Big Ideas
Story Elements
Author's Craft
Non Fiction Skills
Reading Tools
100

What is the text mostly about?

Main Idea

100

When and where a story takes place

Setting

100

The reason an author writes (to inform, entertain, or persuade)

Author's Purpose 

100

Facts or examples that explain the main idea

Supporting Details

100

Figure something out using clues and what you already know

Infer

200

The most important idea in a nonfiction text.

Central Idea

200

The events that happen in a story.

Plot 

200

The author’s attitude or feeling about the topic

Tone 

200

How a text is organized (cause/effect, compare/contrast, etc.)

Text Structure 

200

Details that help explain or support your thinking

Evidence 

300

The big message or lesson the author wants you to learn.

Theme

300

The main problem in a story.

Conflict

300

How the story makes the reader feel

Mood

300

Why something happens and what happens because of it

Cause and Effect 

300

How the reader feels while reading the text

Mood

400

A short retelling of the most important parts of a text.

Summary

400

How the problem is solved at the end

Resolution

400

Words used in a creative way, like similes and metaphors

Figurative Language 

400

How things are alike and different

Compare and Contrast 

400

The most important idea the author wants you to understand

Theme 

500

Facts or details from the text that prove your thinking.

Evidence

500

Words that describe a character’s personality

Character Traits 

500

Who is telling the story and how they see events

Point of View 

500

The author’s opinions or beliefs about a topic

Point of View 

500

The events in a story that lead to the problem and solution

Plot