STAAR Reading Objective Review

Plot

Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot Components

Topic: Who or what the text is about.

Main idea: what the author wants us to know about the topic

Supporting Details: the evidence and analysis that supports the main idea.

Stated main idea: a general sentence that states exactly what the reader should learn about the topic.

Implied main idea: the main idea that is suggested by the supporting details.

Topic, Main Idea, and Supporting Details

Author’s PurposeReasons for Writing

Writing to Persuade

The MAIN purpose is to convince the reader.

Examples

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive Speeches

Persuasive Letters or notes

Persuasive writing attempts to change the reader’s mind or get them to do something.

Writing to Inform

The MAIN purpose is to enlighten the reader.

Examples

Expository essays

Nonfiction texts

Instructions or directions

Informational writing may be entertaining, but the MAIN purpose is to inform.

Writing to Entertain

The MAIN purpose is to amuse readers.

Examples• Stories • Poems• Plays

You may learn something from a story, but the MAIN purpose is to entertain.

Reading Skillsto remember:

Theme – A message about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader. You may need to infer what the writer’s message is.One way to figure out the theme is to watch for the lessons learned by the main characters to people in real life.

Help in finding the THEME!

SIGNPOSTS TO NOTICE AND NOTE!!USE THESE STRATEGIES!

“AGAIN AND AGAIN”When you notice a word, phrase, or situation mentioned over and over, STOP and ask yourself, “Why does this keephappening again and again?” The answer will tell you about the THEME and CONFLICT, or will foreshadow what might happen later in the story.

Help in finding the THEME!

SIGNPOSTS TO NOTICE AND NOTE!!USE THESE STRATEGIES!

AHA MOMENTWhen a character realizes, understands, or finally figures out something, STOP and ask yourself, “How might this change things?” If it is about a problem, it tells you something about the CONFLICT; if it is a life lesson, it tells you something about the THEME.

Reading Skillsto remember:

Summarizing – To summarize is to briefly retell the main ideas of a piece of writing in one’s own words.

Somebody wanted but soCharacters Plot Conflict Resolution

Point of View

One of the most important decisions a writer makes as they write a story is the narrative point of view he/she will use.

The point of view is the narrator’s perspective. Through whose eyes will you, the reader, see the story?

FIRST PERSON

The reader only knows the thoughts and feelings of the narrator as he or she tells the story through their eyes.

First person point of view uses the keywords “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “us,” and “our.”

THIRD PERSON LIMITED

The reader only knows the thoughts and feelings of one main character.

Third person limited point of view uses the keywords “he/she,” “him/her,” “they,” “them,” “their,” and the character’s name.

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT

The reader knows the thoughts and feelings of all the main characters (more than one). Omniscient means having total knowledge or knowing everything.

Third person omniscient point of view uses the keywords “he/she,” “him/her,” “they,” “them,” “their,” and the characters’ name.

NOTE: The keywords are the same as third person limited, so you have to be careful about knowing the difference between 3rd person limited and 3rd person omniscient!

Subjective Point of View

When writers emphasize or share their own personal feelings, thoughts,

judgments, and opinions, their

writing is defined as subjective.

Objective Point of View

Objective writing presents facts and figures only. It does not

include the writer’s beliefs

or feelings.

Warning!

Some texts may combine objective writing and subjective writing. For example, a biographer may include his or her opinion of the person about whom he or she is writing, as well as report the facts regarding that person’s life. It is important to recognize which segments are written objectively and which are written subjectively.

Organization

Passage OrganizationO Sequence- presentation of the events

in the order they happened. (Transition Words)

O Compare- tell how things are similar O Contrast- tell how things are differentO Problem/Solution- present a problem

of some kind of and then follow up with a resolution or solution to the problem.

O Cause/Effect- give a reason that something is happening, and then follow up with the effect it will have as a result.

Making Generalizations

Using what you read & What you already know

When you read, you may see ideas about groups of people, animals, or things.

What you read & what you already know helps you to make a general

statement about a group.

This is called a:

Generalization.

Generalization Key Words Sometimes Always Never Most Many All Generally

Valid Generalizations

Valid means true. Supported by facts Agrees with what you already know

about the topic Uses logic and reasoning Proven with several examples

Faulty Generalizations Faulty means false.

Not supported by facts Watch for the key words: none, all,

always, never, everyone, nobody

Context CluesInformation (such as a 

definition, synonym, antonym, or example) that appears near

a word or phrase and offers direct or indirect suggestions

about its meaning.

