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Unit 5 Study Guide Reading

Authors Point of View

o This is his or her attitude or perspective about the subject matter of the text. Author's may
present a viewpoint that is supported by evidence that can be verified, or checked.
o To determine an authors point of view, readers look carefully at the words, phrases, and other
details authors use to describe people, ideas, and events
o Then they decide whether the words and phrases convey an attitude of support or disapproval of
the topic
The words the author uses have positive, negative, or neutral connotation.
Character, Setting, Plot: Problem and Solution
o Character, setting, and plot are story elements that are common to all works of fiction. Plits
events in a story include a problem or situation the main character faces and a solution or
resolution to the problem.
Character, Setting, Plot: Cause and Effect
o In works of fictions, plots events or situations have an effect on the characters in the story.
Cause and Effect sequences occur when the characters react to events or situations, seeing further
events in motion. Sometimes characters react to events by what they say and do. At other times,
characters' expressions and thoughts show the effect of an event, situation, or action.
Word Origins
o Many words in modern English have word origins in Greek, Latin, or Old English. These words
will have similar meanings.
o Example: Mimicking has a Greek root meaning imitate. They both mean to act like.
Example: Detective comes from the Latin root meaning uncover. Both dealing with uncovering
or finding something.
Text Structure: Cause and Effect
o Author arrange ideas by presenting a cause, or reason that something happens and the connecting
that cause to an effect, or what happened as a result. You should look for an event or action that
makes something else happen. Then you should look for what happens because of the event or
actions. Cause and effects frequently are important parts of expository texts. Key words:
because, due to, so , as a result, since, when consequently. It can also be signaled by addressing
why an action occurs.
Context Clues: Definitions and Restatements
o When you encounter words that are unfamiliar or difficult to understand, you must use context
clues. Definitions often appear very close to unfamiliar words. Other context clues called
restatements tell about a word or term again in another way to help you understand.
Text Structure: Sequence
o Text structure is how the author organizes ideas in their writing. Sequence means that it is done
in which events occur or a process happens. Signal words include: first, next, then, finally.
Adages and Proverbs
o These are statements about life that reflect a generally accepted truth or common fact. They
often use figurative language, words, phrases. They may offer advice or indirectly suggest an
understanding that has gained an acceptance over time. Example: But Rome Wasn't Built in a
Day. - means: It takes a long time to do something.
Connotations and Denotations

o A denotation is the most common dictionary definition.

o A connotation is the suggested or implied meaning associated with the word beyond the
dictionary meaning.
o They can have a negative or positive connotation. Example: Battled is used as a negative
connotation.
o Words can also have similar connotations. Example: clashes has almost the same connotation
as played.
Text Features: Diagrams
o Diagrams help illustrate the concepts described in the text.
Homophones
o Words that sound alike when spoken but that have different meaning and often different spellings
Example: tail- animal's limb/tale- a story from long ago
Unit 5 Language Arts: Adjectives

An adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea. Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. An adjective may
tell what kind, which one, or how many.
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and tells about the subject of a sentence.
A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun.
An article is a kind of adjective. There are three articles: a, an, and the.
A and an are indefinite articles because they refer to a noun in general.
The is a definite article because it refers to a specific noun.
This, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives.
Comparative adjectives compare two people, places, or things. Form comparative adjectives by adding er to most
one-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives. For adjectives of more than two syllables, form the comparative by
using more in front of the longer adjective.
Superlative adjectives compare more than two people, places, or things. Form superlative adjectives by adding
est to most one-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives. Form the superlative of many adjectives with two or
more syllables by adding most before the adjective.

Some adjectives form irregular comparisons.

The adjective good forms an irregular comparison. The comparative of good is better and the superlative of
good is best.
The adjective bad forms an irregular comparison. The comparative of bad is worse and the superlative of bad is
worst.