Reading Unit 2 Skills Review Compiled by Terry Sams and Ann Lindsay, Piedmont Elemntary

Genre: Fantasy Fiction In fantasy, animals talk, miniature creatures inhabit  a world beneath the floorboards, and a peach swells to the size of a house. Some of the characteristics found in fantasy extend to science fiction, which is set most often in the future and deals with the impact of technology and science on humans. In science fiction, robots talk, people travel faster than light, and Martians exist.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction A fantasy is a story that could not possibly happen. The characters may not be real, or the setting or the events in the plot may not be real. The purpose of a fantasy is usually to entertain.

Genre: Fables Fiction A fable is a brief story, usually with animal characters who act like people. They reveal the good and bad points of human nature. The purpose of the fable is to influence or persuade someone or something. It teaches a lesson.

Genre: Expository Nonfiction Nonfiction is writing that is based on fact instead of on imaginary events. It is a type of literature that deals with real people, events, and experiences. It explains the nature of something, or tells what something is like. It uses definitions, examples, classifications, and comparisons.

Genre: Expository Nonfiction Expository Nonfiction is nonfiction that gives factual information about the real world. It explains the nature of something, or tells what something is like. It uses methods of expository nonfiction such as definition, comparison and contrast, example, and classification.

Genre: Historical Fiction Historical Fiction is fiction that takes place in the past. The author makes up the characters and events, but the characters and events seem real. The setting is important, and the problems and events are based on things that really did or could have happened during the time period.

Comprehension Skill: Visualizing When we visualize while reading, we create pictures in our minds. Visualizing helps us to relate to the characters in a text. We imagine what things look like, smell, sound, taste, and feel.

Comprehension Skill - Theme Theme is the underlying meaning or “big idea” of a story. Sometimes an author states the theme directly. Sometimes readers have to figure out the theme on their own, using evidence from the text to support their big idea.

Comprehension Review – Cause and Effect An effect is something that happened Ask yourself the question What happens? A cause is why something happens Ask yourself Why did it happen? A Cause leads to an effect. Click on the words “Cause and Effect” to practice the skill.

Comprehension Review – Main Idea and Details The topic is the thing the author is writing about. The most important thing about this topic is called the main idea. Some main ideas can be found in the first sentence or paragraph. Sometimes the author does not state the main idea, and you have to infer, or figure out for yourself this main idea.

Comprehension Skill – Context Clues When you see unfamiliar words, use context clues, or words around the unfamiliar word, to figure out its meaning. The context may give a definition or an explanation. Example: Animals that eat other animals are called predators Sometimes a synonym is used as a context clue. Example: Komodo dragons are carnivores, or meat-eaters.

Literary Device: Imagery and Sensory Words The author uses words that help the reader experience the way things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel. Using your senses helps you understand the story. Imagery helps the reader visualize the setting and the characters’ actions.

Literary Device: Onomatopoeia Words that imitate the sounds they are describing are called onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia makes meaning clearer and writing livelier and more interesting.

Vocabulary Skill: Synonyms Words with similar meanings are called synonyms. You can often find out the meaning of unknown words by finding a clue in the words around it. Examples – melody and song subway – underground train

Vocabulary Skill – Antonyms Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Many writers create sentences in which a known word may be used as a clue to the meaning of an antonym. Examples : I’m not happy, I’m distraught. She waded through the shallow creek because it wasn’t too deep to cross.

Research Skills: Encyclopedia An encyclopedia is a book where information about a particular subject can be found. There are certain features to an encyclopedia. A volume is each book in a set of encyclopedia. Volumes are organized alphabetically. An entry is an article in an encyclopedia

--An entry word is the word or phrase that begins and entry and gives the subject of the entry. --A keyword is a word you think of that identifies the information you are trying to find. When referring to a person, the entry will use the last name of the person. --A guide word is a word in dark print at the top of each page.

Research Skills: Newspaper/Magazines/Periodicals Newspapers are published daily or weekly and contain news, advertisements, feature stories, editorials, and other useful, current information. Magazines, also called periodicals, are published weekly, monthly, and quarterly. They contain news articles, opinion columns, advertisements, cartoons, reports, and other current information. They often focus on a particular subject. The name of the magazine usually tells you what subject is covered.

Research Skills: Chart/Tables A chart organizes information in a way that is easy to follow. A table is a kind of chart that presents information in rows and columns. Students should be able to identify how the table is organized and what is represented in each row and column. Students should be able to summarize the information found in the table.

Research Skills: Following Directions Following directions means doing or making something in a certain order. Read all directions carefully so you know what to do. Gather any items needed to complete the directions. Follow the steps in the order given.

Nouns Proper Nouns Possessive Nouns Plural Possessive Nouns