TEAS 7 READING CRAFT & STRUCTURE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS ALREADY GRADED A+

Fact Evidence that can be supported by numbers, statistics, or research--something that is true Opinion What the author believes to be true--typically not supported by numbers and often relying on emotion Bias Preferences or judgments held by author--might be disguised or falsely presented as "facts" Often uses emotional appeals or figurative language Stereotype False generalizations and opinions held by the author about groups of people Might be presented as "truth" in a non-emotional tone or use questionable research. Assumption Drawing conclusions from an unstated idea or opinion without proof Authorial Intent Another name for the author's purpose: the reason an author creates a text Clues that indicate an author's opinion 1. Certainty 2. Worth 3. General Qualifiers 4. Statements that focus on the person Keywords that indicate certainty in an author's opinion Should, expected, no surprise, absolute, no doubt Keywords that indicate worth in an author's opinion Perfect, better, best Words that offer judgements of importance and value Keywords that indicate qualifiers in an author's opinion Just, the most, absolutely Words that end in -ly Keywords that indicate personal focus in an author's opinion I believe, in my opinion, no one would think that.... What are examples of facts on the TEAS? Numbers, statistics, dollar amounts, years Anything that can be looked up and be validated with outside research Author's Tone Writer's attitude toward his or her audience and subject Can be indicated through word choice, context, connotation, and supporting details Can often point to possible bias Author's Tone Examples Professional, Emotional, Sarcastic Often adjectives (describing) Point of View Perspective from which a story is told first person = I (often narrative modes) second person = you (often narrative or persuasive modes) third person = he, she, it (any mode) Author's Purpose The goal of the author—the TEAS question might refer to a word, a sentence, or an entire passage The author often tries to make purpose clear Author's Purpose: To Explain The author aims to educate or inform the reader The author wants to tell you how to do something or how something works Author's Purpose: To Express Feelings The author aims to describe emotions Author's Purpose: To Entertain The author aims to help the reader pass time or amuse the readers (novel, short story, play, poem) Author's Purpose: To Describe The author wants the reader to visualize or experience a person, place, or thing. Focuses on the 5 senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, sound Author's Purpose: To Persuade The author aims to change the reader's mind or actions TEAS Strategy: Questions about author's bias or opinion 1. Always read the question first. 2. Scan the answer options and look for clue words that indicate an opinion (i.e. should) 3. If the question asks about the entire passage, read the first few paragraphs and the last paragraph extra carefully. Author's Position Standpoint or attitude that the author holds towers an idea Position might include bias or preference The author might use emotional language to support position or the author might try to appear unbiased and hide his or her true position TEAS Strategy: Do you always need to read the entire passage for a question about the author's opinion? No. Often, you can use the answer options and scan for opinion keywords, lack of wiggle room, or judgments on value or worth. What are some commonly biased types of text that you might see on the TEAS? 1. Editorials (newspapers or online publications) 2. Advertisements and classifieds 3. Brochures 4. Persuasive passages 5. Online blog or forum posts How can an author strengthen his or her argument? 1. Add information from other peer-reviewed sources 2. Remove emotional appeals 3. Directly acknowledge any potential biases 4. Consider the opposing argument 5. Include supporting details that are facts, statistics, or expert information Which types of sources are often as unbiased as possible? 1. Reference works like atlas, almanac, encyclopedia 2. Scholarly works like an anthology or peer-reviewed journal TEAS Strategy: Questions about the author's purpose 1. Are you being asked about the entire passage or a sentence in the passage? 2. Is there an opinion keyword or phrase? 3. Is the author suggesting a specific action, belief, or judgment? 4. What is the mode of the passage? 5. What is the main idea of the passage? 6. What is the title of the passage? 7. Where does the author's work appear? (Peer-reviewed journal vs. blog suggest different purposes) TEAS Strategy: Evaluating evidence and facts 1. Does it relate to data, numbers, and facts? 2. Where is the source of this information? Is it peer-reviewed? 3. Is there an opinion or bias coming through? 4. Is the argument backed up by evidence or is it making an appeal to emotions? 5. Can outside research strengthen the argument? 6. Can removing emotion strengthen the argument? TEAS Strategy: Reliable sources with factual evidence Trustworthy materials that come from experts in the field of study. Often have several traits... 1. Peer-reviewed 2. Fact-checked 3. Attempts to remove any bias--or to be upfront about a possible bias 4. Author clearly named with biographical information or professional affiliation 5. Use physical evidence or proof 6. Use data or numbers 7. Lists sources and references Author's Primary Purpose The reason an author chooses to write a selection and it is often dependent on his or her audience. On the TEAS, this would often be the main course of action or outcome. What does the author want the reader to learn, think, feel, or do? Author's Secondary Purpose Information, examples, or reasoning in the text that often informs a secondary audience that might not act on the passage, or it gives more nuance to the intended audience Figurative Language Emotional, flowery, or expressive language that invokes the imagination, usually giving meaning to something outside of the literal definition. Types of Figurative Language on the TEAS 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Personification 4. Exaggeration Simile Comparison using like or as Usually compare things that don't seem related at first Hint: if you like something, you smile (smile looks like simile) Metaphor Comparison that does not use like or as Metaphors are usually about creating a picture in the reader's mind rather than a direct comparison; they can be harder to spot than similes Personification Giving something that's not a person (a rock, an animal, a robot, etc.) human qualities like human emotions or motivations Exaggeration Overstatements that usually involve increasing or decreasing number, size, or emotion for dramatic effect Denotation Dictionary definition of a word Literal meaning of a word and opposition of connotation Denotation = dictionary Connotation Implied or associative meaning of a word Connotation = context Positive Connotation Specific words in the sentence are used to invoke a generally positive feeling Example = "I walked to school" (neutral connotation) vs. "I skipped to school" (positive connotation - implies happy excitement) Negative Connotation Specific words in the sentence are used to invoke a generally negative feeling Example = "I do not have much muscle mass" (neutral connotation) vs. "I am scrawny" (negative connotation)