NB G4 English Reading cheat sheet

Main idea is what a text is mostly about; supporting details explain, prove, or illustrate it.

Theme is a message about life or human nature; it may be stated or implied and is not the same as the topic.

Topic is a word or phrase (for example, bees); main idea is a complete sentence about that topic.

A summary states the main idea and key details and leaves out minor details and personal opinions.

Character traits are inferred from actions, dialogue, thoughts, and other characters' reactions.

Time-order words such as first, next, then, and finally signal the sequence of events or steps.

An effect answers what happened; a cause answers why it happened.

Directly stated information is found in the text; an inference combines text clues with background knowledge.

Evidence must be quoted or paraphrased from the passage, not recalled from memory or invented.

Text features include headings, captions, bold print, diagrams, maps, timelines, glossaries, and indexes.

A heading names a section; a caption explains a picture or diagram; bold print flags key terms.

First-person point of view uses I, me, my, and we; the narrator is a character inside the story.

Third-person point of view uses he, she, and they; the narrator stands outside the story.

Third-person limited shows one character's thoughts; third-person omniscient shows many characters' thoughts.

Common text structures are description, chronological order, compare-contrast, cause-effect, and problem-solution.

Compare-contrast signal words include both, alike, unlike, whereas, and on the other hand.

Problem-solution structure names a difficulty, then explains steps or actions that address it.

A diagram shows parts or how something works; a timeline places events in time order.

Compare texts by topic, main idea, genre, structure, author's purpose, and point of view.

Two texts on the same topic can differ in focus, details, or opinion, and both can still be accurate.

Author's purpose includes informing, explaining, persuading, entertaining, and describing; purpose shapes word choice.

A reason is the because part of an argument; evidence is the facts, examples, or quotations that support it.

A claim without supporting evidence remains an opinion rather than a proven point.

To compare a firsthand and a secondhand account, note who experienced the event and what each account includes.

Validity check: the evidence must actually connect to the claim; if it does not, the reasoning has a gap.

When drawing on two texts, cite each source separately by title or author so the evidence's origin is clear.

Graphic organizers such as Venn diagrams and T-charts sort similarities and differences before writing.

Context clues include definition, example, synonym, antonym, and the general sense of the sentence.

Prefixes: un- and non- mean not; re- means again; pre- means before; dis- means not or opposite; mis- means wrongly.

Suffixes: -less means without; -ful means full of; -able and -ible mean can be; -tion and -sion mean act or state; -ly means in a manner.

Common roots: bio means life, graph means write, tele means far, port means carry, struct means build, vis means see.

Homophones sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning, such as their, there, and they're.

A simile compares using like or as; a metaphor states one thing is another; personification gives human traits to nonhuman things.

An idiom's figurative meaning differs from its literal words, as in hit the books, which means study.

Reference tools: a glossary gives word meanings inside a book, a dictionary gives pronunciation and meaning, a thesaurus gives synonyms.

For a multiple-meaning word, choose the meaning that fits the sentence and the word's part of speech.