Personal Narrative
What is the purpose of the introduction in a personal narrative?
To grab the reader's attention and introduce the main topic or experience
What is the theme of a story?
The underlying message, lesson, or moral the author wants to convey
What is the difference between revising and editing?
Revising focus on improving content, organization, and clarity; editing corrects grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
What is a stanza in a poem?
A grouped set of lines in a poem, the fancy word for "paragraph" in poetry
To inform or explain
What part of a personal narrative includes the most detail and shows the events of the story unfolding?
The body paragraphs or middle section of the narrative
What is the difference between theme and central idea?
Theme is the message or lesson, central idea is what the text is mostly about
Which of the following is a revision task?
A) fixing a misspelled word
B) replacing a weak introduction with a stronger one
C) adding a period to the end of a sentence
B) replacing a weak introduction with a stronger one
Which poetic device is used when a word imitates a sound, like buzz or pop?
Onomatopoeia
What is the difference between a fact and an opinion in nonfiction texts?
A fact can be proven true or false; an opinion reflects personal beliefs or judgments and can't be proven
Which narrative element reveals how the author felt about the experience and often includes reflection or lessons learned?
The conclusion or closing paragraph
True or false: The theme of a story must be stated directly by the author.
False — themes are often implied and must be inferred by the reader.
Read this sentence and revise it for clarity: "The dog it ran fast and barking loud."
Example answer: "The dog ran quickly and barked loudly."
What is the main difference between a haiku and free verse poem?
A haiku has a specific syllable structure (5-7-5), while free verse has no fixed form or rhyme scheme
Identify one way to determine the central idea of a nonfiction passage.
Accepted answers: Look for repeated ideas, key details in the introduction and conclusion, or main points in topic sentences.
Name two techniques writers use in personal narratives to develop vivid experiences for the reader.
Accepted answers: Dialogue, sensory details, inner thoughts/monologue/soliloquy, specific actions, figurative language
After reading a story where a character learns to forgive someone who hurt them, what might be a possible theme?
Example answer: Forgiveness is necessary for healing.
What should you check for during the editing phase of writing? Name at least three things.
Accepted answers: Spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement
What poetic device is used in the line "The stars danced in the night sky"?
Personification
Which text feature would best help a reader quickly find specific information in a nonfiction article?
A subheading or table of contents
A student writes a personal narrative that includes multiple disconnected memories without a clear beginning, middle, or end. What structural issue is the student facing, and how could it be improved?
The student is lacking a clear chronological structure or plot. To improve, they should organize events in a logical order with transitions and focus on one central experience or topic.
Read this short paragraph and identify the central idea:
"Lena practiced her speech for hours, faced her fear of public speaking, and finally delivered it with confidence. She realized that growth only happens when you face your fears."
Overcoming fear through preparation and persistence leads to personal growth.
Read the paragraph below and identify two specific revisions that could improve its clarity or organization.
"My summer was fun. I went a lot of places. One of the best things was the beach. I ate food and swam. It was fun because I liked it a lot."
1) Adding specific details to make the writing more vivid and informative (naming the beach, describing what you see, stating more actions you did)
2) Vary sentence structure to improve flow and avoid repetition (combining short sentences or using transition words)
A student writes a poem describing a rainy day using the words: "gray whispers," "sky sighs," and "clouds weep.” Identify two poetic devices used and explain their effect.
Personification and imagery — they help create mood and bring the scene to life for the reader.
Read the excerpt below and identify the author’s tone and text structure.
"While some argue social media brings people together, others point to the rising levels of teen anxiety and depression. Experts suggest limits on screen time may help restore balance."
Tone: Balanced or concerned
Text Structure: problem and solution