SK SSA ELA 10 cheat sheet

Main idea of an informational passage = the claim every paragraph supports; supporting details can be removed without changing it, the main idea cannot.

Text structure signals: cause/effect (because, as a result), comparison (similarly, whereas), problem/solution (however, one approach), chronological (first, later, finally).

Author's purpose options narrow to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain; a passage that cites data and defines terms is usually explanatory, not persuasive.

Literary elements to track while reading: protagonist's motivation, conflict type (internal vs. external), setting's function, and turning point.

Theme is a statement about life the whole text supports, not a topic word; "friendship" is a topic, "loyalty survives distance" is a theme.

Objective summary rules: no personal opinion, no new information, no quotations unless essential, and proportional coverage of the passage.

Two texts on one topic: compare central claims first, then evidence type (data, anecdote, expert quote), then each author's assumptions.

Inference must be supported by at least one stated detail plus reasoning; if only prior knowledge supports it, it is not a valid inference.

Claim–evidence–warrant chain: a defensible interpretation names the claim, cites textual evidence, and explains how that evidence proves the claim.

Strongest evidence is specific, brief, and directly tied to the claim; long block quotes weaken commentary space and usually weaken the argument.

Tone vs. mood: tone is the writer's attitude toward the subject; mood is the feeling created in the reader.

Irony types: verbal (speaker means the opposite), situational (outcome reverses expectation), dramatic (audience knows what a character does not).

Unreliable narrator signals: contradictions, self-justification, gaps in timeline, and other characters reacting inconsistently to the narrator's account.

Historical or cultural lens asks how power, class, gender, or setting shapes the text; formalist lens asks how structure and language create meaning.

Counterargument handling: state the opposing reading fairly, then show which evidence it cannot account for.

Evaluate an argument by its reasoning and evidence, not by whether you agree; a true conclusion can rest on a flawed warrant.

Thesis test: it must be arguable, specific, and preview the line of reasoning; a statement of fact cannot function as a thesis.

Body paragraph architecture: topic sentence, evidence, explanation, link back to thesis - one controlling idea per paragraph.

Narrative technique: show through action, dialogue, and sensory detail; limit summary of events to transitions.

Transitions signal relationships: addition (moreover), contrast (nevertheless), causation (consequently), concession (admittedly).

Introductions should establish context and stakes quickly; avoid opening with a dictionary definition or a sweeping generalization.

Conclusions synthesize rather than repeat: restate the thesis in new terms and state why the argument matters.

Sentence variety comes from mixing lengths and openings; a series of subject-first sentences flattens emphasis.

Revision order: content and organization first, then paragraph-level flow, then sentence-level style, then proofreading.

Comma splice fixes: period plus capital, semicolon, or comma plus coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Restrictive clauses take no commas and are essential to meaning; nonrestrictive clauses take commas and can be removed.

Subject–verb agreement survives interruptions: locate the true subject and ignore prepositional phrases between subject and verb.

Pronoun case: subject pronouns for subjects, object pronouns for objects and after prepositions; drop the compound to test ("for her and me").

Dangling modifiers: the introductory phrase must describe the subject that immediately follows the comma.

Apostrophes: possessive singular adds 's, plural ending in s adds only the apostrophe, and "its" is possessive while "it's" means it is.

Context vocabulary strategy: substitute each answer choice into the sentence and check both meaning and connotation fit.

Parallel structure: items in a list or comparison must share grammatical form - all nouns, all gerunds, or all infinitive phrases.

Discussion moves: build on a peer's point, ask a clarifying question, paraphrase before disagreeing, and cite the text by title or line.

Active listening evidence includes paraphrasing the speaker's claim and asking a question that follows from it, not restating your own view.

Presentation structure: hook, stated purpose, two or three supported points, and a close that returns to the purpose.

Delivery controls: pace, volume, eye contact, and purposeful pauses; filler words drop when the speaker rehearses aloud.

Visual design rules: one idea per slide, readable font size, minimal text, and labels on every chart axis.

Source credibility check: author expertise, publication venue, date, and whether evidence is verifiable.

Media techniques to identify: framing, juxtaposition, music and sound, camera angle, and selective omission.

Group discussion roles: facilitator, note-taker, timekeeper, and devil's advocate; each role has an explicit function in the record.