Unit 3 Study Guide: Studying Informational Texts
Directions
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You will submit your completed Study Guide to the drop box at the end of Unit 3 Lesson 12. Make sure the share settings are set to “Anyone with the link can EDIT.” Use these instructions if you need help with your share settings.
Lesson Name & Number
Lesson 3: Multiple Accounts
Key Concepts
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What does the phrase “the medium is the message” mean?
- This phrase, coined by Marshall McLuhan, suggests that the form of media (e.g., print, television) influences how the message is perceived and understood, sometimes more than the actual content of the message itself.
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Print _____________ media is forms of printed communication such as newspapers and magazines.
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_____________ media is forms of pictorial communication such as photographs and videos.
- Visual
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How does print media affect the reader?
- Print media often requires active engagement and critical thinking as readers must interpret the text and analyze its arguments and claims.
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How does visual media affect the viewer?
- Visual media tends to have an immediate emotional impact and can convey complex ideas quickly through imagery, often eliciting a more visceral reaction.
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Which has a more immediate impact: print media or visual media?
- Visual media typically has a more immediate impact due to its ability to capture attention quickly and evoke emotions through imagery.
Lesson 4: Text Structure
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What does the word “explanatory” mean?
- Explanatory refers to information or writing that clarifies, explains, or provides details about a subject.
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What is a text structure?
- Text structure is the way in which a text is organized or arranged, which affects how information is presented and understood by the reader.
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Why do authors choose different organizational structures when writing?
- Authors choose different structures to best convey their message, enhance clarity, and guide the reader's understanding of the material.
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Use the Gallery on Lesson page 4 to complete the chart below.
| Type of Text Structure | What It Does | |----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Compare/Contrast | Highlights similarities and differences between two or more subjects. | | Problem/Solution | Presents a problem and proposes one or more solutions. | | Cause/Effect | Explains the reasons why something happened and the results of that occurrence. | | Claims/Counterclaims/Evidence | Presents a claim along with opposing viewpoints and supporting evidence. |
Lesson 5: Rhetoric
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What is rhetoric?
- Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, utilizing various techniques and strategies to influence an audience.
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On what three things did Aristotle say rhetoric is based?
- Ethos (credibility), Pathos (emotional appeal), and Logos (logical reasoning).
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_____________ is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences.
- Anaphora
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_____________ is stating two opposite ideas using the same grammatical structure.
- Antithesis
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_____________ _____________ are questions asked for effect rather than answers.
- Rhetorical questions
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If you have not done so already, watch this video on ethos, pathos, & logos then answer the questions below.
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What is ethos and how is it used?
- Ethos is a rhetorical appeal to credibility and character; it is used to convince the audience of the author's reliability or authority on the topic.
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What is pathos and how is it used?
- Pathos is a rhetorical appeal to emotion; it aims to persuade the audience by appealing to their feelings and emotional responses.
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What is logos and how is it used?
- Logos is a rhetorical appeal based on logic and reasoning; it uses facts, statistics, and logical arguments to persuade the audience.
Lesson 6: Informational Text Point of View
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If you have not done so already, watch this video on anecdotes then answer the questions below.
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What is an anecdote?
- An anecdote is a short, personal story used to illustrate a point or engage an audience in a narrative manner.
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What are five potential effects an anecdote can have on an audience?
- Engage the audience emotionally.
- Make a complex topic more relatable.
- Provide a real-life example to support a claim.
- Build rapport with the audience.
- Simplify abstract concepts by illustrating them through a personal experience.
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If you have not done so already, watch this video on inductive vs. deductive reasoning then answer the questions below.
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What are two elements of deductive reasoning?
- A general premise or principle.
- A specific conclusion that follows from the premises.
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What are two elements of inductive reasoning?
- Specific observations or cases.
- A general conclusion drawn from those observations.
Lesson 7: Word Meanings
- Use the Flipbook on Lesson page 4 to complete the chart below
| Part of Speech | Definition | Example | |------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------| | Nouns | A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.| Dog, city, love | | Pronouns | A word that takes the place of a noun. | He, she, it | | Verbs | A word that expresses action or being. | Run, is | | Adjectives | A word that describes a noun. | Happy, blue | | Adverbs | A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.| Quickly, very | | Prepositions | A word that shows the relationship of a noun (or pronoun) to another word. | In, on, at | | Conjunctions | A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses. | And, but, or | | Interjections | A word or phrase that expresses strong emotion. | Wow!, ouch! |
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What is a morpheme?
