the central idea of a text?
The author's main argument or most important idea!
What is the denotation and connotation of the word puzzled?
The poorly worded essay puzzled Mr. Chin for hours!
D: confused
C: neutral/negative
If an unfamiliar word follows (comes after) a possessive noun, what part of speech is that word most likely to be?
A Noun!
What point of view has the following features?
Pronouns: I, Me, We
Subject and narrator are the same person.
First Person
What method is being used in the following sentence?
Water is wet because it makes other things wet. In the same way that slapping something dry with something wet makes the dry thing wet; slapping something dry with water will make the dry thing wet as well!
5. Order points in a logical way.
What 2 things so you need to write a summary?
The central idea of the text, and supporting details.
Word: Detract
The lack of punctuation in this essay detracts from the otherwise excellent analysis.
D: To take away from or make something worse.
C: Negative/neutral
If an unfamiliar word follows a singular, plural, or proper noun, what part of speech is that word most likely to be?
A Verb!
What point of view has the following features?
Pronouns: You, Your, Yours
Subject is the reader, narrator is speaking directly to them.
Second Person!
What method is being used in the following sentence.
I remember that my uncle used to say that water isn't wet, which is ironic since he drowned in the lake later in the week. The autopsy clearly reported that his lungs were wet with excess amounts of water!
4. Use personal anecdotes or reflections or draw from personal experience.
When writing a summary, what is the one things that you never want to do?
Use direct quotes! Always paraphrase instead.
Word: Exquisite
Mr. Chin smiled with pride after reading a student's exquisite paper!
D: Excellent or exceptional
C: Positive
If an unfamiliar word follows a verb, what part of speech is that word most likely to be?
An Adverb!
What point of view has the following features?
Pronouns: They, Their
Narrator is speaking about multiple people at once, and knows how groups of people feel.
Third Person Omniscient
What method is being used in the following sentence?
The sensation of wetness is caused by touching things that have come into contact with water, so water is wet since it touches itself.
3. Provide a fact that supports the idea.
When writing the first sentence of a summary, what 3 things do you want to include in the first sentence aside from the central idea?
1. The Author's name
2. The title of the text
3. The part of the text being summarized
Word: Precipice
Mr. Chin stood at the precipice of the huge cliff, contemplating what he could do to better support his students.
D: A tall, steep rock face or cliff
C: neutral
If an unfamiliar word precedes (comes before) a noun, what part of speech is that word most likely to be?
An Adjective!
What point of view has the following features?
Pronouns: He, She, Her, Him
Narrator is speaking about another character's thoughts and feelings, usually as if they were a character themselves.
3rd person Limited!
As you can see, water is very clearly wet, as I have proved throughout my writing!
7. Reiterate the central idea or details that support the central idea several times.
What 3 things do you need to do to write a great summary?
1. Include the central idea and at least 2 supporting details.
2. Include the name of the author, the title of the work, and the part of the work.
3. Rephrase your supporting details in your own words!
Word: Anathema
Bad comma usage is Anathema to Mr. Chin; he cannot stand it at all!
D: Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
C: Negative