Dictionary Skills​

• Remember dictionaries are ordered in alphabetical order (A-Z) and the alphabet is continuous throughout the words, so it will start over for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc letter for each word you search for​.

• ​Dictionaries will have the pronunciation, root/origin of the word (sometimes), part of speech, synonyms and antonyms for each word (mostly). If you still don't understand the definition look at the synonyms and see if that helps.

• ​Use the guide words in the top corners of the dictionary to help you locate the word you're looking for.

​Authors Purpose

• Authors purpose is the writer's overall purpose for writing​ the text. Genre of text implicates the purpose as well.

  • ​Nonfiction will be with Inform/Explain typically.

  • ​Fiction will be with Entertain/Persuade typically.

• ​Authors PIEE- Persuade, Inform, Entertain, Explain

• ​A text can serve more than one person (A book can inform and entertain at the same time)

• ​Remember, some test answers are NOT explicitly going to say to persuade; inform; entertain; explain. You still need to analyze and read through all the options with those ideas in the back of your head as you pick a choice.

​What does 'Persuade' mean?

Persuade:

to cause (someone) to do something by asking, arguing, or giving reasons; Get someone on your side/ make them think a certain way​

​What does 'Inform' mean?

Inform:

to give knowledge to; give facts; synonyms: advise, notify, tell

​What does 'Entertain' mean?

Entertain:

to amuse; keep interested

(Doesn't exclusively have to be for "FUN")

​What does 'Explain' mean?

Explain:

make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.

​Main Idea/ Key Idea/ Central Idea

• ​Think: What is the Author trying to tell me about this topic overall?

• ​Identify the most important thing out of the article/passage/paragraph

• ​Identify issues or themes addressed

• ​Think: What was the focus of this story/ paragraph?

​Sequence/ Outline

• ​This is in chronological order that events happened in the story

• ​When a questions asks you to fill in the blank of a list of events, make sure you go double check in the passage/text before you pick your answer.

• ​REMEMBER, go from beginning to end for this one.

• ​Clue words are: First, then, next, finally

​Theme

• ​an idea or topic expanded throughout a story, discussion, etc. (in literature, music, art, etc) a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work.

• ​Think: What is this story teaching me or making me think about?

• ​Common Theme Examples: Compassion, Courage, Death and dying, Honesty, Loyalty, Perseverance, Importance of family, Benefits of hard work.

• ​Think: What is the character learning about throughout the story?

​Problem and Solution

• Make sure you're picking a choice that is logical and could actually happen​