FCAT Skills

FCAT Skills : 

FCAT Skills Dr. Walker

Analyzing Word Parts : 

Analyzing Word Parts Prefix- A word part that can be placed in front of a word (changes the word’s meaning)-re, pre, im. Suffix-A word part that can be placed at the end of a word-(changes the word’s ,meaning) -ly, ance, ment. Base Word- A complete word to which prefixes and suffixes may be added. Root- The main part of a word to which prefixes and suffixes are added. A root cannot stand alone as a word. Roots often come from other languages.

Context Clues : 

Context Clues Word Parts Clues from around the word: synonyms, antonyms, definitions, appositives, descriptions

Compare & Contrast : 

Compare & Contrast Compare- to identify how things are alike: Signal words- alike, also, as, both, equally, just as, just like, like, likewise, resembles, same, similar Contrast- to identify how things are different Signal words- although, different from, differs from, however, in contrast, instead, on the contrary, on the other hand, unlike, whereas, while, yet, still, but

Main Idea : 

Main Idea Idea that holds a paragraph together and expresses what the paragraph is about- Also called central idea, main point, most important idea point that summarizes Stated vs Implied Main Idea Stated ideas are clearly told Implied ideas need to be figured out based on clues in the passage (pay attention to details)

Methods of Organization : 

Methods of Organization Cause & Effect Compare & Contrast Spatial Order Time Order Flashback Bulleted list Foreshadowing Question/Answer Argument/Support

(Methods of Organization - 1) : 

(Methods of Organization - 1) Author tells what happened and why it happened. Several causes might be given for one effect, or several effects of one cause. Cause & Effect A passage of comparison and contrast focuses on how two or more things are alike and/or different. Compare & Contrast Author uses spatial order when he or she describes something in a logical order. Spatial Order

(Methods of Organization - 2) : 

(Methods of Organization - 2) This type of organization arranges events chronologically, or in the order in which they occur( signal words include-first, second, next, last, finally, then, earlier, later, before). Time Order The author flashes back to events that happened earlier than the time of the main story. Flashback

(Methods of Organization-3) : 

(Methods of Organization-3) Early on, the author gives subtle hints of things that will happen later in the text. Foreshadowing The author asks something in the first paragraph or two and then goes on to answer it. Question/Answer The author takes a stand on an issue and then supports it with detail. Argument/Support

Author’s WHY : 

Author’s WHY Author’s Purpose- All writing has a purpose either to persuade, inform, entertain, or share an experience. Why did the author write the story? Author’s Point Of View- A writer’s experiences and beliefs influence the way he or she writes about a topic.

Author’s WHY? : 

Author’s WHY? Remember PIES P- to Persuade I- to Inform E- to Entertain S- to Share a Personal Experience

Writing that Persuades : 

Writing that Persuades Persuade To convince Get readers to feel a certain way Get readers to act a certain way Get readers to think a certain way

Writing that Informs : 

Writing that Informs Inform Stating the facts No opinionated statements No implied suggestions Reader learns about something

Writing that Entertains : 

Writing that Entertains Entertains Written for fun For excitement For Enjoyment For Pleasure

Writing that Shares a Personal Experience : 

Writing that Shares a Personal Experience Sharing a Personal Experience About the author or of a personal nature Full of writer’s opinions Usually written in first person (I, me, us)

Author’s Point of View Influences… : 

Author’s Point of View Influences… Choice of Words Descriptions Character’s Actions What is not included in the text Choice of Details

REFERENCES : 

REFERENCES Encyclopedias Atlas Almanac World Wide Web Libraries/Media Centers The Card Catalog Periodicals Newspapers Dictionaries Biographies Reference Books

FACT VS OPINION : 

FACT VS OPINION FACT verses OPINION Information that can be proved or disproved (is usually documented) A statement based on feelings that cannot be proved or disproved.

Story Elements : 

Story Elements Setting Characters Plot Conflict Resolution Point of View Tone Mood Theme