In 3–5 sentences, answer the following questions.

1. What information should a summary include? (Include at least three characteristics of a good summary in your response.)

2. Identify one thing that a summary should not include, and explain why.

(4 points)

A good summary should include a brief overview of the main points of the text, an explanation of the main argument or purpose of the text, and a description of the author's tone or point of view. It should also be concise and to the point. One thing that a summary should not include is the author's opinion or personal interpretation of the text, as this is not necessary for a summary and could lead to confusion.

Read "The Cricket Sang" by Emily Dickinson.

The cricket sang,

And set the sun,

And workmen finished, one by one,

Their seam the day upon.

The low grass loaded with the dew,

The twilight stood as strangers do

With hat in hand, polite and new,

To stay as if, or go.

A vastness, as a neighbor, came,—

A wisdom without face or name,

A peace, as hemispheres at home,—

And so the night became.



In 1-2 sentences, explain how figurative language such as use of metaphor and simile can help a reader create meaning.

Figurative language such as metaphor and simile can help a reader create meaning by comparing two things that are not alike to bring out a deeper or more complex understanding of the subject being described.

Use the excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost to answer the question.

"When I see birches bend to left and right

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy's been swinging them.

But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay."

In 3–5 sentences, write about the author’s repetitive use of the “b” sound and its significance in the excerpt. Use details from the excerpt to support your ideas.

In this excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost, the author repetitive uses the "b" sound to emphasize the bending and swaying of the birch trees. The repetition of the "b" sound creates a gentle and calming effect that mirrors the movement of the trees themselves. This repetition may signify the constant swaying and changing nature of life, and the need to find beauty in those changes. Additionally, the "b" sound may represent the cycle of life and how things, like the birch trees, continue to grow and move despite the obstacles in their way.

In 3–5 sentences, explain how a theme of a story is different from its central idea. In your response, include a definition of theme and a definition of a central idea.(4 points)

The central idea of a story is its main point or main concept, while the theme is a universal message or meaning that the reader can take from the story. The central idea refers to what the story is about, while the theme provides insight into life or human nature. Put simply, the central idea is what the story is about, while the theme is what the story means. For example, the central idea of a story about an astronaut's journey to Mars might be the excitement and challenges of space travel, while the theme could be the perseverance and determination needed to achieve a difficult goal.