Download 6th Grade Review - Rochester Community Schools

Hart Middle School
6th Grade Review
2007-2008
Literary Terms
Plot line
 Exposition – beginning that explains characters /setting
 Initial conflict - action that starts problems
 Rising Action – where all the action takes place
 Climax – highest point / turning point
 Falling Action – after climax, contains action to lead to end
 Resolution – conclusion of story
Protagonist – main character of story
Antagonist – character or situation that creates conflicts for
protagonist
Conflict - problems in the story
Types of conflict
1. person vs. person: external
2. person vs. self: internal
3. person vs. nature: external
4. person vs. fate
5. person vs. society
Setting -time and place of story
Point of View: who is telling the story
1st
told from point of view of character –uses “I” and “me”
3rd
told from outsiders view – uses They, she, he, names
** Exclude dialogue when determining point of view
Theme
- message of the story
Author’s purpose – Why is the author telling the story? *persuade,
inform, or entertain …
Mood – the feeling a reader gets from reading story
Literary Elements
Alliteration: the repeating of beginning consonant sounds as in “creamy
and crunchy.”
Simile: compares two different things using either like or as. He was as
cold as ice.
Metaphor: compares two different things without using a word of
comparison such as like or as. The substitute teacher is a military
commander.
Onomatopoeia: the use of a word whose sound makes you think of its
meaning. buzz, swish, zip, boom
Personification: when an idea, object, or animal is given the
characteristics of a person. The rock stubbornly refused to move.
Oxymoron: two contradictory words come together for a special effect.
“jumbo shrimp”
+
Homophone: is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but
differs in meaning.
Hyperbole: an exaggeration or overstatement used for emphasis: My dad
had a cow when he saw my grades!
Genres
Narrative Fiction
Action / Adventure
Action sequences are more important
than character development or
storytelling
Narrative in which the main character
engages in a difficult, risky, or unexpected
venture in an exotic setting culminating in
a hazardous chase, a decisive struggle,
or a suspenseful or dangerous experience
To identify with characters in adverse situations
Characters experience conflict when trying
to overcome obstacles
Deals with life's big ideas, lessons, and themes
Action and excitement lead to climax
Events focus around out-of-doors
Utilizes extremes (e.g. natural disasters)
Strong plot includes reactions to crisis which
leads to the climax and resolution
Tension between forces in the characters life
Setting
Space where action takes place
Essential to the story, mood, and
revealing the character
Any time period
Fantasy
Fiction contains unrealistic or unworldly elements and magical
adventure. Fantasy - magic, secondary worlds, good versus evil,
heroism, special character types, fantastic objects.
Purpose
To transport the reader into an imaginary world
To entertain and provide enjoyment
To teach a life lesson
Characteristics
Highly imaginative narrative text
Involves imaginary characters in places, events,
and problems that seem real
Overlaps with science fiction and adventure
Magic plays a key role
Often realistic main characters experience
fantastic places, events, time periods, and
problems
Characters
Setting
Folktale
Fictionalized
Magical/Supernatural powers
Represent stereotypes of good/evil or
extraterrestrial qualities
Animals talk, feel, and act like people
(anthropomorphism)
Physical or character transformation
Preposterous characters have some realistic
characteristics but could not be real
Opening language sets the stage - Such as "Onc
upon a time"
Imaginary, "enchanted" or other-worldy
Often characterized in terms of possible future
worlds
Set in past, present, or future
Definition
Ancient stories for all age groups that have been passed down
orally.
Types of Folktales
Fables, myths, legends, tall tales, and fairy tales
Purposes
To tell an entertaining story
To reveal human nature
To kindle imagination
To understand universal qualities of humankind (how humans
are alike)
To convey morals and values
To instill cultural beliefs, values, and practices
Characteristics
Short, predictable narratives
Express deep, universal emotions such as joy, grief, fear,
jealousy, and awe
Intrigue developed through repetition of phrases
Repetitive language and events occur with additional or
changed details
Identical themes found in tales across cultures
Multiple forms:
fables, folktales, fairytales, tall tales
Ballads, myths, legends
Themes
Good triumphs over Evil
- Good :industrious, kind, patient, clever over - Evil: selfish,
greedy, lazy
"Justice" theme
Values of humility, kindness, patience, sympathy, hard work,
and courage are rewarded
Wishes come true after tests or struggles
Motifs
Wishes, magical powers, magical objects, magical numbers,
trickery
Characters
Underdeveloped
Magical characters and events
Underdog triumphs
Main character changes at conclusion
Tricksters make up for physical weakness through cleverness
or stupidity
Stereotypical: entirely good, evil, lay
May be physically attractive with unattractive traits and vice
versa
Incorporates daily speech
Setting
Patterned beginnings and endings
Setting in the distant past
Setting may be make-believe
Often emphasizes a culture or country
Plot
Problem "tests" the main character
May include irony (the youngest is successful, the trickster is
tricked)
Characters try to outwit one another
Problem-Solution Pattern
"Quick" magical transformation at resolution point
Satisfying, definite conclusion
Linear plot structure
Author's Craft
Short or split into episodes
Patterned beginnings
Replication of simple sentence structure and concrete
expressions
Predictable ending
Brisk, action-filled beginnings
Humor
Rhyme
Using repetitions based on magical numbers:
characters/chants/verses/main episodes, attempts to solve
problems
Effective dialogue - expresses joy, fear, grief, awe
High action through narrative
Instructive tone
Informational Non-fiction
Personal Essay – to connect personal knowledge, experiences,
and understanding of the world to themes

