Fiction texts
Maya sat by the window, staring out at the pouring rain. She could hear the faint hum of the music playing downstairs, but it didn’t bring her any comfort. Her friends had invited her to join them for a movie night, but she couldn’t bring herself to go. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt disconnected from everything around her, like a stranger in her own life. She sighed and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, hoping the warmth would help ease the heavy feeling in her chest.
What can be inferred about Maya's feelings in this passage?
A) She feels excited and eager to spend time with her friends.
B) She is struggling with a sense of loneliness and disconnection.
C) She is enjoying the quiet of being alone in her room.
D) She is frustrated with the rain and wants to go outside.
B) She is struggling with a sense of loneliness and disconnection.
Poems seem more difficult because they take a lot of information/ideas and squeeze them into a smaller space. They are like a puzzle that you have to break into parts and solve before moving on to answer questions about them. Only students who want to do their __________ will do the work to understand poem before giving up and just going straight to the questions.
You should create a mental ___________ in your mind as you break the poem down to help you understand the poem
best
image/picture
What is the first step toward a perfect essay?
Read and annotate the prompt.
The old house stood at the edge of the woods, a crumbling skeleton of its former self. Its windows were empty eyes that stared blankly into the overgrown yard, where vines crawled like slow-moving rivers across the cracked stone steps. The wind whispered through the broken doorways, as if the house itself was trying to speak, but its voice was a mere murmur—lost to time and decay. Each creak of the floorboards beneath Emily’s feet seemed to echo in the silence, as though the house was groaning in pain, still haunted by the memories of those who had once lived there.
What is the meaning of the figurative language in the phrase "vines crawled like slow-moving rivers across the cracked stone steps"?
A) The vines are moving quickly and chaotically across the steps.
B) The vines are being compared to calm and steady rivers, suggesting their slow and deliberate growth.
C) The vines are struggling to grow and overcome obstacles in their path.
D) The vines are completely covering the steps and blocking the way forward.
B) The vines are being compared to calm and steady rivers, suggesting their slow and deliberate growth.
If you never met Mr. Walls and walked into his classroom for the first time, what could you infer about him based on the things in his classroom? Choose one thing.
Answers may vary.
The sun had just begun to set when Noah stepped into the old, creaky house. He had heard rumors about the place, how it was haunted and forgotten by time. His heart raced with excitement and fear as he moved cautiously through the dust-covered hallways. Each step seemed to echo through the silence, but Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching him. The house was much bigger than he had imagined, and the deeper he went, the more unsettling it became. At the very end of the hallway, he found a door slightly ajar, and the flicker of a light from the other side caught his attention.
What is the tone of the passage, and how does it contribute to the mood of the story?
A) The tone is joyful, creating a sense of happiness and excitement in Noah’s exploration.
B) The tone is angry, reflecting Noah’s frustration with the house’s eerie atmosphere.
C) The tone is suspenseful, creating a feeling of tension and unease as Noah ventures further into the house.
D) The tone is relaxed, suggesting that Noah is calm and at ease in the house.
C) The tone is suspenseful, creating a feeling of tension and unease as Noah ventures further into the house.
Why is it important to read the title before breaking down an poem?
It will point you in the right direction.
The most important skill in writing an essay (and taking a test).
Time management
The city streets were alive with the hum of conversation, the rhythm of footsteps, and the distant clatter of traffic. As the sun began to set, the sky stretched out, yawning wide and painting itself in hues of pink and gold. The buildings seemed to lean closer, as though listening to the whispers of the evening breeze, eager to soak in the last of the day’s warmth before nightfall settled in.
What is the effect of the personification in the phrase "the sky stretched out, yawning wide"?
A) It emphasizes the vastness of the sky and the calmness of the evening.
B) It suggests that the sky is active and restless, symbolizing chaos.
C) It implies that the sky is shrinking and disappearing as night approaches.
D) It indicates that the sky is tired and ready to sleep.
A) It emphasizes the vastness of the sky and the calmness of the evening.
Mr. Walls worked as what in college?
What lesson did he teach you about the experience he had while working there?
A writing-center tutor
To read the directions well before completing a task
Lily walked through the crowded hallway, her mind racing. She had just received the news that her best friend was moving away, and she didn’t know how to process it. The thought of losing someone who had been with her through so many memories made her heart ache. As she stood by her locker, she saw the laughter and excitement around her, but she felt disconnected, like she was standing on the outside looking in. She longed for things to stay the same, but deep down, she knew that change was a part of life, and though it hurt, it was something she would have to learn to accept.
What is the theme of the passage?
A) Friends are important, but it’s better to be independent.
B) Life is unfair, and change should always be avoided.
C) The best way to handle change is to resist it at all costs.
D) Change is inevitable, and learning to accept it is a valuable life lesson.
D) Change is inevitable, and learning to accept it is a valuable life lesson.
There is a shift in every poem. Most of the time is it ___________ of the way down the poem.
