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

24 sample cards from the English II (STAAR EOC) deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. 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.

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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).

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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').

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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).

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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').

23. 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').

24. 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.

What this deck covers

English II (STAAR EOC) flashcards FAQ