Show:
Strategies
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Character Traits
100
What steps should you take if you don't know the meaning of a word?
1. Sound it out. 2. See if there are any root words you know. 3. Look for context clues. 4. Replace it with synonyms. 5. Make an EDUCATED guess.
100

What's the difference between a poet, and a playwright?

A poet is a poetry writer, and a playwright is a drama writer.

100

What's a stanza?

A poetry paragraph -- a collection of lines meant to be read together (like a paragraph in a book or selection).

100
What is a prop?
A prop is an object that the actors use in the drama. It can be any kind of object!
100
In what ways do authors show us character traits?
Through how a character acts, how a character speaks, and even how a character looks.
200
What does it mean if a word is underlined? What should you do about it?
There is going to be a question on the definition of this word! You should pay special attention to this word and make sure you try to understand the definition.
200
What are some different genres of fiction and nonfiction?
Realistic fiction, children's fiction, fantasy fiction. Nonfiction can have biographies, autobiographies, magazine articles or news articles!
200
What's the difference between free verse and lyric poetry?
Free verse poetry has no set rhyme scheme or rhythm, while lyric poetry follows a pattern, much like a song.
200
What is drama divided into?
Drama is divided into SCENES and ACTS. The scene changes when the setting changes.
200

The alarm clock started ringing. Adam groaned and turned over in his bed. It was way too early to get up and go to school! "Adam, if you're late again, you're going to get detention," his mom said from the hall. "Be quiet and leave me alone!" he yelled back at her, throwing a pillow at the door.

Adam is: lazy, rude, disrespectful, loud, mean.

300
What should you write next to the paragraphs of a passage? Why is this important?
You should write the main idea for each paragraph. This helps you to summarize what is happening in the passage!
300

What is the difference between 1st and 3rd person point of view? 

1st person is told through "I/we"  3rd person is told through "he/she/they/names" 

300

Name three examples of figurative language found in poetry and what their definitions are.

There are metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, allusion, idioms, hyperboles and onomatopoeias! These can also be found in prose and drama.

300
What is a cast of characters?
The cast of characters is the list of who appears in the drama. It usually gives a short description of what they look like or what character traits they have.
300

The big math test was tomorrow, and I was ready for it. I had studied all week with Mr. Smith after school, and I even asked him for extra problems to do! My friend Laura wanted to go see a movie with me, but I said I had to work on math instead. I am determined to get 100%.

This character is: smart, hard working, studious, boring, intelligent, responsible, ambitious, and determined.

400
What are the steps you should take when you look at a question?
1. Identify what skill it's testing. 2. Underline/circle important words. 3. Go back and read the part of the passage the question is talking about. 4. Eliminate wrong answers. 5. Choose your answer and reread the question to make sure you know it's correct.
400

What are the different types of author's purposes? 

Remember PIEED -- persuade, inform, entertain, describe, and explain.

400

What is sensory language (or imagery) and why is it important?

Sensory language/Imagery is when a poet uses language to make us see/feel/hear/taste/smell what is happening in the poem. It makes the poem much more interesting and gives it life!

400
What are stage directions?
Stage directions are words that are it ITALICIZED (slanted) and in BRACKETS [ ] that tell us what the actors are doing or what expressions they are making. It also sometimes tells us the setting.
400

Tom opened up his lunchbag and grinned when he saw that his dad had put two giant cookies in there. What a great day! Cookies were his favorite food. When he took them out to eat, he saw that Sally's lunch only had an apple and a piece of bread. She looked like she was about to cry. He sighed and walked over to her. "Hey, Sally. My dad gave me an cookies on accident, and I hate them. Do you want them?" he asked. What character traits would you use to describe Tom?

Tom is kindhearted, compassionate, friendly, mature, likeable, generous, and helpful.

500

What are some ways you should prepare for the STAAR, or any other test?

1. Get a good night's sleep. 2. Eat a good breakfast with protein (meat or eggs!). 3. Take deep breaths. 4. Remember your strategies. 5. DO YOUR BEST!!!

500
What is the best way to summarize a book? (Bonus points if you can summarize a book that you've read for me.)
A summary needs to have the BEGINNING, the MIDDLE, and the END.
500

What is a simile?  What is a metaphor? 

A simile is comparing to otherwise different things using "like" or "as".  A metaphor compares two different things. 

500

A change in scene means a change in what? 

What is setting. 

500

Name the parts of plot. 

What are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.