A first person, non-fiction story that tells a personal
experience.
Persuasive Essay – take a position on a statement

Organizes and presents evidence to support position

Present a strong conclusion to guide the reader to agree
or to take action
How-to Article –



Provides directions
Provides explanations on how to do something
Provides help on how to operate or implement
something
Comparative Essay



To compare and contrast – two texts, historical figures,
scientific procedures
To see similarities and differences
To make a judgment or choice
Research Report –
a written document describing and summarizing the findings
of an individual or group.
 To record the research, decisions or event
 To inform or persuade an audience with factual
material
Text Structures
Compare – Contrast – points out the likenesses and/or
differences between two or more subjects
Sequential (Informational) – presents a series of events that
take place in a time order. The author traces the sequence or
the steps in the process.
Cause and Effect – One event causes another event to happen.
The effect tells what happened. The cause tells why it
happened.
Look for signal words, such as because, since, until, unless,
and after
Descriptive - Paints a picture of a person, place, thing, or idea
in fiction.
Informational – provides information, such as facts,
characteristics, and attributes about a subject, event, person, or
concept. This is the most common pattern found in textbooks.
Problem – Solution – describes a problem and presents one or
more solutions to the problem
SUMMARY
S Somebody
W Wants
B But
S So
Grammar
Subject - who or what of the sentence—noun or pronoun
Predicate - what the subject does – the action
Subject and Predicate Song
Sung to the tune of "A Tisket, a Tasket, a Green and Yellow
Basket"
A subject, a predicateThese are quite important!
Combine the two, and you will see
That you have formed a sentence.
The subject, the subject
Is a noun or a pronoun.
Who or what it usually tells,
And that is how you'll find it.
The predicate, the predicate
It tells about the subject,
What it is or what it does,
A verb and all its helpers.
The subject, the predicate
Together form a sentence.
Write them both then punctuate
VOILA! You have a sentence.
Nouns – person, place, thing, idea or quality
Verbs – action words or the “be” verbs (helping verbs)
List 23 helping Verbs
is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been has, have, had, do, does,
did, shall, will, should, would, may, might, must, can, could
Transitive verbs – needs a direct object
adj – subj- verb- adj- direct object
The player caught the ball.
Intransitive verbs – does not use a direct object
adj – subj- verb
The girl danced.
Dead Verbs – is, am, are, has, have,
had, was, were, be, being, been,
any verb ending with – ing, got
Pronouns – take the place of nouns – I, me, he, she, her, his,
mine, yours, you, ……..
Adjectives – modify nouns or pronouns
Answer questions – which one?, what kind?, how
many?, whose?
Adverbs – modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs (ly)
Answer questions – how?, when?, where?, how much?
Prepositions - Show position, prepositional phrase start with
a preposition and end with the object of the preposition.
Preposition Song
To the tune of "Yankee Doodle' --About, above, across, against, among, around, at, after,
Before, behind, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in, during.
Into, for, from, out, inside,
Near, of, off, to, over
Past, throughout, through, toward, on, up,
Without, until, with, under
Along, below, beneath, upon,
Outside, like, ---Prepositions
Conjunctions
Coordinating: fanboys: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Subordinating
