Common Core ELA Exam: Part 3

1. Common Core ELAExam: Part 3 Text-Analysis Response

2. Text-Analysis Response: Closely read the text provided and write a well-developed, text-based response of 3 paragraphs. Identify a central idea in the text and analyze how the author’s use of one writing strategy develops this central idea. (1 full page)

3. Central Idea • Central Idea is the thematic argument or key concept conveyed in the text. • It is the central purpose or gist of a passage; the primary message expressed. • It is the broad idea, general theme, or message conveyed in the text. • You must draw conclusions, analyze, and critically interpret for overall comprehension.

4. Finding the Central Idea Main Idea (informational texts) Theme (literary texts) Thematic argument, broad idea, or moral of a story. Message may be about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore universal ideas and are often implied rather than stated explicitly. • "Key concept" being expressed in a particular paragraph or section of the text. • The main idea of a paragraph may be explicitly stated in a topic sentence.

5. Suggestions for Devices/Techniques Choose one specific literary element that has multiple examples within the passage: conflict: discuss different types imagery: discuss different devices used characterization: reveal different methods used to convey the thematic concept. tone: author uses several devices to create an overall tone.

6. Writing a Central Idea • A strong thematic statement that argues how the author uses a specific literary/rhetorical device to convey a central idea. • Should be expressed as a strong topic sentence in the first paragraph. Central Idea= Thematic Argument + Author’s Craft

7. Using Evidence & Argument Effectively Textual Evidence • Find 3 key examples that prove your claim on the central idea of the passage. • Skillfully write the direct quote from the passage using both quotation marks and a citation (line #). • Insightfully argue how in each textual example the author uses the selected literary technique to prove the Central Idea (thematic argument). • Ensure that the analysis has depth and complexity.

8. Using the 3 E’s Example: This is any piece of evidence from the text, whether it is in the form of an example or quoted line. Select only strong examples that really prove your purpose and that you can discuss well. Explanation: This is the critical analysis that explains how your selected example relates to the controlling idea. It proves your point of argument for the theme of the controlling idea. Element:Determine which literary elements the author has used within it. Be sure to fully explain and analyze how the author uses that literary element to create more meaning. Easiest elements: conflict, theme, symbolism, imagery Explanation: This is the critical analysis that explains how your selected example relates to the controlling idea. It proves your point of argument for the theme of the controlling idea.

9. Format • Transfer the Central Idea & Writing Strategy into the Topic Sentence, which will control all three paragraphs. • Find 3 pieces of textual evidence to support the author’s use of one device and proves the Central Idea. Layout: “Evidence 1” (line 12). • Analyze how the author is using your specific literary device • Argue how it proves your central idea “Evidence 2” (line 33). • Analyze how the author is using your specific literary device • Argue how it proves your central idea “Evidence 3” (line 26). • Analyze how the author is using your specific literary device • Argue how it proves your central idea