BENCHMARK REVIEW

February 28, 2014

AUTHOR’S PURPOSEIf you encounter a question that asks why the author wrote something, that question is an “author’s purpose” question.

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

EntertainMakes a passage personal;

Might include dialogue;

Look for plot elements;

PersuadeMight include persuasive helping verbs: should or must, for example;

The author will make a claim and use strong language to convince you that he or she is right;

Might call upon the reader to take action;

Might defend a position

InformMight include dates, facts, lists, graphs, charts, maps, or other graphic aids;

Might not include much opinion;

Might not include much dialogue, except for interesting quotes to support a detail.

POINT OF VIEWMany times you are asked to determine the point of view of a passage.

POINT OF VIEW

First personWhen a passage is written in the first person point of view, the author is the writer. Therefore, he or she will use first person pronouns (I, me, we, us). The narrator is a character in the story.

Third Person OmniscientWhen a passage is written in the third person and the ideas, thoughts, and views of MORE THAN ONE CHARACTER are revealed, we call it Third Person Omniscient. It is as if God is telling the story. You will not see first person pronouns unless they are used in dialogue. You will see third person pronouns (he, she, they, them, their, etc.). The narrator is not a character in the story.

Third Person LimitedWhen a passage is written in the third person but the reader only gets to learn about the thoughts, ideas, and feelings of ONE CHARACTER, it is called Third Person Limited. You will see third person pronouns (he, she, they, them, their, etc.) Notice how my microscope is focused in on one thing or character. The narrator is not a character in the story.

FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW

Cinderalla was the last girl in the world I would want to marry. I mean, who wears glass slippers to a ball? I only picked up that lost slipper because it was a safety hazard. And it seemed like a princely thing to do.

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT

Cinderella hated to lose her slipper but knew she was running out of time. Watching her, the prince shook his head and thought, “There’s an accident waiting to happen.

THIRD PERSON LIMITED

Cinderella ran down the steps, losing a slipper along the way. The prince thought to himself, “She’s going to break an ankle.”

THEME

•THEME•THEMESSAGE•THEMEANING

THEME

• “Thank You, M’am”

A thematic idea or topic might be “second chances.” That, however, is not a thematic statement because it contains no message. A thematic statement could be “Everyone deserves a second chance.” Here’s another good one: “An act of kindness can make a difference in a person’s life.”

• Ask yourself this question:

WHAT IS THE LIFE LESSON THAT THE DYNAMIC CHARACTER LEARNED AS A RESULT OF THE EVENTS IN THE STORY?

Could it be that the author is sending you, the reader, a message about that life lesson?

Main ideas = topic sentences

Remember that the topic sentence is like the roof of a house. It is the sentence that is being supported by all the other details. Ask yourself: “What are all these details, facts, examples

supporting?”

MAIN IDEAS HAVE TWO COMPONENTS

• The left side of our roof is the topic of the paragraph; the right side (the predicate part of our sentence) is what the author wants us to know about the left side- the subject of our sentence.

POETRY

The basicsStanzas

Traditional

Free Verse

Speaker

Refrain

Sound DevicesRhyme

Rhyme Scheme

Rhythm

Repetition

Alliteration

Imagery and Figurative Language

Simile

Metaphor

Personification

Onomatopoeia

Meter

POETRY

BalladA type of narrative poem that tells a story and was originally meant to be sung or recited.

Epic poemA long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or a group of people.

Free VersePoetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm.

POETRY

HaikuA form of Japanese poetry in which 17 syllables are arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5. It appeals to an emotion related to beauty/nature.

LimerickA short, humorous poem composed of five lines – aabba rhyme scheme.

LyricPoetry that presents the personal thoughts and feelings of a single speaker. MOST POEMS, OTHER THAN NARRATIVE POEMS, ARE LYRIC POEMS.

POETRY

NarrativePoetry that tells a story. Like fiction, it contains characters, a setting, and a plot. You could create a character/wants to/but/so chart over a narrative poem.

OdeA type of lyric poem that deals with serious themes, such as justice, truth, or beauty.

SonnetA poem that has a formal structure, containing 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme and meter.

POETRY – REVIEW ALL THE POETRY TERMS

WE’VE STUDIED!!!

Be certain that you are familiar with these terms:

• Metaphor• Onomatopoeia• Alliteration• Hyperbole• Rhyme• Idiom• Simile

What drives a story?

• Setting: Picture a stage. When the curtain opens, you are viewing the SET. You can usually tell what the time and place of the story will be. The same thing happens when you read. You should look for details that tell you what the setting (time and place of the action) of the story is. Ask yourself how this setting affects the story’s conflict and theme.

What drives a story?

•Characters: These are the people (or animals or imaginary creatures) that take part in the story. Ask yourself how we get to know these characters. Does the author describe them directly? Do you find out more about them through their thoughts, dialogue, and actions (indirect)?

What drives a story?

•Conflict: This is the struggle that moves the action forward. The conflict can be internal or external.

LOOK AT THE VERBS!

• Pay close attention to the author’s use of verbs! Look at the difference in the meaning of the following sentences:

• Mrs. Rasp walked into the room.

• Mrs. Rasp sauntered into the room.

• Mrs. Rasp hurried into the room.

• Mrs. Rasp stormed into the room.

• Mrs. Rasp cruised into the room.

• Mrs. Rasp ambled into the room.

• Does the verb give you a different feeling for the character, the setting, the conflict? YES!

Mood

• Mood is sort of like the ambience at a restaurant. When you go to a fast food restaurant, would you expect there to be candles and linen napkins on the table? No! That wouldn’t fit the MOOD or AMBIENCE.

• Words that describe mood:

cheerful thoughtful

romantic silly

somber peaceful

wondrous terrifying

eerie

Tone

• Have you ever heard your mother say something like this: “Don’t take that tone with me!” What she is saying is that she doesn’t like your attitude. Tone = author’s attitude

• Words to describe tone:

humorous mocking

sarcastic disgusted

sympathetic admiring

serious angry

sincere

Pronouns

• Please pay close attention to pronouns. If you are not sure what the antecedent (the word the pronoun takes the place of) is, reread until you know. If you keep reading without taking that important pit stop, you could misread.

“That afternoon, Mrs. Rasp walked into the classroom, which was full of eager students.”

“That afternoon, Mrs. Rasp walked into the classroom. It was fully of eager students.”

SUMMARY

• Please, please, please remember that if you are asked about a summary statement for a passage, the best way to approach it is by creating a Character/Wants to/But/So chart.• This is a story about a teacher (character) who wants

her students to try their hardest but the test is being given on a Friday so she feels the need to review, review, review!