Types of Context CluesContext clues come in various forms.

They may be a definition of the word embedded in the text

The factory supervisor demanded an inspection, which is a careful and critical examination of all of the meats processed each day.

Types of Context Clues

a synonym or antonym in a word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph around the word

The boxes weren't exactly heavy, just cumbersome, unlike the easy-to-carry  bags with handles. (Here cumbersome can be figured out from its antonym, easy-to-carry.)

Types of Context Clues

an example that helps define the word

The builder decided that the house could be built on a number of sites, for example, along a wooded path,

near the ocean, or atop a mountain.

Types of Context Clues

a restatement of the word or idea

Gary Paulsen writes books that appeal, or are of particular interest, to young adult readers.

What is an Inference?• An inference is something that you conclude based partly on evidence and partly on your own knowledge.

• When you make an inference, you read something, addwhat you know to it, and draw a conclusion.

• You put “two and two together” or “read between thelines.

What I Read +What I Already Know =What I Infer

The girl had tearsin her eyes.

People with tears intheir eyes are often sad.

The girl is sad.

The house stood at the top of a hill surrounded by twisted, bare trees. The girl shivered in the cold wind and brushed the wet snow from her shoes. She remembered her nice, warm home in Florida with its sandy beaches and warm sunshine. Slowly, she walked toward her new home.How does the girl feel ??

What I Read + What I Know = Already

What I Infer

The setting creates adreary, sad, unwanted Mood. 1. Thinks of her old home2. Walks home slowly

1. It’s hard to move to a new place.2. When you move you losethings you care about.

The girl doesnot like her newhome and prefersher old home.

CHARACTERIZATION

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Indirect characterization is when the author SHOWS things that reveal the personality of the character.

There are FIVE different methods of Indirect Characterization:Speech Thoughts Effect on other characters ActionsLooks

(STEAL)

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Speech- What does the character say? How does the character speak?

Example: “Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp this summer! I love being outside!”

This shows us the character is upbeat

and happy.

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Thoughts- What is revealed through the character’s thoughts and feelings?

Example: I wish it would stop raining. I am tired of sitting inside!

This shows us the character is not happy about the situation.

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Effect on Others- What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?

Example: The boy glared at his sister as she ate his dessert.

This shows us that the character is upset about his sister’s behavior and her inability to think of others.

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Actions- What does the character do? How does the character behave?

Example: The girl rode the lawn mower through the house and into the garage.

This shows us the girl is not concerned with rules or safety.

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Looks- What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Example: The little girl left the game with slumped shoulders and a frown on her face.

This shows us the little girl is not enjoying herself and is upset.

THE DIFFERENCE Remember, the difference between

direct characterization and indirect characterization is TELLING v. SHOWING!

Indirect characterizations are like clues about the characters. There is no mystery with direct characterization because the author gives us the information we need to know!

What is Persuasion?

A means of convincing people:

to buy a certain productto believe something or act

in a certain wayto agree with a point of

view

Jennifer Bernhard, Literacy Specialist Clark County Schools

Common persuasive techniques often used in advertising

SloganRepetitionBandwagonTestimonial Emotional AppealExpert Opinion

Purpose?

Slogan: “Can you hear me now?”A catchy phrase or statement

often used to sell a service or a product

Repetition: The name of a product is repeated many times

HEAD ON Apply directly

to the forehead HEAD ON Apply directly

to the foreheadHEAD ON

Apply directly to the forehead

Bandwagon

A statement suggesting that everyone is using a specific product, so you should too

Testimonial

A well-known person supports a product or service

Emotional AppealA person is made to have strong

feelings about a situation or product

Expert opinion

Experts approve this product, so you should use it

“Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum”

Audience Awareness

Advertisers know how to target their audiences use appropriate persuasive

techniqueWho is the audience?

Audience?

Audience?

Purpose?

Persuasive

technique?

Audience?

Purpose?

Persuasive

technique?

Jennifer Bernhard, Literacy Specialist Clark County Schools

Literary Elements in Speeches

Alliteration-the repetition of the beginning sound of a word

Parallelism-the repetition of similar types

Allusion-a reference to a famous person, historic event, or a work of literature

Epigraph-a quote set apart from text Aphorism-a succinct statement of

philosophy or principle (usually an aphorism phrases a complex or wise thought in a brief and compelling way)

A great speech, at its heart, is a story well told. Therefore, many literary elements that we are accustomed to seeing in literary pieces are also found in speeches. Below are a few of the most common devices that you may encounter in a speech: