Transcript Present
State Test Tips When the question says— Which statement expresses a fact? OR Which statement expresses an opinion? Remember— a fact can be proven or verified as being true an opinion is based on feelings or beliefs When the question asks— What impact did replacing the italicized words have on the paragraph? What the question means is— How does changing the words change the tone or atmosphere or meaning of the paragraph? Tip for answering questions about replacing words: Pay attention to the connotation of the words. (implied meaning) Are the new words less emotional or more emotional? Are the new words more general or more specific? Are the new words more formal or informal? Are the new words more personal or impersonal (not personal/close)? Remember!— optimistic means “looking on the bright/positive side of things” pessimistic means “looking at the negative/depressing side of things” When the question asks— How does the use of figurative language by these two authors contribute to the mood? What the question means is— Identify the figure of speech being used and explain how this figure of speech influences the passage. Tips for answering these types of questions— First, identify the figure of speech being used. Mark out any answers that use a figure of speech that is not showing up in the passage. Note: Remember! Figures of speech and figurative language refer to the same thing. I am hungry as a horse. You run like a rabbit. She is happy as a clam. He is sneaky as a snake. The girl was a fish in the water. The clown was a feather floating away. The flowers danced in the wind. The friendly gates welcomed us. The Earth coughed and choked in all of the pollution. Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday. Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday. Click here to read more alliterations. Remember the most common figures of speech!— simile— comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as” her eyes are like stars in the sky metaphor— --comparison of two things not using “like” or “as” --the one thing “becomes” the other thing her eyes are stars in the sky personification—giving person qualities to something that is not a person The sun smiled down on the picnic. oxymoron—combines opposite and contradictory words jumbo shrimp silent scream hyperbole—an extreme (hyper) exaggeration She was so sad she could cry a river. Sound devices include— alliteration—repeating similar sounds at the beginning of words He was determined to doubt and dared me to debate it. assonance—repeating similar vowel sounds Invisible ink is difficult to invent. onomatopoeia—words that imitate sounds buzz words hiss pop Also considered figures of speech— symbolism—use of an object to represent something else imagery—words that appeal to the reader’s senses: see, touch, smell, taste, hear paradox—a statement or situation that seems to be a contradiction but really isn’t idiom—group of words that cannot be translated literally and still make sense It’s raining cats and dogs. Whhaaat?!? When a question asks— In comparing the two paragraphs above, how does structure support the meaning of the texts? What it means is— Identify the structure being used in each passage. Explain how it shows the purpose (reason) for writing the passage. Remember it this way— triple C, double P, do ss * * * * * * * * * compare/contrast cause/effect chronological order problem/solution process/procedure description order of importance spatial order sequential order (sequence) Tips for answering these types of questions: First, identify the type of structure being used in each passage. Mark out any answers that do not include structures that you have already identified being used. Basically, mark out any answer that contains a “false” part. When the question asks— Which is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph? What it means is— What is the correct explanation of this passage? Tip: --explication means explanation --the explanation must explain what the paragraph is about When the question asks— Which of the following is an accurate and appropriate summary of this paragraph? What it means is— Which of the following is a correct restatement of the main points of the paragraph? Tips: summary means restatement A summary does not explain—it simply restates!! To be accurate—the summary should be in the same order as the original Also—watch for any statements that are simply not true Mark out any answers that include “false” statements It is not a personal interpretation! Remember! An explication needs to explain the main points. A summary needs to restate the main points. One more thing— precis and summary mean the same thing !! Bonus Tip!! Remember to use the who? what? why? method. Focusing on what the paragraph is about may help lead you to the correct answer. Focusing on why the paragraph is written (author’s purpose) may help lead you to the correct answer. Double Bonus Tip!! If you get stuck between two answers, remember the following: Explications and summaries will not contain idioms, cliches, slang, or an abundance of informal language. Many of the questions may ask about the author’s purpose. author’s purpose means— why did the author write this passage? The different purposes include the following: •to entertain •to inform •to persuade •to summarize •to inspire (encourage) •to enrage (make angry) •to repel (to disgust/turn against) •to explain •to describe When a question asks— Which of the following paragraphs is written in the correct mode for the stated prompt? What it means is— Identify the type of writing that is to be done, and select the paragraph that is written in that type. Essays can be divided into three modes (types or categories) narrative informative persuasive Narrative writing— --tells a story --follows a sequence of events (usually chronological order) --the purpose is to entertain (sometimes it may make a general point or include a lesson) --will include literary elements: setting, characters, conflict, etc. Informative writing— --explains “why” about something --is more concerned with facts than opinions --be sure the writing explains/informs