STAAR TERMS REVIEW

caption

• the words under a picture that explain what the picture is about
• placed over a certain section of an article to give you the main topic that will be found in that section, usually in bold text
• details and information have been given to strengthen the idea

infer or conclude

• to reach a decision or form an opinion based on the clues that are given
• the main reason for doing something
• a message that the author wants to communicate by writing the article

theme

• a message that the author wants to communicate by writing the article
• placed over a certain section of an article to give you the main topic that will be found in that section, usually in bold text
• the words under a picture that explain what the picture is about

subheading

• placed over a certain section of an article to give you the main topic that will be found in that section, usually in bold text
• the words under a picture that explain what the picture is about
• details and information have been given to strengthen the idea

author's purpose

• the main reason for writing the text
• placed over a certain section of an article to give you the main topic that will be found in that section, usually in bold text
• details and information have been given to strengthen the idea

chronological order

• an organizational pattern used to show events happening in order of time
• an organizational pattern used when one idea leads to the next, each detail supports the one before it, etc.
• an organizational pattern used when the author wants to show similarities and differences between topics

logical order

• an organizational pattern used when one idea leads to the next, each detail supports the one before it, etc.
• an organizational pattern used to show events happening in order of time

cause and effect

• an organizational pattern used when a writer wants to show how one thing happens because of another
• an organizational pattern used to show events happening in order of time

sequential order

• an organizational pattern similar to chronological order; events or steps are discussed in the order that they happened or should happen
• an organizational pattern used when one idea leads to the next, each detail supports the one before it, etc.
• an organizational pattern used when a writer wants to show how one thing happens because of another

compare and contrast

• an organizational pattern used when the author wants to show similarities and differences between topics
• an organizational pattern used to show events happening in order of time
• an organizational pattern used when an author wants to discuss a problem and possible ways to fix the problem