1. STAAR Reading Objective Review

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

3. Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

4. Topic, Main Idea, and Supporting Details
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.

5. Author’s Purpose
Reasons for Writing

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Reading Skills to remember:
Although there are Hispanics who bring a child a few weeks after baptism as is encouraged
in church law, the cultural practice is to seek baptism when the child is one year old. This is so
because the parents try to coordinate the date of the baptism with the first birthday. Coming from
countries where infant mortality rates have been historically high, reaching the first year of life is a
reason for celebration and Hispanics will want to celebrate. It will be important to have a fiesta
immediately after the baptism and because of their economic status here or in their countries, it
would be prohibitive to have two celebrations in one year.
Reading Skills
to 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.

10. SIGNPOSTS TO NOTICE AND NOTE!!
Although there are Hispanics who bring a child a few weeks after baptism as is encouraged
in church law, the cultural practice is to seek baptism when the child is one year old. This is so
because the parents try to coordinate the date of the baptism with the first birthday. Coming from
countries where infant mortality rates have been historically high, reaching the first year of life is a
reason for celebration and Hispanics will want to celebrate. It will be important to have a fiesta
immediately after the baptism and because of their economic status here or in their countries, it
would be prohibitive to have two celebrations in one year.
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 keep
happening again and again?” The answer will tell you about the THEME and CONFLICT, or will foreshadow what might happen later in the story.

11. SIGNPOSTS TO NOTICE AND NOTE!!
Although there are Hispanics who bring a child a few weeks after baptism as is encouraged
in church law, the cultural practice is to seek baptism when the child is one year old. This is so
because the parents try to coordinate the date of the baptism with the first birthday. Coming from
countries where infant mortality rates have been historically high, reaching the first year of life is a
reason for celebration and Hispanics will want to celebrate. It will be important to have a fiesta
immediately after the baptism and because of their economic status here or in their countries, it
would be prohibitive to have two celebrations in one year.
Help in finding the
THEME!
SIGNPOSTS TO NOTICE AND NOTE!!
USE THESE STRATEGIES!
AHA MOMENT
When 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.

12. Reading Skills to remember: Somebody wanted but so
Although there are Hispanics who bring a child a few weeks after baptism as is encouraged
in church law, the cultural practice is to seek baptism when the child is one year old. This is so
because the parents try to coordinate the date of the baptism with the first birthday. Coming from
countries where infant mortality rates have been historically high, reaching the first year of life is a
reason for celebration and Hispanics will want to celebrate. It will be important to have a fiesta
immediately after the baptism and because of their economic status here or in their countries, it
would be prohibitive to have two celebrations in one year.
Reading Skills
to remember:
Summarizing – To summarize is to briefly retell the main ideas of a piece of writing in one’s own words.
Somebody
wanted
but so
Characters
Plot
Conflict
Resolution

13. 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?

14. 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.”

15. 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.

16. 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!

17. Subjective Point of View
When writers emphasize or share their own personal feelings, thoughts, judgments, and opinions, their writing is defined as subjective.

18. Objective Point of View
Objective writing presents facts and figures only. It does not include the writer’s beliefs or feelings.

19. 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.

20. Organization

22. Passage Organization
Sequence- presentation of the events in the order they happened. (Transition Words)
Compare- tell how things are similar
Contrast- tell how things are different
Problem/Solution- present a problem of some kind of and then follow up with a resolution or solution to the problem.
Cause/Effect- give a reason that something is happening, and then follow up with the effect it will have as a result.

23. Making Generalizations
Using what you read
&
What you already know
When you read, you may see ideas about groups of people, animals, or things.

24. What you read & what you already know helps you to make a general statement about a group.
This is called a:
Generalization.

25. Generalization Key Words
Sometimes
Always
Never
Most
Many
All
Generally
The key words change the meaning of the generalization.
Some flowers have petals.
Flowers always have petals.
Flowers never have petals.
Most flowers have petals.
Many flowers have petals.
All flowers have petals.
Flowers generally have petals.
You have to be VERY careful if you use the word never. Does it NEVER happen?? Is it remotely possible??
Likewise you have to be careful with the words always and all. They include the whole group. Does it ALWAYS happen??

26. 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

27. Faulty Generalizations
Faulty means false.
Not supported by facts
Watch for the key words: none, all, always, never, everyone, nobody

28. Context Clues
Information (such as a definition, synonym, antonym, or example) that appears near a word or phrase and offers direct or indirect suggestions about its meaning.

29. Types of Context Clues
Context 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.

30. 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.)

31. an example that helps define the word
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.

32. 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.

33. What is an Inference? What I Read +
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, add
what you know to it, and draw a conclusion.
You put “two and two together” or “read between the
lines.
What I Read +
What I Already Know =
What I Infer
The girl had tears
in her eyes.
People with tears in
their eyes are often sad.
The girl is sad.

34. The house stood at the top of a hill surrounded by twisted, bare trees
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 Know =
Already
What I Read +
What I Infer
The setting creates a
dreary, sad, unwanted
Mood.
Thinks of her old home
Walks home slowly
It’s hard to move to
a new place.
2. When you move you lose
things you care about.
The girl does
not like her new
home and prefers
her old home.

35. Characterization

36. 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 Actions Looks (STEAL)

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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!

43. What is Persuasion? A means of convincing people:
to buy a certain product
to believe something or act in a certain way
to agree with a point of view
Jennifer Bernhard, Literacy Specialist Clark County Schools

44. Common persuasive techniques often used in advertising
Slogan
Repetition
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Emotional Appeal
Expert Opinion
Purpose?

45. Slogan: “Can you hear me now?”
A catchy phrase or statement often used to sell a service or a product

46. Repetition: The name of a product is repeated many times
HEAD ON Apply directly to the forehead
HEAD ON Apply directly to the forehead
HEAD ON Apply directly to the forehead

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

48. Testimonial
A well-known person supports a product or service

49. Emotional Appeal
A person is made to have strong feelings about a situation or product

50. 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”

51. Audience Awareness Advertisers know how to target their audiences
use appropriate persuasive technique
Who is the audience?

52. Audience?

53. Audience?
Purpose?
Persuasive technique?

54. Audience? Purpose? Persuasive technique?
Jennifer Bernhard, Literacy Specialist Clark County Schools

55. Literary Elements in Speeches
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:
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)