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

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.

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.

What is a metaphor, and how does it differ from a simile?

A metaphor directly states one thing is another (her voice is music); a simile compares using 'like' or 'as' (her voice is like music).

What is an extended metaphor?

A metaphor developed and sustained over several lines, a paragraph, or an entire work, with multiple connected comparisons.

What is personification?

A figure of speech that gives human qualities, actions, or emotions to non-human things or abstract ideas.

What is symbolism in literature?

The use of an object, character, or action to represent a larger abstract idea or meaning beyond its literal sense.

What is the difference between an allusion and an analogy?

An allusion is a brief reference to a well-known person, event, or work; an analogy is an extended comparison that explains one thing by likening it to another.

What are the common structural patterns used to organize a text?

Chronological/sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution, and order of importance.

What are the defining conventions of a sonnet?

A 14-line lyric poem written in iambic pentameter with a fixed rhyme scheme (Shakespearean: three quatrains and a couplet, ABAB CDCD EFEF GG).

What is the difference between first-person and third-person omniscient point of view?

First person is told by a character using 'I' with limited knowledge; third-person omniscient is told by an all-knowing narrator who can reveal any character's thoughts.

How does flashback function as a structural device?

It interrupts the chronological narrative to depict an earlier event, providing background or context that deepens understanding of the present action.

Why is cultural and historical context important when analyzing a text?

It reveals the values, events, and social conditions that shaped the author's purpose and meaning, preventing misreading through a modern-only lens.

What is an author's purpose, and what are its three broad categories?

The reason an author writes a text; the main categories are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain (often expressed as PIE).

What is tone in a text, and how does it differ from mood?

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject; mood is the emotional atmosphere the reader experiences.

What makes an argumentative thesis 'sustained' across an essay?

Every body paragraph connects back to and develops the central claim with relevant reasoning and evidence, maintaining focus from introduction to conclusion.

What are the essential components of a well-developed argumentative paragraph?

A topic sentence (claim), supporting evidence, analysis/commentary explaining the evidence, and a transition or link back to the thesis.

What is a rebuttal in an argument?

The part of an argument that directly responds to and disproves a counterclaim, strengthening the writer's position.

When integrating evidence, what does it mean to 'embed' a quotation?

To weave the quoted material smoothly into your own sentence with a signal phrase and grammatical fit, rather than dropping it in isolation.

What is a signal phrase, and why is it used with source material?

A phrase that introduces a quote, paraphrase, or summary (e.g., 'According to the author...'), giving credit and providing context for the evidence.

What is the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing a source?

Paraphrasing restates a specific passage in your own words at similar length; summarizing condenses the main ideas of a larger section into a much shorter form.

In style, what is parallelism (parallel structure)?

Using the same grammatical form for related words, phrases, or clauses to create balance and rhythm (e.g., 'reading, writing, and studying').

What is a rhetorical question, and what effect does it create?

A question asked for effect rather than an answer, used to provoke thought, emphasize a point, or engage the reader.

What does it mean to revise for coherence?

To improve the logical flow and clarity of writing so ideas connect smoothly, using transitions, consistent order, and clear relationships between sentences and paragraphs.

What is the difference between revising and editing?

Revising changes content, organization, and clarity of ideas (the big picture); editing corrects surface errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage.

What is a transition, and give two examples of categories with sample words.

A word or phrase linking ideas; examples include contrast (however, although) and cause/effect (therefore, consequently).

What is subject-verb agreement?

The grammatical rule that a verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.

What is a dangling modifier, and how is it fixed?

A modifying phrase that has no clear word to describe in the sentence; it is fixed by adding the intended subject right after the modifier or rewording the sentence.

What is the difference between a comma splice and a fused (run-on) sentence?

A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma; a fused sentence joins them with no punctuation at all. Both incorrectly combine complete sentences.

How do you correctly use a semicolon between two independent clauses?

Place a semicolon between two closely related complete sentences without a coordinating conjunction (e.g., 'It rained all day; the game was canceled').

When is a comma required before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)?

When the conjunction joins two independent clauses (e.g., 'She studied hard, and she passed the exam').

What strategy helps determine the meaning of unfamiliar academic vocabulary in context?

Use context clues (definitions, synonyms, antonyms, examples) and word-part analysis of prefixes, roots, and suffixes within the surrounding text.