Reading Definitions

1. Main Idea- The central, or most important idea in a paragraph or passage. It may also be described as the controlling idea, and, as such, it sets the direction of the paragraph or article.
2. Supporting Details- 1) details within the text that helps provide facts about the reading and supports the main idea by telling how, what, when, where, why, how much, or how many. 2) Facts and secondary ideas that an author uses to develop and support the main idea.
3. Context Clues- 1) examples known to help guide the reader to information or facts within a text. 2) The context includes the sentence, paragraph, or passage that surround a word and makes it meaningful.
4. Author's Purpose- author's reason or intent in writing.
5. Organizational Pattern- the order in which the material will be presented in the text. For example, chronological (time) order or sequence, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, definition, example, description, division/classification, simple listing, spatial/place order, and order of importance.
6. Fact and Opinion- 1) something known to exist or to have happen; can be verified or checked for accuracy. 2) A statement that can be validated or proven to be true or false by using measurements, historical or scientific documents, or even personal observation. A fact is not always true. (fact). 1) A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof' are subjective and relative. 2) Is a statement that expresses an author's beliefs, judgements, and values. It expresses a point of view and cannot be proven. (opinion)
7. Bias- 1) a tendency or indication that prevents impartial consideration of an idea; a quality to consider when producing or evaluating persuasive writing. 2) A predisposition, prejudice, or prejudgment; may be in favor of or against something or someone.
8. Tone- 1) a reflection of a writer's or speaker's attitude toward a subject. 2) The attitude or feeling he creates in writing about his subject; the reader can recognize a mood or feeling in written material in the same way as he would recognize a mood or feeling from a speaker's tone of voice.
9. Relationship Within Sentences- if the relationship within the sentence is explicit (stated), transition words and phrases will be used. If the relationship within the sentence is implicit (unstated), the reader must infer the relationship. Some types of relationships, along with transitions that help identify them are, addition, clarification, comparison, contrast, example, location/spatial order, cause.effect, summary, and time.
10. Relationships Between Sentences- recognizing how one sentence relates to another sentence, such relationships may be explicit (stated) or implicit (unstated). Some signal words and transitions are, contradicts, ,similarities, summarizes, example, added, effect, clarifies, place, order, and defines.
11. Valid Arguments- 1) details inside the text that provides logical statements that can be discussed. 2) A statement that fits into logical pattern of reasoning and/or which makes use of relevant, verifiable proof to support a particular conclusion.
12. Inference and Conclusions- 1) the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation. 2) Inference is what the reader thinks the writer is suggesting through the words or ideas presented.

My Life

And now introducing the self confident and highly sophisticated Crystal Bishop. Born October 11, 1987 and residing from Carol City, Florida. Daughter of Miss Kim and sister to many. Growing up in the over-crowded city of Miami, Crystal attended Carol City Elementary for pre-kindergarden and kindergarden. She later moved to North Miami Beach where she attended Madie Ives Elementary for yet another two years of grade school. Upon entering Madie Ives, Crystal was tested for the entrance of the gifted program for Elementary Schools throughout Dade-County. Being accepted to the program, she was transferred to Highland Oaks Elementary for two days a week to attend the classes listed for the exceptional students. From third to fifth grade she attended Hibiscus Elementary still maintaining her achievement in the gifted program over at Highland Oaks.

Middle School was a big jump start into the whole school life. While attending Norland Middle, Miss Crystal engaged on a whole different style of friendship. She started dating and began to understand the whole feeling of being heart broken. Despite this harsh feeling, she left the whole boyfriend status to the future. Her world now revolves around her new little twin sisters. Always being the baby she now accepted the responsibilities she had towards being a big sister. No matter what her single mother needed, her and her big brother were there to lend a helping hand.

After leaving middle school, Crystal conquered the High school life. It was an even bigger challenge, especially moving to Pompano Beach her freshman year, but was the best time of her quiet and innocent life. Her second year in High school she joined the Miami Norland Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad and during her senior year joined the Superior Rated Marching Band where she was Flagette. Hitting the big one-eight (18) she had gotten her third tattoo, a car, and her first job. Balancing work, the band and maintaining her 3.4 Grade Point Average, Crystal had discovered that High school was beginning to come to an end. She knew she had to start making decision about her future. Whether she was going off to college or going the army. Being undecided about what she wanted to major in she leaned more toward going to the reserved. After receiving acceptance letters to various different colleges throughout the state of Florida, she decided to attend Florida International University, where she received an academic scholarship.

The first semester of college was something she was looking forward to. Facing that experience was great. Having the idea that the college life was all about studying and big term papers, she realized that that was all a big scare. FIU was the best experience she've had so far. Coming and going as I pleased was great. The professors were always there to lend a helping hand. No matter what the situation was. Going on to the fall semester at the University was much more different. It got to the point where she seen herself getting to relaxed and falling off on her work. It got to the point where she had to drop one of her classes to keep from failing. After doing so, she got back up, to scale passing the remaining of her classes.