semester exam: random info + literary devices

Question 1

identifying central idea

Answer 1

• specific topics in every paragraph/section
• evidence/details that develop key ideas
• words that signal an organizational pattern
• as yourself “What did I learn from this/ estafat eh men keda”

Question 1

identifying the author’s purpose (unseen passage)

Answer 1

it is as easy as PIE
Persuade: the author tries to convince the reader of something
Inform: to describe/inform the reader of something factual
Entertain: writing is usually funny to entertain the reader.

Question 2

making inferences

Answer 2

to infer is to assume based on what the text indicates

Question 3

plot structure

Answer 3

exposition: the beginning of the story, introduced to characters, setting, and basic situation.
inciting incident: an incident that sets the conflict into motion
rising action: a series of events that builds suspense and develops the main conflict.
climax: where conflict reaches its peak and there is a turning point in the story
falling action: events after the climax that lead to the resolution
resolution: outcome of the story, loose ends are tied up.

Question 4

simile

Answer 4

indirect comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’
examples: as fast as a cheetah, she swam like a fish, etc.

Question 5

metaphor

Answer 5

direct comparison that states that one thing is another
examples: my mom has a heart of gold, my hands were icicles because of the cold.

Question 6

personification

Answer 6

giving a non-human thing human characteristics
examples: the sun kissed her cheeks, the flowers danced in the wind, and the court called to him.

Question 7

hyperbole

Answer 7

exaggeration
examples: I had a million of them, and I am starving.

Question 8

imagery

Answer 8

descriptive/figurative language to appeal to the reader’s senses
example: the old book had water spots across its spine. Some of the pages were yellowed.

Question 9

irony

Answer 9

irony: a contrast between what is expected and what happens
verbal irony: a contrast between what is said and what is meant (break a leg)
situational irony: a contrast between what is expected and what happens. (life-guard drowns)
dramatic irony: a contrast between what a character says/thinks & what the audience knows is true. (home alone: we know that Kevin has planted traps around the house but the thieves don’t .)

Question 10

foreshadowing

Answer 10

when the author hints/clues about something that will happen later on in the book
example: I told myself there was no way that he would ever do that. I lie to myself a lot.