Midterm Study Guide PDF

Midterm Study Guide The midterm will consist of multiple-choice questions, including some with two parts (A and B). The format will match previous My Perspectives tests. Below is a guide to help you prepare. Key Concepts to Review Connotation vs. Denotation Connotation: Refers to the emoti...

Midterm Study Guide The midterm will consist of multiple-choice questions, including some with two parts (A and B). The format will match previous My Perspectives tests. Below is a guide to help you prepare. Key Concepts to Review Connotation vs. Denotation Connotation: Refers to the emotional or cultural associations of a word (e.g., positive or negative connotations). ○ Example: The word “childish” has a negative connotation of immaturity. Denotation: The literal or dictionary definition of a word. ○ Example: The denotation of “childish” is “like a child.” Compound Subjects and Predicates A compound subject has more than one subject. A compound predicate has more than one action. ○ Example: Minnie and Mickey Mouse ate the cake and drank the milk. Coordinate Adjectives vs. Cumulative Adjectives Coordinate Adjectives: ○ Can switch order, use a comma, or insert “and” between them. ○ Example: The shiny, new car or The shiny and new car. Cumulative Adjectives: ○ Must follow a specific order and cannot be rearranged without sounding awkward. ○ Example: The big red barn. Dependent Clauses and Commas A dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence is followed by a comma. ○ Example: While Mary played piano, her Siberian Husky puppy howled. A dependent clause at the end of a sentence does not need a comma. ○ Example: Her Siberian Husky puppy howled while Mary played the piano. Fact vs. Opinion Review how to differentiate facts from opinions. For tips, visit Fact vs. Opinion Guide. Conflict in Literature  Understand that conflict can be: ○ Internal: A struggle within a character. ○ External: A struggle between a character and an outside force. Using Reference Tools Thesaurus: Find synonyms and antonyms. Dictionary: Provides definitions, parts of speech, and multiple meanings of a word. Prefixes and Suffixes Common prefixes: DYS-, MAL-, IR-, PRE- Common suffixes: -ION, -MENT Stage Directions in plays Understand that stage directions are included to help readers visualize the actions, movements, and emotions of characters. A "stage direction" in a play text is a written instruction, usually enclosed in parentheses, that describes the setting, character actions, mood, or other visual elements of a scene, providing information to the actors and director about how to perform the play without being spoken aloud as part of the dialogue. Key points about stage directions: ​ Purpose: They help visualize the scene, including where characters are positioned on stage, what they are doing, and how they are feeling at a particular moment. ​ Format: Stage directions are typically written in parentheses within the play text, separate from the character's dialogue. ​ Examples: "Enter right" - Indicates a character enters from the right side of the stage. "Looks nervously around" - Describes a character's emotional state and body language. "A dimly lit living room" - Describes the setting of a scene. Theme and Figurative Language Be familiar with identifying themes and recognizing types of figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, personification, etc. Study Tips Review past tests for familiar question formats. Practice identifying connotation and denotation in sample sentences. Write examples of coordinate and cumulative adjectives. Use a thesaurus and dictionary to reinforce your understanding of prefixes and suffixes. Good luck on your midterm!