HiSET

Poetry uses condensed language and structure to convey meaning. Stanzas are groups of lines separated by spaces, similar to paragraphs in prose. Lines vary in length and may or may not follow sentence structure, so read a poem by its punctuation, not by its line breaks.

Term	Meaning
Rhymescheme	The pattern of end rhymes , shown with letters: matching letters mark matching sounds . ABAB =
	alternatingrhymes;AABB=rhymingpairs(couplets)
Meter	Therhythmcreatedbystressedandunstressedsyllables Iambicpentameterhasfiveiambsperline . ,
	each an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one (da-DUM)
Freeverse	Poetrywithoutregularmeterorrhyme;reliesonimagery linebreaks andrepetition , ,
Figurativelanguage	Non-literal comparisons and images that carry the poem's meaning; ask what each image contributes to
	thewhole

Drama

Drama is written to be performed. Dialogue reveals character and advances the plot, and stage directions (usually in italics or brackets) describe the setting, movements, and expressions.

Theme is the central message or insight about life that a text conveys. It differs from the subject: a story's subject might be war, but its theme might be that violence destroys innocence. State a theme as a complete sentence, not a single word. Universal themes appear across cultures and eras: the struggle between good and evil, the importance of family, the corrupting influence of power, the search for identity, and the inevitability of change.

Authors rarely state themes directly. Ask what the main character learns, how the conflict resolves, what the title suggests, and what images or symbols repeat. Then ask what statement the author seems to be making about the subject. A text can have several themes, some more prominent than others.

3 · Climax

turning point, highest tension

4 · Falling Action 2 · Rising Action

consequences unfold

complications build tension

characters, setting, situation

5 · Resolution 1 · Exposition

denouement, new balance

Traditional plot structure builds tension to the climax and then releases it. Rising action is usually the longest part of a narrative.

Stage	WhatHappens
Exposition	Introducescharacters setting andtheinitialsituation;effectiveexpositionweavesbackgroundintothe , ,
	action
Risingaction	Complicationsandobstaclesbuildtensionandraisequestionsabouttheoutcome
Climax	Theturningpointofhighesttension oftenacrucialdecisionorconfrontation afterwhichtheoutcomeis , ,
	set
Fallingaction	Consequencesoftheclimaxunfold;tensiondecreasesandsubplotsmayresolve
Resolution	Remainingquestionsareansweredandanewbalanceisestablished;itmaybeclosedorleftopen
(denouement)

Technique	Effect
Inmediasres	Beginsinthemiddleoftheactionforimmediateengagement;backgroundcomeslaterthroughflashbackor
	exposition
Parallelplots	Twoormorestorylinesthatmayintersect;similarsituationswithdifferentoutcomescanemphasizea
	theme
Pacing	Fastpacing(shortsentences rapidaction)createsexcitement;slowpacing(description reflection)builds , ,
	atmosphereandcharacter
Suspense	Keepsreadersuncertainthroughforeshadowing withheldinformation anddanger , ,

Cause and effect relationships hold a plot together. A cause produces a result (the effect); one cause can have several effects, and several causes can combine to produce one effect. Signal words such as because, since, therefore, consequently, and as a result make the link explicit, but often you must infer it.

Informational passages make up most of the Reading subtest. They include news articles, editorials, speeches, historical documents, science articles, advertisements, and web pages. Each type has conventions and purposes that shape how information is presented.

TextType		Main			Purpose					Conventions
Newsarticle		Inform								Invertedpyramidstructure(mostimportantfactsfirst);objective
										language;headlinesummarizes		thecontent
Editorial		Persuade								Clearlylabeledopinion;usesevidenceandreasoningtosupporta
										position
Advertisement		Persuadetobuy use orsupport , ,								Emotionalappeals celebrityendorsements bandwagon , ,
										("everyoneisusingit") testimonials ,
Speech		Persuade inspire orinforman , ,								Repetition directaddress appeals , ,					tosharedvalues
		audience
Infographic		Inform				quickly				Combinestextandvisualstosimplifycomplexinformationwithout
										distortingit
uthor'sPurpose
Inform						Persuade					Entertain					Express
Presentsfactsobjectively .						Advocatesapositionto					Engagesthroughstory ,					Sharespersonalthoughts
						changebeliefsoractions .					humor orartistry , .					andfeelings .

Author's Purpose

A single text can serve several purposes. A news article mainly informs, but the facts it selects and how it presents them can also persuade.

Analyzing Arguments

Persuasive and argumentative passages are built from a claim (the position the author takes), evidence (facts, statistics, examples, expert testimony), and reasoning (the explanation of how the evidence supports the claim). Strong arguments also address a counterclaim, an opposing view, and respond to it. When you evaluate an argument, ask whether the evidence is relevant, sufficient, and from a credible source, and whether the reasoning actually connects the evidence to the claim.

Criterion	QuestiontoAsk
Authority	Istheauthorororganizationqualified?Expertsandestablishedinstitutionsaremorereliablethan
	anonymoussources .
Accuracy Objectivity	Cantheinformationbeverifiedinothersources?Arecitationsprovided? Doesthesourcepresentseveralviewpointsandseparatefactfromopinion ordoesituseloaded , language?

Evaluatingsources(Continued)

Criterion	QuestiontoAsk
Currency	Istheinformationrecentenough?Currentsourcesmatterforchangingtopics;historicaltopicsmayrelyon
	olderprimarysources .
Coverage	Isthetreatmentcomplete ordoesitoversimplifyoromitimportantinformation? ,

Bias and Propaganda

Bias is a tendency to favor one perspective. All sources contain some bias, but the degree and transparency vary.

Selection (some facts included, others omitted), placement Name-calling (negative labels without evidence), glittering

(important information buried or highlighted), headline generalities (vague positive words), transfer (linking a cause

(headline misrepresents the article), and word choice (loaded

to respected symbols), plain folks (speaker as an ordinary

language shapes perception).

person), and card stacking (only favorable facts).

Visual and Multimedia Elements

Photographs can evoke emotion, and the choice and cropping of a photo influence what viewers see. Bar graphs compare quantities, line graphs show change over time, and pie charts show parts of a whole; always check the title, scale, labels, and source. In multimedia texts, consider how text, images, audio, and video work together and whether the combination informs or manipulates.