The Power of W.O.W.

Study Guide

Target Skill: Theme
theme is the lesson or message of a story
In order to determine the theme of a story, you need to analyze the story (study its parts) and
evaluate it (think carefully about it as a whole)
The characters, setting, and plot all help you determine the theme
Ask the question: What does this story tell about life?
examples: People can work together to help the community, first impressions are not always correct,
friends are caring and help each other

Vocabulary Strategy: Prefixes non- and mis-
A prefix is a word part attached to the beginning of a base word or root word that changes the
meaning of the word
non- means not (example: nontoxic means not toxic, or not harmful)
mis- means not or badly (example: misjudged means judged badly; misunderstand means to not
understand or understand badly)

Grammar: Simple and Compound Sentences, Subject-Verb Agreement
A simple sentence has one subject and one predicate, or one subject-verb relationship (example: On
Halloween, we went trick-or-treating.)
A compound sentence is a sentence with more than one subject-verb relationship. It has two
complete thoughts, joined by a comma followed by a conjunction (and, but, or, so). (example: The
test was hard, but I got an A. The subjects are underlined once, and the verbs are underlined twice.
Notice how these two complete thoughts are joined by a comma and the conjunction but.
When you see a sentence, see if you can find a conjunction. Look to the leftis there a
complete thought before the conjunction? Look to the rightis there a complete thought after
the conjunction? If both answers are yes, then it is a compound sentence. If they are not both
complete thoughts, then it is a simple sentence.
Two complete thoughts must be joined by a conjunction! (example: Jake slammed on the
brakes, the car screeched to a halt. This is NOT correct because there are two complete
thoughts, but no conjunction. Correct version: Jake slammed on the brakes, and the car
screeched to a halt.)
Wes bought a new book and he read it in school. This is NOT correct because there is no
comma to separate the two complete thoughts. Correct version: Wes bought a new book, and
he read it in school.
combining sentences:
1) You can do your homework now. 2) I will help you with it later. You can do your
homework now, or I will help you with it later.
1) It was a hot day. 2) I went swimming. It was a hot day, so I went swimming.
1) I watched where I was walking. 2) I still tripped and fell. I watched where I was walking,
but I still tripped and fell.
subject-verb agreement is when the subject and verb of a sentence agree in number
Alexis shops for new shoes. (singular subject, verb ends with -s)
Caroline and Allison read together. (compound subject, verb does not end with -s)
Pia and Kelsie are famous. (compound subject, plural verb)
George is an excellent baseball player. (singular subject, singular verb)