EOG Practice Today’s Focus: Understanding the Question

Learning Objective Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (RI 6.3)

Read the Passage Use the piece of blank paper to write: The type of text you are reading Read the title closely. Predict the subject of the text. Focus on any italicized words or quotation marks in the title. What can we infer about the subject of the passage? Write down any words you don’t understand from the passage What context clues can you use to help you understanding the gist of the word? Hint: What sentence is before the word and what sentence comes after the word? Break the word apart to look for a word that is familiar

Answering the question . . . When you answer the questions, you will: Write in complete sentences Begin with sentences such as: The author . . . Ann Petry . . . Events of Harriet Tubman’s life is . . . Do not begin a sentence with ‘Because’ or a pronoun. Use all the line space!

Question 1 Describe how the author introduces the events of Harriet Tubman’s life. How does the author introduce the events of Harriet Tubman’s life? Describe. What key words would you circle (highlight) in this question?

What does describe mean? give a lot of details in your answer Try to answer what, when, where, and who

What is the meaning of event? Something that is very important in a person’s life: A career Milestones (first time situations) A point in time Turning points

What does it mean to introduce? the method the writer uses to first suggest an idea Usually it is at the beginning of the text or at the beginning of a paragraph It can be through facts, descriptions, anecdotes (very brief stories to make a point) or quotes.

Example - My grandfather was an important part of my life. Throughout my childhood he would always make time for me. For example, we would take long walks together on the farm, and we played a record number of checkers tournaments. The most important part of the time we spent together was when he would tell stories of his youth. There was always a lesson to be learned and a laugh to share along the way. These memories will forever define my grandfather’s integrity and patience in my mind. For this reason, he is the Navigator of our family values.

Question 2 Describe how the author illustrates the events of Harriet Tubman’s life. How does the author illustrates the events of Harriet Tubman’s life? Describe. What key words would you circle (highlight) in this question?

What does illustrate mean? giving examples or evidence to support an idea These are used to support the key individual or event in the text.

Example - My grandfather was an important part of my life. Throughout my childhood he would always make time for me. For example, we would take long walks together on the farm, and we played a record number of checkers tournaments. The most important part of the time we spent together was when he would tell stories of his youth. There was always a lesson to be learned and a laugh to share along the way. These memories will forever define my grandfather’s integrity and patience in my mind. For this reason, he is the Navigator of our family values.

Question 3 Describe how the author elaborates the events of Harriet Tubman’s life. How does the author elaborate the events of Harriet Tubman’s life? Describe. What key words would you circle (highlight) in this question?

What does elaborate mean? to go beyond a basic explanation by expanding ideas with additional information Supporting details that help increase the readers knowledge about the key individual or event.

Example - My grandfather was an important part of my life. Throughout my childhood he would always make time for me. For example, we would take long walks together on the farm, and we played a record number of checkers tournaments. The most important part of the time we spent together was when he would tell stories of his youth. There was always a lesson to be learned and a laugh to share along the way. These memories will forever define my grandfather’s integrity and patience in my mind. For this reason, he is the Navigator of our family values.

Question 4 Analyze how the above descriptions contributed to her later becoming a conductor on the Underground Railroad. How does the above descriptions contribute to her later becoming a conductor on the Underground Railroad? Analyze. What key words would you circle (highlight) in this question?

What does analyze mean? To analyze means take something apart to see how it works Rewording: think about how each part (introduces, illustrates, and elaborates) contributes to the whole When you think about the word analyze, think about HOW and WHY?

Example - My grandfather was an important part of my life. Throughout my childhood he would always make time for me. For example, we would take long walks together on the farm, and we played a record number of checkers tournaments. The most important part of the time we spent together was when he would tell stories of his youth. There was always a lesson to be learned and a laugh to share along the way. These memories will forever define my grandfather’s integrity and patience in my mind. For this reason, he is seen as the navigator of our family values.