NYS ELA Grade 5 cheat sheet

Main idea = what the whole passage is mostly about; supporting details are facts, examples, or reasons that explain or prove it. A detail that fits only one paragraph is usually not the main idea.

Text structure signals: cause/effect (because, as a result, therefore), compare/contrast (both, unlike, whereas), problem/solution (issue, solve, fix), chronological (first, next, finally), description (for example, such as).

Inference rule: an answer must be supported by text evidence plus reasonable prior knowledge; if the passage never hints at it, it is not a valid inference.

Author's point of view in informational text = the author's attitude or position (for example, supportive, critical, neutral); it is shown by word choice, not stated outright.

Two texts on one topic: compare what each emphasizes, what facts each includes, and where they disagree; a fact found in only one text cannot be used to answer a question about both.

Graphic features carry meaning: a caption explains a photo or diagram, a sidebar adds related facts, a bold word is a key term, and a timeline shows sequence.

Fact vs. opinion test: a fact can be checked and proven; an opinion uses judgment words (best, should, amazing, worst) and cannot be proven true.

Quoting accurately means copying the exact words inside quotation marks; paraphrasing means restating the idea in your own words without quotation marks.

Story elements: character (who), setting (where and when), plot (what happens), conflict (the problem), and theme (the message about life). Theme is a full statement, not one word like friendship.

Plot arc order: exposition (background), rising action (complications), climax (turning point), falling action, resolution. Questions asking about the turning point point to the climax.

Character traits are inferred from what a character says, does, thinks, and how others react; feelings can change within a story, traits usually stay consistent.

Point of view: first person uses I/we and knows only the narrator's thoughts; third-person limited follows one character; third-person omniscient knows all characters' thoughts.

Figurative language: simile uses like or as; metaphor states one thing is another; personification gives human traits to nonhuman things; hyperbole is extreme exaggeration.

Context clues for unknown words: definition clue (often set off by commas or dashes), example clue (such as, for example), contrast clue (but, unlike), and inference from surrounding sentences.

Theme vs. topic: topic is a subject (courage); theme is a sentence about that subject (courage sometimes means acting even when you are afraid).

A summary of a story includes main characters, main conflict, key events in order, and resolution, and leaves out minor details and personal opinions.

Opinion writing structure: state a clear claim, give at least two reasons, support each reason with evidence or examples, then restate the claim in the conclusion.

Informative writing structure: introduce the topic, organize related facts into paragraphs with a central idea each, use linking words (also, in addition, as a result), and end with a concluding statement.

Narrative writing structure: establish characters and setting, use dialogue and description, show events in a clear sequence, include a problem and solution, and use transitions of time (later, suddenly, finally).

Paragraph unity rule: every sentence in a paragraph must connect to the topic sentence; a sentence that drifts to a new idea belongs in a new paragraph.

Revision vs. editing: revision changes ideas, organization, and word choice; editing fixes capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Transition words by purpose: addition (also, moreover), contrast (however, on the other hand), cause/effect (therefore, because of this), sequence (first, afterward, lastly).

Strong word choice replaces vague words (very good, a lot, thing) with precise ones (remarkable, dozens, tool); sensory details appeal to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Conclusion rule: restate the main idea in fresh words and give a final thought; do not introduce a brand-new argument in the last paragraph.

Conjunctions: coordinating (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join equal parts; subordinating (because, although, while, if, since) begin a dependent clause.

Comma rules: use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining two complete sentences, after an introductory phrase, and between items in a series.

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes a singular verb; in a phrase like the box of pencils, the subject is box, so the verb is is, not are.

Pronoun case: use I, he, she, they as subjects; use me, him, her, them as objects of verbs or prepositions. Test by removing the other person: give it to me, not to I.

Verb tense consistency: keep one tense unless the meaning requires a shift; a sentence about a past event stays in past tense throughout.

Homophones: their (possessive) / there (place) / they're (they are); its (possessive) / it's (it is); to (preposition) / too (also) / two (number); your / you're.

Punctuating titles: underline or italicize book, movie, and play titles; put quotation marks around poem, short story, chapter, and article titles.

Prefixes and suffixes change meaning: un- and dis- mean not, re- means again, pre- means before, -less means without, -ful means full of, -tion turns a verb into a noun.