SK SSA ELA 7 cheat sheet

Plot structure: exposition introduces setting and characters; rising action builds conflict; climax is the turning point of highest tension; falling action resolves loose ends; resolution closes the narrative.

Conflict types: character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. self. Internal conflict occurs within a character; external conflict involves an outside force.

Characterization: direct characterization states a trait outright; indirect characterization reveals traits through speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, and others' reactions (STEAL).

Theme is the central message about life or human nature; it is a complete statement, not a single word (e.g., 'Perseverance leads to growth,' not 'perseverance').

Point of view: first person uses I/we; third-person limited stays with one character's thoughts; third-person omniscient reveals multiple characters' inner lives; objective reports only observable action.

Figurative language: simile compares using like/as; metaphor states one thing is another; personification gives human qualities to nonhuman things; hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration.

Mood is the feeling the reader experiences; tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. Word choice and imagery shape both.

Foreshadowing plants hints about later events; flashback interrupts chronology to show an earlier scene; both affect how tension and motivation are understood.

Central idea is the main point of the whole text; a summary restates it with only the most important supporting details, without personal opinion.

Text structures: chronological (time order), cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution, and description. Signal words such as 'because,' 'however,' 'first,' and 'as a result' reveal the structure.

Author's purpose is to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain. The purpose shapes which evidence and language an author chooses.

An objective summary contains no judgments, no new information, and no quotations unless essential; it attributes claims to the text rather than to the reader.

Evaluating an argument: identify the claim, the reasons, the evidence, and any counterclaim. Strong evidence is relevant, sufficient, and credible.

Text features (headings, captions, graphs, bold terms, sidebars) guide reading and add information not always repeated in the body text.

Primary sources are firsthand accounts (letters, diaries, speeches); secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources (textbooks, reviews).

Bias appears in loaded word choice, omitted viewpoints, and unsupported generalizations. Distinguishing fact from opinion requires checking whether a statement can be verified.

An inference is a conclusion drawn from textual evidence plus background knowledge; it must be supported by details in the text, not guessed.

Citing evidence: quote or paraphrase the exact passage, then explain how it supports the claim. Evidence without explanation is incomplete analysis.

Comparing texts: analyze how two authors treat the same topic differently in purpose, structure, tone, or use of evidence.

Symbolism: a concrete object stands for an abstract idea. A symbol's meaning must be supported by repeated details, not by a single mention.

Irony: verbal irony says the opposite of what is meant; situational irony is a contrast between expectation and outcome; dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more than a character.

Author's craft includes diction, sentence length, repetition, figurative language, and pacing; each choice affects tone and emphasis.

Theme vs. topic: topic is the subject (e.g., friendship); theme is the insight about that subject (e.g., friendship requires honesty).

When analyzing an argument, distinguish a claim (debatable position) from a fact (verifiable statement) and from an opinion (personal judgment).

Context clues: definition (the word is explained), example (illustrated by instances), synonym/restatement, antonym/contrast, and inference from surrounding logic.

Common prefixes: un-/non- (not), re- (again), pre- (before), mis- (wrongly), inter- (between), sub- (under), anti- (against), co-/con- (together).

Common suffixes: -tion/-ment (noun), -able/-ful (adjective), -ly (adverb), -ize (verb), -less (without), -ous (full of).

Greek and Latin roots: bio (life), graph (write), tele (far), phon (sound), aud (hear), spec (look), port (carry), dict (say), struct (build), cred (believe).

Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional association (e.g., 'cheap' vs. 'inexpensive').

Figurative meanings: idioms are nonliteral expressions (e.g., 'break the ice'); their meaning cannot be derived word by word.

Word relationships: synonyms share meaning; antonyms oppose; homophones sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning (their/there/they're).

Precise word choice: select the word whose connotation and intensity match the intended meaning (e.g., 'sprint' vs. 'jog' vs. 'walk').

Writing process stages: prewriting (planning, audience, purpose), drafting, revising (content and organization), editing (grammar and mechanics), publishing.

A strong thesis is a single, debatable sentence that states the central claim and previews the organization of the essay.

Paragraph structure: topic sentence, supporting evidence, explanation/analysis, and a concluding or transitional sentence.

Transitions signal relationships: addition (moreover), contrast (however), cause-effect (therefore), sequence (subsequently), example (for instance).

Narrative writing uses sensory details, dialogue, pacing, and a clear point of view; informational writing uses facts, definitions, and examples; argument writing uses claims, reasons, and evidence.

Revising differs from editing: revising changes ideas, structure, and word choice; editing corrects conventions such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Research-based writing integrates paraphrased or quoted evidence with a citation and an explanation of how the evidence supports the claim.

Conclusion strategies: restate the thesis in fresh words, summarize key points, and offer a final insight; avoid introducing entirely new evidence.

Sentence types: simple (one independent clause), compound (two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction or semicolon), complex (independent plus dependent clause), compound-complex.

Comma rules: separate items in a series, set off introductory elements, join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, and set off nonessential appositives.

Avoid comma splices (two independent clauses joined only by a comma) and run-ons; fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes a singular verb; indefinite pronouns such as everyone, each, and neither are singular; compound subjects joined by 'and' are plural.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement: pronouns must match their antecedents in number and gender; unclear antecedents create ambiguity.

Verb tense consistency: maintain a consistent tense unless a shift signals a change in time; use perfect tenses for actions completed before another time.

Punctuation: use a colon to introduce a list or explanation, an apostrophe for possession and contractions, quotation marks for direct speech, and italics for titles of long works.

Modifiers should be placed next to the word they describe; dangling and misplaced modifiers distort meaning.

Active listening: focus on the speaker, take notes, paraphrase key points, and ask clarifying questions rather than interrupting.

Discussion norms: take turns, build on others' ideas, disagree with ideas rather than people, and support claims with evidence.

Presentation structure: opening hook, clear main point, organized supporting points, and a conclusion that reinforces the message.

Delivery: control volume, pace, and eye contact; use visual aids to support rather than replace spoken content.

Media literacy: identify the source, purpose, audience, and techniques (music, camera angle, editing) used in a visual or multimodal text.

Evaluating a speaker's argument requires checking the claim, the evidence, and whether the speaker addresses counterarguments.

Paraphrasing in discussion means restating another's point in your own words and confirming accuracy before responding.

Audience adaptation: adjust vocabulary, examples, and formality to the listeners' background and the occasion.

Research process: define the question, locate sources, evaluate sources, take notes, synthesize, and cite.

A focused research question is specific, answerable, and not too broad (e.g., 'How did the invention of the printing press change literacy in Europe?' rather than 'printing press').

Source evaluation criteria: authority (author credentials), accuracy (verifiable facts), currency (publication date), objectivity (bias), and purpose.

Primary vs. secondary sources: primary sources are original documents or data; secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources.

Paraphrasing means restating an author's idea in your own words and sentence structure, with a citation; copying sentence structure without quotation marks is plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes copying words, ideas, or images without credit, and failing to cite paraphrased material.

Citation basics: record author, title, publisher or website, and date; follow the assigned style consistently.

Synthesizing sources means combining information from multiple sources to support a claim, noting where sources agree and conflict.