Grade: 9 Subject: ELA Unit: Informational Texts Lesson: 6 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Unit Checkpoint

Learn

This unit checkpoint reviews all concepts covered in the Informational Texts unit. Use this lesson to assess your mastery and identify areas for additional review.

Unit Review Topics

  • Central ideas and supporting details
  • Author's technique and rhetorical strategies
  • Text structure and organization
  • Evidence evaluation and argument analysis
  • Writing summaries, analyses, and synthesis

Examples

Review these comprehensive examples before taking the checkpoint assessment.

Example 1: Complete Informational Text Analysis

Review a model analysis that demonstrates all skills from this unit...

Example 2: SAT/ACT Style Questions

Practice with test-style questions about informational passages...

✏️ Practice

Test your understanding with these practice questions.

Practice Questions

0/3 correct
Question 1

What is the main idea of a passage?

A A small detail
B The central message or point
C The first sentence
D The author's name
Explanation: The main idea is the central message or most important point the author wants to convey.
Question 2

An inference is:

A Something stated directly
B A guess with no support
C A conclusion based on evidence
D The author's opinion
Explanation: An inference is a conclusion you draw based on evidence and reasoning, not stated directly.
Question 3

Context clues help you:

A Find the page number
B Understand unfamiliar words
C Count sentences
D Choose books
Explanation: Context clues are hints in the surrounding text that help you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Check Your Understanding

Test yourself with these 10 comprehensive review questions.

1. How do central ideas and supporting details work together in an informational text?

Show Answer

The central idea is the main point the author conveys; supporting details provide evidence, examples, explanations, and data that develop and prove the central idea. Strong texts have clear connections between the two.

2. What distinguishes informational texts from literary texts in terms of purpose and technique?

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Informational texts primarily aim to inform, explain, or persuade using facts, evidence, and logical reasoning. Literary texts focus on artistic expression and emotional impact through narrative, character, and figurative language.

3. How do you analyze an author's use of rhetorical appeals?

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Identify instances of ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Analyze how each appeal works, why the author chose it, and how effectively it supports the overall purpose.

4. What makes evidence sufficient to support a claim?

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Sufficient evidence includes enough quantity from credible sources, directly relates to the claim, is current and relevant to the context, and considers potential counterarguments.

5. How do you identify an author's implicit purpose or bias?

Show Answer

Look at word choice and connotation, what information is included or excluded, how opposing views are treated, the publication source, and patterns in how topics are framed.

6. What strategies help with answering inference questions on standardized tests?

Show Answer

Look for what is strongly suggested by text evidence, eliminate answers that go beyond what the text supports, choose the inference most directly supported, and verify with specific text details.

7. How do you determine the meaning of technical or domain-specific vocabulary?

Show Answer

Use context clues, look for definitions or explanations nearby, consider the field or subject matter, use word parts knowledge, and check if the word has a specialized meaning in that discipline.

8. What is the relationship between text structure and author's purpose?

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Authors choose structures that best serve their purpose: cause/effect to explain relationships, compare/contrast to analyze options, problem/solution to argue for action, etc.

9. How do you effectively synthesize information from multiple informational sources?

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Find common themes across sources, identify areas of agreement and disagreement, organize by topic rather than source, integrate information to build a comprehensive understanding, and cite all sources appropriately.

10. What time management strategies work best for informational text passages on standardized tests?

Show Answer

Preview questions first, read actively but efficiently, use text features to locate information, answer questions you know first, and return to the passage to verify answers rather than relying on memory.

Next Steps

  • Review any questions you found challenging
  • Return to earlier lessons for concepts needing review
  • Proceed to the next unit when ready
  • Practice with additional SAT/ACT reading passages