COMMON ASSESSMENT #2
STUDY GUIDE
•Author’s Purpose: There are three reasons the author gives for writing.
Persuade-to convince the reader to believe in something.
Inform-to teach the reader about something.
Entertain-to entertain the reader and make them laugh.
•Context Clues: When you are trying to find out the meaning of a new word, it is useful to look at what comes before and after the word. The surrounding words can give readers clues about the meaning of the word and how it is used.
•Synonym- a word or phrase that means nearly the same as another word or phrase.
•Suspense-makes the reader uncertain about the outcome.
•Theme-a main idea or an underlying meaning in a story that may be stated directly or indirectly. It is the “message” in the story.
•Plot diagram-please use the following diagram to understand the parts of plot.
Exposition (beginning)- the start of the story where we get to know the setting and characters.
Rising Action(complications)- this is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict is revealed.
Climax (turning point)-the highest point of interest and turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?
Falling Action- the events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader KNOWS what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not.
Resolution (end)- this is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.
•Plural nouns-when making words plural that end in “y” and “o”….remember the following:
If the word ends in a vowel + y, add an s. Example: boy/boys, journey/journeys, key/keys, tray/trays
If the word ends in a consonant + y, then the y changes to -ies.Example: baby/babies, country/countries.
If the word ends in a consonant + 0, add -es. Example: tomato/tomatoes, hero/heroes
•Plural letter-When you’re trying to describe plural letters, use ‘s after the letter so that it’s clearly identified as a letter, not a word. Example: You have too many A’s on your report card.
•Capitalization-
Book titles-capitalize the FIRST word, ALL IMPORTANT words and the LAST word in a title.
Example: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Where the Wild Things Are
Dad/Mom/Aunt/Uncle- Do NOT capitalize words of family relationship when used with a
possessive pronoun.
Example: My mom went to the store. Example: Your dad is very tall.
DO capitalize “Mom” or “Dad” when you use the words as if “Mom” or “Dad” were their proper names.
Example: Did Mom go to the store yesterday?
Regions- DO capitalize “north, south, east and west” when they indicate parts of the country.
Example: I live in the South.
Do NOT capitalize when “north, south, east and west” are used as a direction.
Example: Please drive south on Highway 231.
•Comparative and Superlative-(language book pg. 267 & pg. 272 11f.) REVIEW NOTES FOR RULES!
Comparative adjectives are used to compare a noun to another noun- such as-
This truck uses more gas than his car.
Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more nouns and show which is best.This summer is the hottest one we’ve had so far. (hot, hotter, hottest)
•DO NOT “DOUBLE DIP!” Example:More hotter or Most hottest
•Pronouns- A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns.
Flip it trick!Flip the pronoun with the linking verb.
Ex: The person in the costume was ____(he, him)
HIM was the person in the costume.
HE was the person in the costume. (correct)
Cover up trick! Cover the other part of the compound subject.
Ex. He <and Carmen> wrote a report on the subject. (correct)
Him <and Carmen> wrote a report on the subject.
Ex. Tell < John and Iabout Hercules.
Tell < John and me about Hercules. (correct)
•PLEASE REMEMBER THAT (HISSELF) AND (THEIRSELVES) ARE NOT WORDS! NEVER, EVER, USE THEM.
•Who VS. Whom- Whom should be usedto refer to the object of a sentence.
Reminder! When in doubt, try this simple trick:
If you can replace the word with “he” or “she”, use WHO.
If you can replace the word with “him” or “her”, use WHOM.
•Use Whom with prepositions. Example: to whom, from whom, for whom
•Collective nouns- nouns that describe a group. Example: army, band, class. (language book pg.75)
•When the unit is acting as one group, it is appropriate to use a singular verb.
•When the members of the unit are acting as individuals, it is appropriate to use the plural form of the verbs and pronouns.
•Tricky verb tenses!
•Sit/Set- Sit:“To rest.”
Ex: He sits in the chair each day.
Set:“To put” or place in a certain location or position.
Ex: She set her books on the desk yesterday.
•Lie/Lay- Lie: The verb lie means “to rest,” “to recline.”
Ex: Tori is lying on the sofa.
Lay: “to put (something) in place.”
Ex: I will lay the baby in his crib.
•Rise/Raise- Rise: “to go up” or “to get up.”
Ex: Gasoline prices have risen recently. (present perfect tense of rise)
Raise:“to lift up” or “to cause (something) to rise.”
Ex: Oil producers have raised gasoline prices. (present perfect tense of raise)
•Please refer to your verb chartand verb tense notesto study tenses of verbs•