Vocabulary
Text Structures and Features
Central Idea
Arguments
Rhetorical Devices, Diction, and Syntax
100

List any affixes you know that mean "not."

Enumera los afijos que conozcas que signifiquen «no».

Un, in, im, ir, il, non, dis

100

Why might an author include a timeline as a text feature?

¿Por qué un autor podría incluir una línea de tiempo como elemento del texto?

To show how quickly or slowly something happened./Para mostrar con qué rapidez o lentitud sucedió algo.

100

True or false: When finding meaning in a text, it's most important to determine the central ideas.

True

100

What is a claim?

a statement the author is treating as fact but is an opinion

100

What is figurative language?

language used to express something other than the literal meaning

200

What is an affix that means "again?"

¿Cuál es un afijo que significa «de nuevo»?

Re-

200

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are both important documents in American history. The Articles of Confederation was developed with an emphasis on states' rights. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution focused on unifying the states and fixing the problem of not being able to tax. 

WHAT IS THE TEXT STRUCTURE?

compare and contrast

200

"Hamilton almost single-handedly defended the federalist position against those who felt the country was too big for one government and who feared the total loss of states' rights. It was a fierce struggle, and Hamilton deserves the credit for pulling New York along."

WHICH CENTRAL IDEA SUPPORTS THIS QUOTE?

a. Hamilton played a pivotal role in the creation of the Constitution. 

b. Hamilton faced obstacles while trying to ratify the Constitution. 

c. both central ideas

c. both central ideas

200

What does an author use to support a claim?

evidence and reasoning

200

What are bullet points? Draw them.

a text feature used to break up or emphasize information

300

Contrast is another word for ___________

difference /diferencia

300

In 1773, Samuel Adams wrote "Rights of the Colonists," urging the colonists to leave British rule. Then in 1776, the colonies declared independence from Britain. Shortly after, they wrote the Articles of Confederation. It wasn't until 1787 that the Constitution was drafted. 

WHAT IS THE TEXT STRUCTURE?

chronological order

300

"When it came time to sign the Constitution, only Alexan­der Hamilton's name appears representing New York State."

WHICH CENTRAL IDEA IS SUPPORTED BY THIS QUOTE? 

a. Hamilton played a pivotal role in the creation of the Constitution. 

b. Hamilton faced obstacles while trying to ratify the Constitution. 

c. both central ideas

a. Hamilton played a pivotal role in the creation of the Constitution.

300

What are the three components of an argument (hint: CER)?

claim, evidence, and reasoning

300

Read this section from the text.

"He was a true son of New York, the Constitution had been adopted, and the United States of America was now well on its way." (paragraph 9)

How do these sentences advance the author’s purpose? 

a. by using long, complex sentences to reflect Hamilton's long life

b. by using commas to emphasize that Hamilton was a victim of his own pride

c. by using repetitive sentence structures to suggest that Hamilton was an unremarkable individual

d. by using short, descriptive phrases to emphasize Hamilton's historical significance

d. by using short, descriptive phrases to emphasize Hamilton's historical significance

400

Irony means something is the ____________ of what is expected.

opposite /opuesta

400

How would including a timeline of the publication of Hamilton's essays in the Federalist after paragraph 6 affect the author’s purpose?

a. It would show a comparison of the states who were ready to ratify the Constitution to those who did not.  

b. It would illustrate how dedicated to the ratification process Hamilton actually was.

c. It would provide a visual of Hamilton’s progression from a timid person to a confident leader. 

d. It would clarify how the Articles of Confederation was used to structure the first draft of the Constitution.


b. It would illustrate how dedicated to the ratification process Hamilton actually was.

400

What two central ideas about the topic of the Constitution does the author develop throughout the passage?

a. The U.S. needed the Constitution to unify the new government. 

b. Every Founding Father was ecstatic about the development of the Constitution. 

c. Alexander Hamilton was determined to ratify the Constitution in order to make amends with Britain. 

d. Founding Fathers, like Hamilton, faced obstacles in ratifying the Constitution.

e. Hamilton was indifferent about the formation of the new government.

a. The U.S. needed the Constitution to unify the new government.

d. Founding Fathers, like Hamilton, faced obstacles in ratifying the Constitution.