What are some of the ways that a poem could shift? Name 2.
3/4ths (75% of the way down) - MOST OF THE TIME!
POV, verb tense, author's attitude, time period, author changes his mind, author answers question that he has been wondering about the entire poem, there's a solution to a problem, something that was hidden is revealed, etc. (there are unlimited answers to this question).
DAILY DOUBLE
Write all ten steps to a perfect essay in order.
As Jake sat in the crowded cafeteria, he couldn't help but feel like an outsider, much like Romeo in the Juliet's world. He watched his friends laughing and talking with ease, while he fumbled with his lunch tray, unsure of where to sit. The idea of fitting in seemed as difficult as finding peace in a battlefield, and for a moment, Jake wondered if he would ever feel truly at home.
What is the allusion in the passage, and what does it suggest about Jake’s feelings?
A) The reference to "Romeo in Juliet's world" suggests Jake feels like an outsider, similar to Romeo’s isolation in his love for Juliet.
B) The mention of "Romeo in Juliet's world" suggests Jake is in love and struggling with romantic feelings.
C) The phrase "finding peace in a battlefield" alludes to Jake’s success in school, suggesting he is excelling.
D) The comparison to "Romeo in Juliet's world" suggests Jake’s fear of confrontation and conflict.
A) The reference to "Romeo in Juliet's world" suggests Jake feels like an outsider, similar to Romeo’s isolation in his love for Juliet.
What is Mr. Walls' daughter's name?
Emma
Ethan had always been shy and quiet, never one to speak up in class or try new things. He was content with his routine and avoided anything that would make him stand out. But when his teacher asked him to give a presentation in front of the class, Ethan felt a wave of panic. He almost said no, but something inside him told him to try. He spent days preparing, and when the day came, he was nervous, but he stepped up to the front of the room. To his surprise, he found that once he started speaking, the fear faded. By the time he finished, he was proud of himself for stepping out of his comfort zone. Ethan realized that sometimes, facing fears could lead to unexpected growth.
How does Ethan show character growth in the passage?
A) Ethan becomes more confident by focusing only on his strengths.
B) Ethan learns to overcome his fears and push himself beyond his comfort zone.
C) Ethan avoids challenges and remains focused on his usual routine.
D) Ethan gives up on his goals when faced with difficult tasks.
B) Ethan learns to overcome his fears and push himself beyond his comfort zone.
Write an example of rhyme scheme.
ABBA, AABBCCDD, ABBACD, ABABAB, etc.
Name three no no words when writing an informational/argumentative essay.
I, you, me, my, us, our, we, etc.
I believe, I think, I argue, etc.
The fog crept in like a thief in the night,
Silent and slow, it swallowed the town whole.
The buildings, once sharp against the sky,
Now appeared as faint shadows, lost and cold.
The streetlights flickered, like ghosts reaching out,
Barely able to illuminate the world beneath their gaze.
What does the figurative language in the phrase "The streetlights flickered, like ghosts reaching out" suggest?
A) The streetlights are broken and flickering due to a power failure.
B) The streetlights are strong and steady, casting clear light over the town.
C) The streetlights are trying to guide the people through the fog.
D) The streetlights appear weak and ghostly, barely able to illuminate the darkness.
D) The streetlights appear weak and ghostly, barely able to illuminate the darkness.
Mr. Walls was the only true person in class to pull the sword from the stone. What does that symbolize about Mr. Walls?
Good answer: That he is the rightful ruler of Britain
Better answer: Power and destiny
The wind whispers secrets through the trees,
As shadows stretch across the ground.
The night feels heavy with the weight of dreams,
A quiet place where peace is found.
What is the theme of the stanza?
A) The unpredictability of the wind and weather.
B) The excitement of adventures under the night sky.
C) The calm and peaceful nature of the night.
D) The danger and mystery of the night.
C) The calm and peaceful nature of the night.
The most important thing to do when there is a poem on TCAP is the work needed to _________________ the poem
understand
What is in an argumentative essay that is not in an informational essay?
- an argument
- a rebuttal paragraph (counter argument + why the counter argument is wrong)
- an argument + counter argument (written as one complete statement in your thesis statement)
The storm was a beast, growling and twisting in the sky,
Its claws slashing through the air, tearing the clouds apart.
Each flash of lightning was its fanged mouth snapping,
And the thunder, its roar, shaking the earth beneath.
The wind howled like its breath, hot and heavy,
Pushing everything in its path as the beast prowled through the night.
What does the extended metaphor in the passage suggest about the storm?
A) The storm is a fierce but controlled force, carefully making its way through the sky.
B) The storm is a dangerous, violent force of nature, acting like a wild beast.
C) The storm is an unpredictable and chaotic force, yet it is not a threat to the world below.
D) The storm is a majestic and powerful force, but its presence is awe-inspiring rather than frightening.
B) The storm is a dangerous, violent force of nature, acting like a wild beast.
What is Mr. Walls' biggest pet peeve?
Students who do not try their best.