E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Star Wars: A New Hope

Reviews of Two Science Fiction Movies

Level R/40

E.T. : Is Extra-Terrific E.T. Is N.G.Vocabulary• Use antonyms to determine word meaning: What does the word imaginary

mean in this book? Look for clues for the meaning of this word on page 11. (Answer: not real; Clues/evidence: so he invented an imaginary friend; but in the movie the imaginary friend is real)

Find It! Level 1 Comprehension• Identify facts and details: What does Elliot call the alien? (E.T., page 7) • Identify facts and details: Elliot helps E.T. create a . . . (phone, page 8)

Look Closer! Level 2 Comprehension• Compare and contrast: How are the person Spielberg invented when he was a

child and E.T. the same? How are they different? Use a Venn diagram for help in answering the question. (they were both friends; the friend Spielberg invented was imaginary; the friend in the movie was real; he was an alien, page 7)

• Identify stated main idea: What sentence states the main idea of the third paragraph on page 8? (E.T. has special skills that you slowly learn about as the movie unfolds.)

Prove It! Level 3 Comprehension• Make inferences: Information on page 7 supports the inference that the actor

playing Elliot is . . . (Answer: a good actor; Clues/evidence: as portrayed by Thomas, Elliot is one of the most appealing movie-kid characters I have ever seen)

• Make inferences: What clue on page 8 tells you that E.T. wants to go home? (Clues/evidence: He learns enough words to tell Elliott that he has to “phone home” so his spaceship will come back and pick him up.)

Take It Apart! Level 4 Comprehension• Analyze text structure and organization: The author uses cause and effect to tell

about the search for E.T. Find this on page 8. (Scientists and government agents are searching for E.T.; they want to capture and study him)

• Evaluate author’s purpose: Why does the author probably begin the review on page 11 with questions? (to get readers attention)

friends Spielbergimaginary

movie realalien

Both

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Star Wars: Predictable EntertainmentStar Wars: A Blastoff for All

Vocabulary• Use description to determine word meaning: What does the word feisty mean in

this book? Look for clues for the meaning of this word on page 15. (Answer: full of energy and courage; Clues/evidence: Princess Leia is one of the feisty leaders of the Rebel Alliance who shows a lot of courage)

Find It! Level 1 Comprehension• Identify facts and details: Who is the Rebel Alliance fighting against?

(the Galactic Empire, page 15) • Identify facts and details: Who controls the Empire? (an evil emperor, page 17)

Look Closer! Level 2 Comprehension• Identify stated main idea: What sentence best states the main idea of the

third paragraph on page 15? (But for my taste, too many of the characters border on the silly.)

• Identify cause and effect: How can the Rebel Alliance succeed at the end of the movie according to the review “Star Wars: A Blastoff for All”? Use a cause-and-effect chart for help in answering the question. (they must fly a crucial mission to destroy the Death Star; they must shoot a torpedo to hit one exact spot, page 20)

Prove It! Level 3 Comprehension• Draw conclusions: What information on page 17 supports the conclusion that the

reviewer really liked the movie? (Clues/evidence: this film has nonstop action and adventure; it has the most compelling characters and most dazzling special effects, too; plus, it’s a classic tale about good and evil; kids and adults can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it)

• Identify unstated main ideas: What is the first paragraph on page 19 mainly about? (Answer: the special effects in the movie; Clues/evidence: they still have a big “wow” factor, I got a charge out of the three-dimensional hologram of Princess Leia; the Jedi lightsaber is the coolest sword with the neatest sounds; the battles are flat-out spectacular; your eyes will open wider than you thought possible when the Death Star blows apart a planet)

Take It Apart! Level 4 Comprehension• Analyze text structure and organization: The author uses descriptive details to

tell what Darth Vader looks and sounds like. Find this on page 15. (He appears to be half machine and half human; he wears a creepy black helmet; he talks with a threatening hiss)

• Evaluate author’s purpose: Why did the reviewer include the questions in the final paragraph of the review on page 20? (to get readers curious about what happens in the movie)

Readers’ & Writers’ Genre Workshop©2011 Benchmark Education Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This card may be photocopied for classroom use only.Based on the Comprehension Through Deductive Reasoning Model developed by Margaret Kilgo.

succeed

fly a mission

shoot a torpedo to exact spot

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