STAAR Vocabulary

Author’s Purpose -

• what the author wants you to learn (the lesson / moral)

• what the text is mostly about (A sentence.)

• the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

• the character in the story changes the way they think, feel, and act. (mostly they change because they learn a lesson)

Author’s message –

• what the author wants you to learn (the lesson / moral)

•  the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

• what the text is mostly about (A sentence.)

• the details / examples you use to support your answer/ response. “______” (Paragraph#___).

Theme –

• the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

• what the text is mostly about (A sentence.)

• the lesson / moral of the story A general life lesson. (e.g., If you _________ , you will _________.) (Has to be ONE sentence.)

• the character in the story changes the way they think, feel, and act. (mostly they change because they learn a lesson)

Main idea/ central idea –

• what the author wants you to learn (the lesson / moral)

• what the text is mostly about (A sentence.)

• the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

• the character in the story changes the way they think, feel, and act. (mostly they change because they learn a lesson)

Controlling idea –

• the lesson / moral of the story A general life lesson. (e.g., If you _________ , you will _________.) (Has to be ONE sentence.)

• the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

• what your essay or paragraph will be explaining (what you are writing about) (Has to be ONE sentence.) (The first sentence of your paragraph)

• – the details / examples you use to support your answer/ response. “______” (Paragraph#___).

Evidence –

• what your essay or paragraph will be explaining (what you are writing about)

• the lesson / moral of the story (what do we learn in the end?

• the details / examples you use to support your answer/ response. “______” (Paragraph#___).

• the author’s reason for writing the text (inform, persuade, entertain, describe, explain ….etc)

plot –

• story / storyline (beginning , middle, end) series of events

• The turning point in the story / the protagonist (main character) changes forever (OMG! Moment)

• How does the story end?

• the character in the story changes the way they think, feel, and act. (mostly they change because they learn a lesson)

Dynamic character –

• big events that lead to the resolution. (Tension decreases)

• where or when the story happens

• stays the same throughout the story (e.g., at the beginning they were evil, and in the end they remained evil.)

• changes throughout the story (e.g., at the beginning they were evil, and in the end they became kind.)

Internal traits –

• big events that lead to the turning point where the character changes forever.(Tension increases)

• traits that describe a character's personality / feelings / thoughts

• traits that describe how a character looks/ physical appearance

• (the beginning of a story where the main character , setting, and conflict are introduced)

External traits –

•  big events that lead to the turning point where the character changes forever.(Tension increases)

• (the beginning of a story where the main character , setting, and conflict are introduced)

• traits that describe a character's personality / feelings / thoughts

• traits that describe how a character looks/ physical appearance