Key Terms for Mastering the SOL
Ubiquitous Terms
What terms do I
need to know when
reading difficult text?
How do you analyze & elicit great answers?
• Analyze -- examine closely
Elicit-- bring forth
• I need to analyze the question to elicit the
correct answer.
SOL Terms
Definitions
1.Inference
Educated Guess
The structure of the writing
2. Organizational Pattern
3. Specific/Essential/
Precise
Key information
4. Tone
A writer’s tone reveals the attitude he or
she has toward a subject.
5. Unclear/Clarity
Lacking clearness
6. Awkward
Where grammar and syntax collide
7. Bias
You support one opinion; subjectivity
8. Elaboration
Expanding or adding specific information to
paint a clearer picture for the reader
9. Irrelevant
Unrelated ideas
Underline the tips and
examples on the
following slides.
Inferences Tips
When you “read between the lines,” you
pick up ideas that are implied: not
directly stated in what you are reading.
These implied ideas are often important for a
full understanding of what an author means.
Discovering the ideas that are not stated
directly in writing is called making
inferences, or drawing conclusions.
Inference Example
What inferences can
you make about this
cartoon?
Find the two inferences
that are most logically
based on the
information it suggests.
A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience
at the restaurant.
B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant.
C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations.
D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job.
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco, Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE. All rights reserved.
Answers A and D are logical inferences. Here’s why:
A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. The
“help wanted” sign indicates that the restaurant is seriously understaffed.
It would be logical, then, to infer that the restaurant cannot provide patrons
with a good dining experience. You should have chosen this item.
B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant.
The man’s comment that “this isn’t the best time” suggests that he may be
willing to try the restaurant once it has solved its staffing problems.
Also, experience suggests that it is common for restaurants to change
ownership and/or management. You should not have chosen this item.
C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations.
Nothing in the cartoon suggests that the restaurant was recently closed for
health violations. Perhaps if it continues to operate without sufficient staff,
it may be closed, but we have no way of knowing that. You should not have chosen
this item.
D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job.
Experience tells us that good managers are able to hire and retain qualified
employees. The “help wanted” sign suggests quite the opposite—that
a number of employees have recently quit or been fired. The lack of staff,
in turn, has caused the couple to decide against dining there. Clearly, this is no way to
run a business! You should have chosen this item.
HERMAN: © Jim Unger/Dist. By Newspaper Enterprise Association. Inc.
Inferences in the SOL
3 Based on the section “Tips to anchor the stakes
more firmly,” the reader may best infer that —
A players risk potential injury from stakes that are not
anchored
B stakes that are not anchored may shift during the
course of play
C the most effective way to anchor the stakes is with
concrete
D stakes must be anchored according to the official
rules of play
2010 RLR Ques. #3
Organizational Patterns
Organizational Pattern Tip
• Think about the
organizational structure of
everything that you read!
What is the author’s
purpose?
Organizational Patterns in the SOL Example
4 The organizational structure of the section
“Finally, Time to Play” is best described as —
• F chronological order
• G comparison/contrast
• H order of importance
• J listing or enumeration
2010 RLR Ques. #4
Specific/Essential Tip
What is the difference?
Abstract
Concrete
General info.
Detailed info.
Specific/Essential Example in the SOL
10 Which fact on the list is least essential to
Eileen’s report about Thomas Jefferson’s home?
F Construction began 1769—completed 1809
G Drafted the Declaration of Independence
H 43 rooms and 11,000 square feet when
completed
J Sold after Jefferson’s death and fell into
disrepair
2010 Writing SOL Ques. #10
Tone Tip
•Analyze the emotions
Tone Tips Continued
A writer’s tone reveals the attitude he
or she has toward a subject.
Tone is expressed through the words and
details the writer selects. Just as a speaker’s voice
can project a range of feelings, a writer’s voice can
project one or more tones: anger, sympathy,
hopefulness, sadness, respect, dislike, and so on.
Understanding tone is, then, an important part of
understanding what an author has written.
2010 RLR Ques. #3
Tone Example
The purpose of the cartoon below, like all cartoons,
is to entertain.
Can you tell what the tone of each speaker is?
Which speaker is sincere in what he says? Which
one is insincere?
Tone Example:
I hope your chest is
under them.
REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco, Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE. All rights reserved.
Tone
Here are four different versions of a murder confession.
To appreciate the differences in tone that writers can use, read
them aloud—in the tone of voice appropriate in each case.
“I just shot my husband five times in the chest with this .357 Magnum.”
(Tone: matter-of-fact, objective.)
“How could I ever have killed him? I just can’t believe I did that!”
(Tone: shocked, disbelieving.)
“Oh, my God. I’ve murdered my husband. How can I ever be forgiven
for this dreadful deed?”
