McCafferty Semester 2 4.5 Study Guide
Define the following terms:
*Plot-sequence of events
A. ExpositionB. Inciting incidentC. Rising actionD. ClimaxE. Falling actionF. Resolution*Conflict
A. Internal1. Person vs. selfB. External1. Person vs. person2. Person vs. technology3. Person vs. society4. Person vs. fate/destinya5. Person vs. supernatural6. Person vs. environment (nature)*Character
A. Major character
1. Protagonist
2. Antagonist
B. Minor/secondary character/s
*Theme-the moral or lesson learned from a story
A. Should be a general statement
B. Should not include information about the characters, setting, or plot from the story. The
theme statement should describe the general meaning of the work, not the specific events,
actions, or characters.
*Author’s purpose
A. to inform or tell-expository writing
B. to convince someone of something-persuasive/argumentative writing
C. to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; divert; amuse-entertain (can be
funny, sad, scary, etc.)
*Organization of text
A. Chronological-events presented in time order-first, second, third, then, next, finally
B. Cause and effect-one event causes another to happen/one thing leads to another
C. Problem Solution-a problem/conflict is presented and possible solutions are given
D. Logical order-reasonable order
1. When telling a story-hook, exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action,
then resolution
2. When writing/reading an essay-introduction with thesis statement, body paragraphs with
supporting details and evidence, then conclusion
DOL practice:
Correct the sentences using proofreading marks. Then write the sentences with no
errors.
a. were currently being learned the various mountain ranges and rivers in africa
b. weve began to study the appalachian mountains but we wont spend to much time learning
about that range
a. this here book helping others could of been purchased recently but im not sure
b. the five boys were whispering and laughing between themselves noone knew that they were
planning a entertaining performance
a. derricks father carried the dog home at 930 AM and then he began to bathe it
b. naomi please get off that table and set hear by the window
a. if mother is touring the west at kwanzaa shell probably stay in granada hotels
b. i went to youre apartment yesterday to lend you the short story entitled the tell-tale heart
a. on december 2 2000 my father visited st louis to see my sister at washington university
b. because kristen did good at school this year mom is letting her go to france next Fall
Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie Clean had no
idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Messy Missy neither bothered
to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Missy ate a bag
of hot chips on Katie Clean’s white bedspread without asking, and Messy Missy is a sloppy eater, so hot
chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Missy’s sloppy
behavior, but then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended
that she was sick and asked Messy Missy to leave. The next day Katie Clean asked the teacher if she
could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy
Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her assignment.
What is the theme of the story?
Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he
got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a
basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerfball in Money Mark’s bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His
father hired the Rolling Stones to play with him every Saturday at the family’s private concert hall,
though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He
was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn’t appreciate and Money Mark could find nothing
new or exciting in his life. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark never found happiness. Penny Petal was
born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each other. Penny Petal appreciated
everything she got. When she was six, her father walked her around the United Center before the Bulls
played the Celtics. She was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. She looked forward to the day
that she could see a real game. When she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. She was an
extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist, and everyone on the block loved the rhythms that
poured from her palms. By the time she was twenty-one, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Now
she had everything that she had ever dreamed of and she truly loved to share her wealth and happiness
with her family who supported her through all of the hard times. What is the theme of the story?
Tammy and Sammy were both students in Mr. Morton’s reading class. Mr. Morton wasn’t too strict
about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. He did all of his homework in his other classes but
never bothered to complete Mr. Morton’s reading assignments, figuring that he could complete them
later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Mr. Morton assigned the night that he
assigned it. She had to stay up a little later, but she didn’t want to get a penalty for turning in her
reading work late. Tammy knew reading was a core subject and that she had to keep “C” average for the
entire year or she would have to go to summer school. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and
Sammy had both planned on going to the Enchanted Castle amusement park, but Mr. Morton called
Sammy’s mother, and she grounded. Sammy until he turned in all of his work. That weekend was
horrible for Sammy. He stayed up until 2:00 AM each night and still couldn’t complete all of the
assignments. The whole while, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at Enchanted Castle, watching
movies late at night, and enjoying her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter,
Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a “C” minus in reading while Tammy earned an “A.” Sammy still
hasn’t learned his lesson and probably won’t complete this activity either.
What is the theme of the story?
*Writing a topic sentence - http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Good-Topic-Sentence
Snow Day!
Thanks to the snowstorm, we had a free day off from school! The snow started at 8:00
P.M. the night before. At first, the snow began slowly with a few big flakes floating to the
ground. Around 9:00 P.M. the snow started coming down harder and harder. The next
morning they announced that schools were closed! The snow never stopped until 11:00
A.M. Thanks to the snowstorm, we had a free day off from school!
1st sentence –topic sentence
2nd-6th sentences-body sentences/supporting details
7th sentence-concluding sentence (restates topic)
1. The Topic Sentence
- A good topic sentence does two things: (1) It names
the subject. (2) It tells the part of the subject you will focus on (the main idea).
Thanks to the snowstorm (subject), we had a free day off from school (focus)!
2. The Body - The sentences in the body of a paragraph support the topic
sentence. They add details in an order that makes sense. Before you write a
paragraph, you should list the supporting details.
The snow started at 8:00 P.M. the night before.
- Big flakes fell at first.
- 9:00 it started snowing harder.
- Next morning school closed.
- Snow never stopped until 11:00.
3. The Closing Sentence - The last sentence restates the topic sentence and
gives the reader one last thing to think about.
Thanks to the snowstorm, we had a free day off from school! (Restates the topic)
Remember, most paragraphs have three parts.
1. Topic sentence or main idea.
2. Body of the paragraph, which supports the main idea.
3. Concluding sentence that reminds the reader what the
paragraph is about.
**Argumentative Essay Writing Tips**
*All essays must have 3 parts-a beginning, middle, and end (introduction, body, and conclusion)
A. Introduction-5 sentences
1. Hook-attention grabber-makes the reader want to read what you have to say-1st sentence-might be a
quote, description, anecdote (short story), rhetorical question
2. Thesis statement-position statement/claim/your opinion-do not use I think, I feel, or I believe
3. Background information that is related to the topic
B. Counterargument-5 sentences
1. Present the opinion that is the opposite of yours. Begin with- It is true that…
2. Include reasons why another person/group of people might have that opinion.
C. Body paragraph-8 sentences
1. Begin with Nevertheless, Yet, However, o r Still.
2. Present support including text evidence cited correctly for your position.
D. body paragraph-8 sentences
1. Begin with Also, Furthermore, In addition, Moreover, or Likewise
2. Provide another reason including text evidence cited correctly for your position.
E. Conclusion
1. Begin with All in all, In brief, In summary, To summarize
2. Restate what you have written in the other parts of your essay
3. End with a closing sentence/clincher sentence that finishes the essay.