PSTAAR Reviews

3rd Grade PSTAAR Review

Free VersePoems that have no rules or patterns
Dialoguespoken words- uses quotation marks ” ” Ex: “Hello,” I said.
Main MessageWhat the author wants you to learn from the story.
ImageryWhen the author uses descriptive language to get the reader to picture it in their mind- includes senses
AppealsShows For example: This appeals (or shows) the reader’s sense of smell/taste/sight/sound/touch
SynonymMeaning the SAME thing
The most likely reasonBest reason
PlotThe events, or what happens, in the story
SummaryStating the main events that happened in the story. Characters, Problem, Resolution (CPR) for fiction.
ThemeThe message (Theme and main message are synonyms)
PoemDescriptive writing that follows a rhythm, could rhyme.
PoetA person who composes, or writes, poems. Ex: The poet, Shel Silverstein, wrote many poems.
LineEach row of text is a line
StanzaA group of lines in a poem ‘Poetry’s little paragraphs’
Five SensesSee, smell, taste, hear, touch
SupportDetails in the text that help you find the answer
ParagraphA section of the story. These are numbered.
ResolutionHow the problem/conflict was solved
DescriptionUsed to describe something Ex: The ice cream sundae was smothered in hot fudge, fluffy whip cream and creamy caramel. The description of the ice cream made me so hungry!
Infer/InferenceTo use background knowledge plus text evidence to come up with an answer
SectionA part of the story/selection
EvidenceProof in the text to support your answer Ex: In paragraph 7, Marie said , “I don’t like spaghetti.” Therefore, I know she didn’t pick that to eat for dinner.
AuthorThe person who wrote the story/selection
IllustrationA hand drawn picture
SelectionThe WHOLE story
PhotographA real picture (NOT hand drawn)
Most likely reasonThe best reason (what makes the most sense?)
OpinionNOT a fact Ex: Blue is the best color.
Central ideawhat the story or section is MOSTLY about
Predictusing clues to decide what you think will happen
AudienceWho the author is talking to Ex: Students, teachers, children, adults, etc.
AddressingTalking to Ex: The teacher was addressing the class when she spoke about behavior.
PrefixComes BEFORE the root word Ex: REuse (‘re’ is the prefix)
SuffixCome AFTER the root word Ex: thankFUL (‘ful’ is the suffix)
ConcludeTo come to a conclusion-similar to an inference
ImageryUsing your senses
SubheadingA section of the story that is bolded that tells you what a SECTION of the story will be about.
Contributeshare

4th Grade PSTAAR Review

The most likely reasonThe best reason
ParagraphA section of the story. These are numbered.
ThemeThe message (theme and main message are synonyms) What is the author trying to teach you?
Infer/InferenceTo use background knowledge (what you already know) plus text evidence to come up with an answer
resolutionHow the problem/conflict was solved
Resolvedsolved
SuggestShow
SelectionThe WHOLE story
SectionA PART of the story/selection
Main messageWhat the author is trying to teach you Ex: Treat others with kindness.
IllustrationHand drawn picture
SuffixComes after the root word Ex: thankFUL (‘ful’ is the suffix)
PoetThe person who wrote the poem
SummaryStating the main events that happened in the story. Characters, Problem, resolution (CPR) for fiction.
DifferDifferent
SimilarityHow are they similar, or the same?
PhotographA real picture (NOT hand drawn)
ConcludeTo come to a conclusion-similar to an inference
Stage directionTells the character what to do- This will be in parentheses. Ex: (smiling) Hey! How are you?
definitionWhat a word means
Dictionary EntryA vocabulary question that will give four definition choices to choose from
LineThe lines spoken by characters in a drama
AnecdoteA short story
First-personUses first-person pronouns (I, me, we)
SubheadingA section of the story that is bolded that tells you what a SECTION of the story will be about.
Central ideaWhat the story of section is MOSTLY about
ClaimYour main argument
Problem and Solution organizational text structureThe way the story is organized. Ex: The problem may be that there is pollution, so the story would then tell solutions to the problem.

5th Grade PSTAAR Review

Dictionary EntryA vocabulary question that will give four definition choices to choose from
DefinitionWhat a word means
Sub-headingA section of the story that is bolded that tells you what a SECTION of the story will be about
SummaryStating the main events that happened in the story. characters, Problem, resolution (CPR) for fiction.
SuffixComes after the root word Ex: thankFUL (‘ful’ is the suffix)
PlaywrightThe person who wrote the play
SimileA type of figurative language that compares two things USING ‘like’ or ‘as’ Ex: She was as sweet as pie.
Conflictproblem
resolutionHow the problem was solved
AuthorThe person that wrote the story
SelectionThe WHOLE story
SectionA PART of the story/selection
Plotthe series of events that happen in the story
Thememain message in the story- What the author is trying to teach you. Ex: Always be honest and kind.
Infer/InferenceTo use background knowledge (what you already know) plus text evidence to come up with an answer
Similaralike
Differdifferent
ClaimYour main argument
ParagraphA section of the story. These are numbered.
Stage directionsTells the character what to do or how to act- This will be in parentheses. Ex: (smiling) Hey! How are you?
ConcludeTo come to a conclusion-similar to an inference
Cause and effect organizational text structureThe way the story is organized. Ex: Because it snowed, we didn’t have school.
Compare and contrast organizational text structureThe way the story is organized. Ex: Sarah is very outgoing and talks all the time, but Sally is very quiet and shy.
PhotographA real picture (NOT hand drawn)
Central IdeaWhat the story of section is MOSTLY about