ReadWorks.org

Skill & Strategy Units

• Author's Purpose
  Close PRINT

  Author's Purpose

  The reason why an author has written a text for readers.

  
• Cause and Effect
  Close PRINT

  Cause and Effect

  The reason why something happens (Cause) and what happens as a result (Effect).

  
• Character
  Close PRINT

  Character

  The looks, traits, thoughts, and relationships of a person, animal or object with life-like qualities in a text.

  
• Classify and Categorize
  Close PRINT

  Classify and Categorize

  To arrange or organize details from a text into groups with similar traits (Categorize), and to name or label that group (Classify).

  
• Compare and Contrast
  Close PRINT

  Compare and Contrast

  How two or more things are alike (Compare) and how they are different (Contrast).

  
• Drawing Conclusions
  Close PRINT

  Drawing Conclusions

  Combining background knowledge, personal experience and textual information to determine meaning.

  
• Explicit Information
  Close PRINT

  Explicit Information

  Details that can be clearly found “right there” in the text.

  
• Fact and Opinion
  Close PRINT

  Fact and Opinion

  Information that can be proven to be true or false (Fact) and a personal statement of what one believes about a subject (Opinion).

  
• Figurative Language
  Close PRINT

  Figurative Language

  Language enriched by word images and figures of speech.

  
• Genre
  Close PRINT

  Genre

  A category or type of text, organized by common literary elements.

  
• Main Idea
  Close PRINT

  Main Idea

  The big idea in a text that tells what the text is mostly about.

  
• Plot
  Close PRINT

  Plot

  The structure of events that make up the main story of a text.

  
• Point of View
  Close PRINT

  Point of View

  The perspective from which a story is told to the reader (i.e. first person).

  
• Predicting
  Close PRINT

  Predicting

  Using information from a text to decide what will most likely happen next.

  
• Pronoun Reference
  Close PRINT

  Pronoun Reference

  Tracing a pronoun to the source noun to which it refers.

  
• Sequence
  Close PRINT

  Sequence

  The order of events or steps in a text.

  
• Setting
  Close PRINT

  Setting

  Where and when a story takes place.

  
• Theme
  Close PRINT

  Theme

  The underlying message or lesson that the author is trying to convey to the reader. These often include universal values dealing with life, society or human nature.

  
• Vocabulary in Context
  Close PRINT

  Vocabulary in Context

  The meaning of a word within a text.

  
• Voice
  Close PRINT

  Voice

  An author’s tone or attitude toward a subject in a text.

  
• Novel Study Units
  Close PRINT

  Novel Study Units

  These units afford students the opportunity to engage with and read higher level texts. Multiple comprehension concepts are taught in a single unit, and all units include a pacing guide, five to seven lessons, student packet, and unit assessment.