Fiction
Test Tips
Reading Passages
STAAR Writing Rubric
Persuasive Techniques and Fallacies
100

This is the term for the events of a narrative story such as the rising action, climax, and falling actions.

What is plot?

100

Use this when you are unsure of the spelling of a word or when a question asks you for the meaning of the word.

What is the dictionary?

100

When a reading passage seeks to educate, to inform, or to teach you something is it this type of text.

What is Informative

100

The STAAR rubric includes point for organization which means you need to have at least these three paragraphs.

What is introduction, body, and conclusion.

100

Oh somebody think of the poor children! This Latin word describes an argument that is made with an appeal to emotion.

What is Pathos?
200

This is the word that means the main character of a narrative story.

What is the protagonist?

200

This is the amount of time you have to finish the STAAR English I test.

What is all day/as much time as you need?

200

This is the purpose of an Argumentative text.

What is to persuade/convince?

200

Every essay needs this which should be located at the beginning and the end of the essay.

What is the thesis statement?

200

This Latin term describes an argument that uses cold hard facts like statistics and scientific studies. 100% of English teachers think you should know this term.

What is logos?

300

This the most exciting part of a fictional story with lot's of tension and maybe a showdown between the hero and villain.

What is the climax?

300

Mr. Baker says this is the first reading passage you should find when you start the test.

What is the reading for the ECR/essay question?

300

This is the term for what the author is trying to accomplish by writing the text.

What is author's purpose?

300

Without this you are just giving opinions. You need this specific information from the reading in order to support your claims.

What is text evidence?

300

Trust me I'm a doctor! This Latin term describes arguments where the speaker presents themselves as an expert or a trustworthy person.

What is ethos?

400

When an author provides really in depth descriptions in their story so that you can picture it in your mind they are including this.

What is vivid imagery?

400

Do this before you even think about answering the questions!

What is read the entire passage?

400

After you read a text, you should figure out this concept which means the central idea of the text.

What is theme?

400

Be sure to reread your written responses! Any mistakes will cost you points in the Conventions category which covers these two aspects of essays.

What is grammar and spelling?

400

Miss this question and you will fail the STAAR which then leads to dropping out of school which then leads to being homeless under a bridge. Don't fall for this category of logical fallacy!

What is a slippery slope?

500

This is the vocabulary word for a character in a story that has a completely different personality than the main character in order to make the differences obvious. 

What is a foil?

500

This is the answer choice that is so rarely the correct response on the revising and editing questions so I shouldn't even pick it.

What is "No change needed"?

500

This is when you make predictions using clues from a reading passage as well as your previous knowledge.

What is inferencing/making an inference?

500

That's some nifty evidence! But it means nothing unless you write this after it.

What is explanation/reasoning?

500

You're an idiot if you miss this question! This type of fallacy attacks the person speaking rather than the arguments they make.

What is ad hominem?