FCAT Review

1. FCAT Review Reading Skills and Strategies

2. Genre’s • GENRE: type of story • NONFICTION: true • Textbooks: science, history, etc. • Newspapers • Magazines (Weekly Reader) • Informational Articles • BIOGRAPHY: true story about a real person’s life

3. Genre’s, continued • FICTION: not true • Historical Fiction: made up story with true historical events (such as Revolutionary War) • Realistic Fiction: made up story with characters, events and settings that are like those in real life (it could happen, but it didn’t) • Science Fiction: made up story usually set in the future or in outer space

4. Fiction, continued • Mystery: made up story with a puzzle to solve • Myth: usually based on mythical creatures or used as an explanation of how things came to be (not true) • Poem: written in verse and sometimes rhyme • Play: characters’ dialogue is spoken, includes directions for the play

5. Author’s Purpose • Author’s Purpose is as easy as P-I-E: • Persuade (try to get you to do something • Inform (tell you about something) • Entertain you Author’s Perspective is how the author feels about the subject he is writing about, such as: • Does he admire the person he’s writing about? • Does he dislike the thing he’s writing about?

6. Author’s Purpose and Perspective: Types of Questions • What does the author mean when he writes….”______________________”? • Why did the author write this article? • What is the author’s purpose in writing this article? • How does the author feel about _________________? • With which statement would the author agree?

7. Narrative or Literary Elements • Setting: Where and When • Characters • Plot: can also be called Problem, Conflict, Clash, – it is usually resolved (or fixed) before the story is over • Rising Action: the author is building up the problem – giving facts • Climax: the high point or resolution of the problem • Falling Action: concluding action after the problem has been solved

8. Characters • Character’s Point of View is their perspective or attitude or opinion • Character’s development: how is information about the character developed? • Think about how you get information about the character, how the character feels, how the character changes • For example: Who’s perspective is the story told from? • How does the author develop Susan’s character?

9. Narrative or Literary Elements – Examples of Questions • What problem did the character face? • What happens that causes the character to change from the beginning to the end of the story? • How is the problem solved in the story? • What events lead to the resolution of the problem in the story? • What event happens at the climax of the story?

10. Poetic Elements and Figurative Language • Rhyme • Rhyme Scheme: pattern, end rhyme, internal • Rhythm: repetition of sounds; Meter: regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables • Free Verse: no rhyming pattern, no set # of lines • Metaphors, Similes: Comparing two things – similes use like or as; metaphors don’t • Personification: giving human qualities to inhuman things • Onomatopoeia: words that make sounds • Alliteration: repeating consonant sounds • Cliches, Idioms, Hyperboles

11. Main Idea and Details • Main Idea: What is the main point of this article; what is the main thing it is talking about? • Main Idea can be found: • in the title • in the first sentence • in the last sentence • in the middle somewhere • or not in the passage at all!! (You have to infer it from clues)

12. Main Idea and Detail, con’t • Example Sentences: • What is the main idea of this passage? • Which is the best summary of this passage? • Why do you think this story/article has the title _________________? • Which of the following would make a good title? • If it asks: What main idea can be inferred about this article?... This means the main idea isn’t stated, it’s just something you figure out based on what you read.

13. Cause and Effect • A cause is the reason something happens. (Why?...Because) • An effect is the result of something that happened. • EXAMPLE: If your teacher says, “Why don’t you have your homework? You would say, “Because…” (That’s the cause.) • If you don’t have your homework, you will have to pay a fine. (That’s the effect).

14. Cause and Effect • Examples of Questions: • What caused ___________ to ____________? • What effect did _____________ have on ___________________? • What are the events that caused ______________________? • What might happen if _______________? • What is the effect of _________________?

15. Compare and Contrast • Compare and contrast two people, things, stories, etc.: • COMPARE: the things they have in common (similarities) • CONTRAST: the things that are different about them • You can use a DOUBLE BUBBLE MAP to show the similarities and differences between two people, things, etc.

16. Compare and contrast examples of questions • How are ___________ and ____________ ALIKE? • How is ___________ DIFFERENT from ________________? • How is _____________ both SIMILAR and DIFFERENT from _____________? • What is the DIFFERENCE between _______________ and _______________? • How is ______________ DISSIMILAR to ___________________? • What do ____________ and _________ have in common?

17. Fact and Opinion • Fact: a statement you can prove true or false • Opinion: a statement you can’t prove true or false • How do you prove it? Internet, dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, ask someone, measure it, look at it, etc.

18. Vocabulary • Use context clues to determine the meaning of words you don’t know • EXAMPLE SENTENCES: • What does the word _________ mean? • Choose the word that means the SAME as ____________. • Choose the word that means the OPPOSITE of _____________. • Which word has the same meaning as _______?

19. Vocabulary, con’t. • Context Clues • Multiple Meaning Words • Synonyms • Antonyms • Prefixes/Suffixes/Roots

20. Drawing Conclusions • “Figuring out” something by using the clues given in the passage • There will be “explicit” – or direct clues in the passage • Use the clues, plus your personal knowledge of the subject, plus your common sense to draw a conclusion

21. Making Inferences • “Figuring out” something by using the clues given in the passage • There will be “implicit” – or indirect clues in the passage • Use the clues, your personal knowledge, and your common sense to make an inference.

22. Text Features and Organization • Contents Page • Index • Glossary • Organization: sequential or chronological order, flashbacks, cause/effect

23. Sequencing: Types of Questions • What happened just BEFORE ________? • What happened just AFTER __________? • What happened FIRST, LAST, etc.? • What happened between ________ and __________? • What is the FIRST STEP in ____________?

24. Graphic Aids • Graphs, charts, maps, illustrations • Use the information given to answer questions • Always PREVIEW the graphic aid very carefully to make sure you understand it before you attempt to answer any questions • If there is text with the graphic aid, ALWAYS read it carefully before you answer the questions

25. Evidence/Argument • Evidence = proof!! • Examples of questions: What evidence does the author give for _________? What argument does the author use to support her statement that __________? How does the author’s evidence support the fact that _________?

26. Test-Taking Strategies • PREVIEW before you read a selection!!! • Learn how to answer each type of question • For multiple-choice questions, read each question carefully and think about the answer or solve the problem before you select your answer from the choices provided • Answer questions you are sure about first. If a question seems too hard, skip it and go back to that question later.

27. Test Strategies, Continued • There is no penalty for guessing; therefore, it is best to try to answer all questions, even if you are not sure of the correct answers. DON’T leave any blanks. • Think positively. Some questions may seem hard, but you may be able to figure out how to respond if you read the questions carefully a second time

28. Test Strategies, Continued • Be sure to completely fill in the answer bubbles in your test book or answer document. Do not make any stray marks around the answer spaces • Check to make sure the test question number matches the answer choice number on the answer document