Subordinating Conjunctions
A after, although, as
W when, whenever, where, wherever, while
H how
I if
T than
E even though, even if
B because, before
U unless, until
S since, so that
Interjections – show emotions—YIKES!
Clauses- have a subject and a predicate
Independent- can stand alone
Dependent- can’t stand alone.
Compound Sentences – two independent clauses
joined by a comma and a coordinating “Fanboys”
conjunction.
Complex Sentence- Dependent and Independent
clause
Adverbial Subordinate Clauses- subordinate clause
with a WHITE BUS conjunction – if in front of the
sentence, add a comma after it, but if in the back,
there is no comma.
Adjective Clauses- contains the pronoun who, whose,
whom, which, that, AND, functions as an adjective
by answering: what kind? how many? which one?
Comparative
Compares two things
uses – er or more
Superlative forms
compares three or more
uses – est or most
COMMA Rules
Use Commas:
 After introductory elements
 With interrupting elements
 With ending elements
 In a series
 In compound sentences
 In addresses and dates
 With coordinate adjectives
 With most appositives
 With Jr., Sr., and titles
 After the salutation of a friendly letter and after
the closing or either a friendly letter or a
business letter
 With nouns of direct address
 With parenthetical expressions (by the way, I
believe, however, etc.)
man
sta
ped
pre
vis/vid
post
mis/mit
bi
Prefix
Roots
pre/post
bi
sta
man
ped
vis/vid
mis/mit
ology
meter
Suffix
meter
ology
Writing from Knowledge and Experience
R
Role of the Writer
A
Audience - What are they looking for in the story?
F
Form – What should the final product look like?
T
Topic – Did I narrow the theme to one small topic?
P
Put the theme first
A
Add a catchy lead
D
Details, details, details
D
Dialogue
L
Lose the dead verbs
E
End by tying the theme to the story
Peer Response
6 Trait Writing
Ideas
Organization
Clear, focused
main idea
strong,
compelling read
Voice
Intriguing,
important details
Pattern right for topic
and purpose
No filter
Easy to follow
transitions
Write for audience
and purpose
Conclusion provides
closure
Full of energy, life,
enthusiasm for
topic
Individual
striking conflict
read aloud
No generalities
Puts the reader at
the scene
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency Conventions
Clear, precise
smooth expression
clean copy, easy to read.
Words enhance
meaning
fun to read aloud
edited top to bottom
scenery details as
needed
varied sentence lengths
error free, or close
strong verbs
varied sentence beginnings
ready to publish
concise and clutter free
realistic, readable dialogue
Reading Strategies
T
H
I
E
V
E
S
TITLE
HEADINGS
INTRODUCTION
EVERY FIRST SENTENCE
VISUALS AND VOCABULARY
ENDING QUESTIONS
SUMMARY
Read everything TWICE!
Read everything TWICE!
Read Question stems.
Highlight key words in questions.
Find answer in text and circle answer.
Eliminate answers.
Write answer in margin also.
When using a scantron, bubble accurately.
Check your work.
Context Clues
Writers suggest the meaning of the words that may be
unfamiliar through words or hints that surround the words.
Inferences




Making an assumption based on subtle verbal and
nonverbal clues
Judging or concluding that something is true
Analyzing facts and coming to a logical outcome based
on the evidence
Realizing, “Oh, now I get it!”
Main Idea
The main idea of a paragraph tells what the
paragraph is about. All the other sentences are
details that add to the main idea.
And the best review of 6th
grade …
 COSI
 The best teachers ever
 The “Hannah Montana”
concert
 Rotaries
 Meeting new friends
 Learning with the
greatest teachers ever
 HAP
 Learning
 Lockers
 Author in April –
Christopher Paul Curtis
 Good times
 PI Day
 Human Sundaes