and be sure the writing stays on topic Persuasive writing— --the purpose is to convince others to agree with you --persuasive writing uses opinions supported with facts to make a strong argument --be sure to have a clear position A word about advertising— advertising includes television commercials radio commercials magazine ads billboards catalogs Guidelines for advertising— introduce the product show why/how the audience needs the product urge to buy now (a call to action) use catchy language so the audience remembers the product Remember— In essay writing, summaries, and explications— DO NOT USE INFORMAL LANGUAGE DO NOT USE CATCHY PHRASES OR IDIOMS Advertising relies on catchy words and phrases. In other words, if you get stuck between two choices on an advertising question, choose the one with the play on words, the catchy phrase, the idioms!! One more tip— advertising should not use negative opinions or comments Quick vocabulary review— ambiguous means UNCLEAR ambiguity means UNCLEAR Ambiguous reference— when two or more words can be a pronoun’s antecedent Example: When the apples fell among the leaves, they were hidden. Example: Sam wants to go to college like his brother because that can help you get a good job. Solution: Sam wants to go to college like his brother because a college education can help you get a good job. Weak reference— when a pronoun refers to an antecedent that has been suggested but not expressed Example: Sam wants to be a doctor because it interests him. Indefinite reference— when the pronoun refers to no specific antecedent and is unnecessary to the meaning of the sentence Example: In most societies, they are affected by stress. Remember misplaced modifiers-- Example: We saw a car in the parking lot with a flat tire. Question: The parking lot had the flat tire? Correction: We saw a car with a flat tire in the parking lot. Remember dangling modifiers-- Example: Flying over the city, the skyscrapers could be clearly seen. Question: Are the skyscrapers the thing flying over the city? Correction: Flying over the city, we could clearly see the skyscrapers. variety means MIXTURE parallel means BALANCED parallel in structure means STRUCTURE IS REPEATED A paragraph is said to have sentence variety when it contains a mixture of different types of sentences. Sentence variety = MIXTURE and COMPLEXITY Read the following paragraphs carefully. Explain whether or not the paragraph contains sentence variety. TIP:underline subjects and verbs,and “lead in” parts --variety = mixture (there will not be much of a pattern) --usually, choose the answer that has the most sentences with “lead in” parts The pioneers had to have courage, ingenuity, and be physically strong. The pioneers had to have courage ingenuity be physically strong Correct: The pioneers had to have courage, ingenuity, physical strength. Active voice —the subject is performing the action —the subject is doing something The boy hit the ball. The girl brought her books. Passive voice— --the action is performed by something or somebody other than the subject --the action is done by somebody/something The ball was hit by the boy. The books were brought by the girl. When to use the passive voice— --Use the passive voice when the doer is unknown The computer was stolen. ------------------------------------------------------------ --Use the passive voice when you want to emphasize a process. Next, one ounce of water is poured into the beaker. The following sentences are written in passive voice. Should they be? Roses are grown as a hobby by my science teacher. Wild horses are still found in the Southwest. A wonderful speech was given by Tom. After the party, the silverware is washed then polished before being returned to the drawer. Listing all of the forms of a verb according to tense is called conjugation. How to form the six tenses— Present tense: base form Past tense: add –d or -ed to regular verbs Future tense: Present perfect : Past perfect : Future perfect : will or have shall + base form or has + past participle had + past participle will have + past participle shall have + past participle present progressive: past progressive: am, is, are was, were future progressive: walking walking will be walking present perfect progressive: has been walking have been walking past perfect progressive: had been walking future perfect progressive: will have been walking Present emphatic: Past emphatic: do walk does walk did walk do, does did Identify the verb tense: has won will be going are studying has been taking had gone had been working received have forgotten will have been walking Use a comma after long introductory prepositional phrases that are not followed by a verb. Remember: count the words and check for a verb! In the light of the moon, the flowers opened. At the edge of the garden were many flowers. Use a comma to set off interrupters. I believe in fact by the way He was, I believe, an amateur swimmer. However, his swimming may improve in time. Sue, on the other hand, is a strong swimmer. Use a comma to set off appositives that give bonus information to a sentence. Sue, my favorite cousin, likes to swim. My favorite cousin Sue likes to swim. Use commas to avoid misreading. In the summer, time seems to go more quickly. During 1973, 570 homes were built in the city. Those who can, can go home. Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun equally. (These pairs of adjectives are called coordinate adjectives.) It was a cool, windy night. I like the small red sports car. Tip: if you can reverse the order of the words OR put the word and between the two words, then use a comma. When a sentence has a series of items that all need commas, use a semicolon to separate the items. Tom, my best friend; Sue, my next door neighbor; and Sally, my sister, met after school Use single quotation marks around a quotation within a quotation. My instructor smiled and replied, “It was Caesar who said, ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths.’ ” Tip: Think of this as a quote inside a box. “The Monkey’s Paw” Tom said, “I enjoyed reading ‘The Monkey’s Paw. ’ ” One last word— YOU CAN DO THIS Good Luck!