STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) English II (STAAR EOC) Syllabus

English II (STAAR EOC) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English II (STAAR EOC) in STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Advanced Reading and Synthesis

   4 topics

   • Synthesis Across Multiple Texts
     • Comparing ideas in paired passages
     • Tracing how different authors treat a topic
     • Synthesizing evidence from multiple sources
   • Complex Literary Analysis
     • Multiple and developing themes
     • Complex characters and relationships
     • Narrative perspective and unreliable narration
   • Critical Evaluation of Argument
     • Assessing the validity of reasoning
     • Identifying logical fallacies and bias
     • Distinguishing fact, opinion, and inference
   • Media and Cross-Genre Literacy
     • Analyzing visual and multimodal texts
     • Comparing print and media treatments
2. 2

   Literary Craft and Interpretation

   4 topics

   • Diction and Syntax
     • How sentence structure affects meaning
     • Effect of precise word choice
   • Extended Figurative Language
     • Extended metaphor and motif
     • Irony, satire, and paradox
   • Structure and Genre Conventions
     • Conventions of poetry, drama, and prose
     • How form shapes interpretation
   • Cultural and Historical Context
     • Influence of context on meaning
     • Universal vs. culturally specific themes
3. 3

   Argumentative Composition

   4 topics

   • Constructing a Sustained Argument
     • Nuanced thesis and line of reasoning
     • Addressing counterarguments
     • Logical progression of ideas
   • Evidence and Source Integration
     • Selecting and embedding textual evidence
     • Analyzing the significance of evidence
   • Style and Rhetorical Effectiveness
     • Establishing voice and tone for audience
     • Varied sentence structure for impact
   • Revising for Coherence
     • Strengthening unity and flow
     • Effective transitions between ideas
4. 4

   Conventions and Editing Mastery

   4 topics

   • Advanced Grammar and Usage
     • Phrases, clauses, and modifiers
     • Active and passive voice
   • Editing in Context
     • Revising for precision and concision
     • Correcting usage within passages
   • Punctuation in Complex Sentences
     • Colons, dashes, and parentheses
     • Punctuating dialogue and quotations
   • Academic Vocabulary
     • Domain-specific terminology
     • Nuance and shades of meaning

English II (STAAR EOC) flashcards for STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness)

22 of 51 cards from the English II (STAAR EOC) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In reading, what is synthesis across multiple texts?

   The skill of combining ideas, evidence, and perspectives from two or more texts to form a new, unified understanding or conclusion that no single text states on its own.

2. When synthesizing paired passages, what should a reader identify first before drawing conclusions?

   The central idea or claim of each text and the relationship between them (agreement, disagreement, extension, or contrast).

3. What is a 'controlling idea' when synthesizing multiple sources?

   A single overarching thesis that accounts for and connects the key points of all the sources being combined.

4. In complex literary analysis, what is a theme?

   A central, universal message or insight about life or human nature that a literary work conveys, expressed as a complete statement rather than a single topic word.

5. What is the difference between a story's subject and its theme?

   The subject is the topic the work is about (e.g., love, war); the theme is the specific insight or claim the work makes about that subject.

6. What is characterization, and what are its two types?

   The methods an author uses to reveal a character. Direct characterization states traits outright; indirect characterization reveals them through speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, and others' reactions.

7. In literary analysis, what is a foil character?

   A character whose contrasting traits highlight or emphasize the qualities of another character, often the protagonist.

8. What is dramatic irony?

   A situation in which the audience or reader knows something important that one or more characters do not, creating tension or suspense.

9. In critical evaluation of argument, what are the three classical rhetorical appeals?

   Ethos (appeal to credibility/character), pathos (appeal to emotion), and logos (appeal to logic and reason).

10. What is a logical fallacy?

    A flaw or error in reasoning that weakens an argument, such as a hasty generalization, ad hominem attack, or false dilemma.

11. Define the 'ad hominem' fallacy.

    Attacking the person making an argument rather than addressing the substance of the argument itself.

12. What is a 'false dilemma' (either/or) fallacy?

    Presenting only two options or outcomes when other possibilities actually exist.

13. When evaluating an argument, what does it mean to assess its 'validity'?

    Determining whether the conclusion logically follows from the evidence and reasoning provided, regardless of how emotionally persuasive it is.

14. What distinguishes a claim from a counterclaim in an argument?

    A claim is the writer's main position; a counterclaim is an opposing viewpoint that the writer acknowledges and then refutes.

15. In media literacy, what is bias?

    A tendency to present information in a way that favors a particular perspective, often by selective word choice, omission, or framing.

16. What is the difference between a primary and a secondary source?

    A primary source is a firsthand, original account or document; a secondary source analyzes, interprets, or comments on primary sources.

17. In cross-genre study, how does a graphic or infographic differ in purpose from a written essay on the same topic?

    An infographic conveys information visually and concisely for quick comprehension and impact, while an essay develops ideas in depth through sustained prose reasoning.

18. What is meant by a text's 'mode' or medium when comparing across genres?

    The form and channel through which content is delivered (print, visual, audio, digital), which shapes how the message is structured and received.

19. What is diction?

    An author's specific word choice, including its connotation, formality, and precision, used to create tone and meaning.

20. What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

    Denotation is a word's literal dictionary definition; connotation is the emotional or cultural association the word carries.

21. What is syntax in writing?

    The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences, including sentence length, structure, and word order, which affects rhythm and emphasis.

22. How can short, choppy syntax affect a passage's tone?

    It can create tension, urgency, or intensity, while longer, flowing sentences tend to slow the pace and create a reflective or calm effect.

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