- A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language that cannot be further divided (e.g., the word "cats" contains two morphemes: "cat" and "s").
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What do affixes do?
- Affixes are added to the base forms of words to create new meanings, alter meanings, or change the part of speech.
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What affix can be added to the adjective “kind” to make it a noun?
- The suffix “-ness” (kindness).
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What is the difference between denotation and connotation?
- Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, while connotation refers to the implied or emotional associations that a word carries beyond its literal meaning.
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What is a synonym for the word “landfill” that might have a negative connotation?
- Dump.
Lesson 8: Argument in Text
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What is the purpose of an argumentative text?
- The purpose of an argumentative text is to persuade the audience to accept a certain viewpoint or take action based on logical reasoning and evidence.
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The best arguments use strong ____________ and effective ____________ that can change a reader’s mind or harden a reader’s opinion.
- Evidence; reasoning.
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What are forms of evidence that answer the question “Why”?
- Facts, statistics, expert testimony, and examples.
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A strong claim is ____________.
- Debatable.
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What is an example of a strong claim?
- "Climate change is the most significant threat to global security in the 21st century."
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If reasoning is _____________, it adheres to the rules of _____________.
- Valid; logic.
Lesson 9: Reasoning
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What is a fallacy?
- A fallacy is a flaw in reasoning or logic that undermines the validity of an argument.
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What is a statement that provides reasons or support for a conclusion?
- An argument.
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A _____________ _____________ is an argument that bases decisions on the false belief that random occurrences are somehow predictive of future outcomes.
- Gambler's fallacy.
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What is the sharing of only that evidence that supports one’s own standpoint?
- Cherry-picking.
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A _____________ _____________ is an argument that limits options to two opposite choices.
- False dichotomy.
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A _____________ _____________ is an argument that because things are alike in one way, they are alike in others.
- Faulty analogy.
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What is an argument that attacks someone’s character motives?
- Ad hominem argument.
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What is the sharing of only that evidence that supports one’s own standpoint?
- Cherry-picking.
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In an appeal to _____________ an argument relies on a so-called “expert’s” opinions.
- Authority.
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In an appeal to _____________ an argument tries to evoke feelings over logic.
- Emotion.
Lesson 10: U.S. Seminal Documents
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What is a seminal document?
- A seminal document is a significant text that has had a profound influence on society, culture, or legal frameworks, shaping ideas, policies, or movements.
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An _____________ is an author’s direct reference to a particular person, place, thing, event, or literary work that they assume will be familiar to the reader.
- Allusion.
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Why are Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” and MLK’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” considered seminal documents?
- They are notable for their powerful articulation of social justice, equality, and civil rights, influencing American values and actions.
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What was Lincoln’s purpose in writing the “Gettysburg Address”?
- To honor fallen soldiers and reaffirm the principles of liberty and equality for which the Civil War was fought.
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What was MLK’s purpose in writing his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”?
- To defend the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism and articulate the moral obligation to fight injustice.
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What theme did you see in Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”?
- The theme of unity and dedication to the principles of democracy and equality.
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What theme did you see in MLK’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”?
- The theme of justice and the moral imperative to resist oppression.
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What theme do both of these works share?
- Both emphasize the importance of equality, justice, and the fight against oppression.
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Which type of tone and rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) did President Lincoln and Dr. King use to appeal to their audience or readers?
- Both utilized a combination of emotional appeals (pathos), moral authority (ethos), and logical reasoning (logos) to effectively communicate their messages.
Lesson 11: European Seminal Documents
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Why is the English Bill of Rights considered a seminal document?
- It established important principles of parliamentary democracy, individual rights, and the limits of governmental power in England.
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Why is Wilberforce’s 1789 Abolition Speech considered a seminal document?
- It played a critical role in raising awareness about the injustices of slavery and advocating for its abolition in Britain.
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What main ideas or themes do both of these documents share?
- Both promote the principles of individual rights, justice, and the rule of law.
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What effect did the specific details of the slave trade in Wilberforce’s speech have on his audience?
- The detailed descriptions of the suffering and inhumanity caused by the slave trade aimed to evoke outrage and compassion, motivating the audience to take action against slavery.
Submission Instructions
- Submit your completed Study Guide to the drop box at the end of Unit 3 Lesson 12.
- Ensure the share settings are set to “Anyone with the link can EDIT.” Use these instructions if you need help with your share settings.
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