Central Idea
What is the main idea or central idea of a passage?
What the text is mostly about and what point the author is trying to make.
What does it mean to “cite text evidence”?
Use details or quotes from the text to support an answer.
What are context clues?
Words or sentences around a word that help explain its meaning.
What are the three main author’s purposes?
Persuade, Inform, Entertain
How many parts should a good constructed response include?
A clear answer + text evidence + explanation.
If a paragraph talks about how bees pollinate flowers and why that helps plants grow, what is the main idea?
Bees help plants grow by pollinating flowers.
Which sentence is better evidence?
A. I think the character is brave.
B. The text says, “Maria climbed the mountain even though she was scared.”
B. The text says, “Maria climbed the mountain even though she was scared.”
If a character “strolled slowly down the road,” what does strolled mean?
Walked slowly or casually.
If a text teaches you how tornadoes form, what is the author’s purpose?
Inform!
What should you do before answering a written response question?
Reread the question and the text
True or False: The main idea is always stated in the first sentence.
Why should you use quotation marks when citing evidence?
To show the words come directly from the text.
Which context clue type gives a definition?
Definition clue.
If an article tries to convince you to recycle, what is the author’s purpose?
Persuade!
Why should you explain your evidence?
To show how the evidence supports your answer.
What should you look for to help find the main idea?
Repeated ideas, topic sentences, and key details
What phrase can you use to introduce evidence?
“According to the text…” or “The author states…”
In the sentence: “The desert was arid, meaning it received very little rain.”
What does arid mean?
Very dry.
A fantasy story about dragons is most likely written to…
Entertain!
What transition can help introduce evidence?
“For example,” “According to the text,” etc.
Why is the main idea important for understanding a passage?
It helps readers understand what the text is mostly about.
If a question asks “How does the character feel?”, what must your answer include?
A feeling and evidence from the text.
Name one strategy to figure out the meaning of an unknown word.
context clues, word parts, rereading
Why is knowing the author’s purpose important?
It helps readers understand why the text was written.
What makes a response strong on the NYS test?
Clear answer, strong evidence, explanation, and complete sentences.