400

How did the critics of the original Constitution support their argument that a powerful central government is dangerous? 

a. by tracking the exact number of individual rights that were lost under English rule

b. by claiming that Alexander Hamilton personally intended to become a controlling leader

c. by reasoning that a central government would lead to the total loss of states' rights

d. by demonstrating that the three branches of government were failing to check on each other

c. by reasoning that a central government would lead to the total loss of states' rights

400

Read the following sentences from paragraph 1.

"Not all the immediate concerns of citizens could be handled right away, but as time passed, some people began to look ahead and wonder what kind of country did they want the United States of America to become? It was clear to a few, including Hamilton, that the Articles of Confedera­tion, the system under which they had been operating, would not be adequate forever."

What is the author’s purpose for using the rhetorical question in this paragraph? 

a. to suggest that Alexander Hamilton was the only person who worried about the future of the country. 

b. to illustrate that the Articles of Confederation was designed to last forever

c. to emphasize that change was needed to form the best version of America

d. to explain the desire some felt to recreate the success of the British government


c. to emphasize that change was needed to form the best version of America

500

When New Yorkers met in Poughkeepsie to deliberate the ratification of the Constitution, Governor Clinton led a group of upstate men opposed to it.

WHAT DOES RATIFICATION MEAN?

official approval /aprobación oficial

500

How does the author use text structure in paragraph 3 to convey how Hamilton's idea was seen by others?

a. by using a compare and contrast structure to balance Hamilton’s physical strength against his intelligence 

b. by using a chronological structure to show how Hamilton’s reputation improved as he grew older

c. by using a cause and effect structure to explain that Hamilton’s word choice turned people against him politically

d. by using a problem and solution structure to show using the term "elective monarch" was Hamilton's only solution for success

c. by using a cause and effect structure to explain that Hamilton’s word choice turned people against him politically

500

Which detail develops both central ideas (the U.S. needed a strong central government AND Hamilton was determined to help the country)?

a. "It would take until 1787 for Congress to meet in Philadelphia to talk about amending the Articles of Confederation."

b. "And even if America declared it was at war, how could it go ahead and fight with only state militias to depend on? 

c. "Hamilton meant it to reflect his idea of the need for a strong leader. Above all, Hamilton feared that democracy would deteriorate to a "mobocracy."

d. "After much discussion, Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a compromise between the plans already presented."

c. "Hamilton meant it to reflect his idea of the need for a strong leader. Above all, Hamilton feared that democracy would deteriorate to a "mobocracy."

500

What claim is developed in the section “Reaching a Compromise”? 

a. Hamilton faced significant political obstacles while championing the Constitution.

b. Hamilton did not have have help from anyone in the ratification of the Constitution.

c. Hamilton believed that the Constitution was not an urgent issue facing the new nation.

d. Hamilton was a naturally gifted speaker who easily persuaded his colleagues to support the Constitution.

a. Hamilton faced significant political obstacles while championing the Constitution.

500

"This must have hurt Hamilton, the obvious 'outsider,' and perhaps he sought to make a correction. (paragraph 3)

"Surely this was a moment in which Alexander Hamilton must have felt that he had realized his boyhood dream of having a place in the world. He was a true son of New York." (paragraph 9)

Explain the significance of the contrast in the sentences. 

a. It highlights the irony that a main champion of the Constitution was originally treated as an outsider. 

b. It emphasizes the irony of Hamilton calling himself the ‘son’ of a document that he disliked.

c. It reveals an irony where the document intended to protect the public was actually hated by Hamilton.

d. It demonstrates irony by showing that Hamilton only praised the Constitution to his fellow delegates while secretly planning to get rid of it.

a. It highlights the irony that a main champion of the Constitution was originally treated as an outsider.