Central Idea + Evidence
The central idea of "It's Not Just a Game!"
sports aren't just physical activity, they serve this broader purpose. They benefit people cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically.
"Get in the Zone" uses three subheadings to organize its body paragraphs. What do all three have in common beyond just being topics?
They are all conditions required for flow — remove any one of them and the game stops working.
In "Get in the Zone," the author says games can "completely absorb us in their world." Using context, what does absorb mean here?
To fully occupy your attention; to pull you in completely.
The author of "It's Not Just a Game!" presents both positives and negatives of sports without taking a side. What do we call this type of perspective or approach?
Objective; she presents both sides fairly so the reader can form their own opinion.
Fix it: "The team celebrated it's championship."
The team celebrated its championship.
possessive pronouns never take apostrophes.
In "Get in the Zone," this single word names the heightened state of concentration and enjoyment the whole article is built around.
Flow
The subheading "Forgetting the Fun" in "It's Not Just a Game!" is slightly misleading. Why and what does the section actually argue?
It sounds like the author is abandoning the positive view of sports, but the section actually argues that even negative experiences in sports teach us how to face life's challenges.
"It's Not Just a Game!" says sports teach us to "negotiate plans." Of these synonyms
bargain, discuss, mediate, arrange
Which fits best and why?
Discuss
It fits the context of working with teammates to make decisions together.
The author of "Get in the Zone" opens with a first-person story about dying to a dragon. What does this tell us about his perspective?
He writes as a gamer himself; an insider who personally experiences the frustration he's describing.
Fix it: "Playing video games had a positive affect on the student's focus."
effect
effect is a noun, affect is a verb.
The central idea of "Get in the Zone"
good video games are specifically designed to get the player into a state of flow as quickly as possible and keep them there.
"Get in the Zone" opens with a personal narrative before shifting to informational writing. Why does the author make that structural choice instead of just starting with the facts?
To hook the reader with a relatable experience before explaining the psychology. The structure mirrors the article's argument that engagement has to come before information.
The author of "Get in the Zone" says that too much information onscreen leaves players feeling "disoriented."
Break the word apart, what does the prefix "dis-" tell you about its meaning?
Dis- means not or opposite of, so disoriented means the opposite of oriented... you've lost your sense of direction or purpose.
The prefix alone gets you most of the way there.
Why does the author of "Get in the Zone" quote psychologist Jamie Madigan multiple times instead of just stating his own opinions?
To support his claims with expert evidence; Madigan adds credibility and authority to the argument.
Fix it: "She studied, practiced, and was improving her score every day."
She studied, practiced, and improved her score every day.
parallel structure (Verb tenses don't match)
Why is "Sports are a form of entertainment" a weak choice for the central idea evidence in "It's Not Just a Game!"?
It only supports one section of the article, not the whole central idea about sports benefiting every area of life.
Both texts use subheadings, but they organize information differently. How does the structure of "Get in the Zone" differ from the structure of "It's Not Just a Game!"?
"Get in the Zone" uses subheadings that build on one central concept (flow). "It's Not Just a Game!" uses subheadings to cover distinct, broader topics (history, benefits, downsides, applications).
In "Get in the Zone," the word "immerse" is used to describe being fully focused on the game world. Of these synonyms
submerge, engross, or emerge
Which fits best and why?
Engross; it specifically means to fully absorb someone's attention, which matches how the author uses immerse in the context of mental focus.
Submerge is physical; emerge means to come out of something.
The author of "It's Not Just a Game!" ends with "play to have fun and you'll automatically win!" What does this closing line reveal about her purpose?
She wants readers to understand that the real value of play is the experience itself, not the score or the outcome.
Fix it AND name the error: "The red player found the treasure searching the dungeon."
Misplaced Modifier
"The red player searching the dungeon found the treasure."
Both texts share a big idea about games and sports. What is the overarching point they both build toward?
Games and sports matter because of what they do to our brains and lives... they're more than just entertainment.
In "Get in the Zone," the sections Challenge, Focus, and Reward appear in a specific order. Why does that order make sense — what would be lost if you moved Reward before Challenge?
Challenge has to come first because flow depends on difficulty being established before rewards mean anything. A reward without a challenge has no dopamine payoff — the order reflects how the brain actually works.
Both texts use the word "absorb" or "soak up" to describe what games do to our time and attention. What connotation does that word choice carry, and why does it fit better than "drown" or "flood"?
Absorb is neutral and gradual; it suggests a natural, willing process.
Drown and flood imply something overwhelming and unwanted, which doesn't fit either author's tone.
Both "Get in the Zone" and "It's Not Just a Game!" are informational texts, but their authors establish perspective differently. What is one specific technique each author uses to establish their perspective on games?
Millar uses first-person narrative; opening with his own gaming experience to establish that he writes as a gamer.
Calabrese uses expert quotes and research; establishing herself as an informed outside observer presenting evidence.
Fix it AND name the error: "Our food stayed in the bag while it's hot."
Misplaced Modifier AND Parallel Structure
While it's hot, our food stays in the bag.