(Tone: guilty, regretful.)
“That dirty rat. He’s had it coming for years. I’m glad I finally had the
nerve to do it.”
(Tone: revengeful, self-satisfied.)
Words That Describe Tone
Below and on the next two screens are some words
commonly used to describe tone.
Except for matter-of-fact and objective, each word
reflects a feeling or judgment.
admiring
cruel
loving
affectionate
curious
playful
amused
defensive
praising
angry
doubtful
respectful
apologetic
encouraging
self-pitying
ashamed
excited
serious
calming
forgiving
sorrowful
caring
frightened
sympathetic
cheerful
grateful
threatening
conceited
humorous
tragic
concerned
insulting
warm
critical
joyous
worried
More words that describe tone—with their meanings:
ambivalent
uncertain about a choice
arrogant
full of self importance; conceited
bewildered
confused; puzzled
bitter
angry; full of hate
compassionate
deeply sympathetic
depressed
sad or discouraged
detached
emotionally uninvolved
disbelieving
unbelieving
distressed
suffering sorrow; misery or pain
hypocritical
false
impassioned
filled with strong feeling
indignant
angry about something unfair or mean
instructive
teaching
ironic
meaning the opposite of what is expressed
lighthearted
happy and carefree
matter-of-fact
sticking to the facts
mocking
making fun of and/or looking down upon something
nostalgic
longing for something or someone in the past
Tone in the SOL Example
• 37 In paragraph 4, the words “humiliating,”
“disgraceful,” and “shameful” evoke what tone?
A Cautious
B Frightened
C Jealous
D Bitter
2010 RLR Ques. #37
Tone in the SOL Example
22 How can Julius best revise sentence 7 for
appropriate tone?
F The feast could easily be held on a weeknight at
school.
G You have to let us hold the feast on a weeknight at
school.
H It would be so awesome if we could hold the feast
on a weeknight at school!
J What do you think about maybe holding the feast
on a weeknight at school?
2010 Writing Ques. #22
Unclear/Clarity Tip
Analyze the structure of the
writing! Look at the
sentences above and below
to determine the flow of the
writing!
Unclear/Clarity Terms in the SOL Example
21 Which is the best way to revise sentence 5 for clarity?
A Furthermore, I believe for the band this idea to attend the
state spring competitions could potentially generate enough
money.
B Furthermore, I believe this idea could potentially generate
enough money for the band to attend the state spring
competitions.
C Furthermore, to attend the state spring competitions for the
band, this idea could, I believe, potentially generate enough
money.
D Furthermore, for the band, I believe that this idea to attend
the state spring
2010 Writing SOL Ques. #21
competitions could potentially generate enough money.
Awkward Diction Tips
Search for clunky sentences!
• She has no reason to grieve in sorrow when she
has no one to blame but herself.
She has no reason to complain since she
herself is to blame.
• For example, people sometimes get so angry
that they would like to take someone else's life
and murder them.
Sometimes people become angry enough to
contemplate murder.
Awkward Structure in the SOL Example
10 Dewayne thinks sentence 5 is awkward. Which of the
following is the best way to revise it?
F The Summer Student Exchange Program with trips to Mexico,
Germany, and France, is offering a language immersion
program.
G With trips to Mexico, Germany, and France, the language
immersion program is a Summer Student Exchange Program.
H The Summer Student Exchange Program is a language
immersion program that offers trips to Mexico, Germany, and
France.
J With the Summer Student Exchange Program trips to Mexico,
Germany, and France, is a language immersion program.
2007 Writing SOL Ques. #10
Bias Tips
Does a person’s opinion exist in the writing?
Bias/Accuracy in SOL Ques. Examples
• Which source would best help a reader
evaluate the accuracy of the information in
the document?
A A copy of the official rules and regulations
B A website advertising outdoor recreation
C A news article about an official horseshoe…
D A guide to outdoors sports and recreation…
Elaboration Tips
Use colorful words!
Elaboration in the SOL Example
2 When Marty rereads her draft, she realizes that
sentence 6 lacks elaboration.
Which of the following is the best way for her to
revise it?
F Christy knew that Roosevelt Park had some water
somewhere in it.
G Christy knew that Roosevelt Park had a clean,
lively creek running through it.
H Christy knew that Roosevelt Park had fresh water.
J Christy knew that Roosevelt Park had a creek in it.
2007 Writing SOL Ques. #2
“Irrelevant” in the SOL Tips
You do not need
the information!
Irrelevant Term in the SOL Example
14 Dewayne rereads the information under
“Germany” and discovers an irrelevant line.
Which line should he remove?
F Line 19
G Line 20
H Line 21
J Line 22
2007 Writing Ques. #14
Good Luck!
• You are ready to master the SOL!