Study Guide – “All Summer and a Day” (p.68) and other concepts
Characterization
Direct Characterization
What does the author tell us?
 The author tells us directly what a character is like.
Indirect Characterization
What does the author show us?
 The author shows us what the character is like through the character’s Speech, Thoughts,
Effect on others, Actions, and Looks. (STEAL method)
Similes and Metaphors
Simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, using the words “like” or “as”
 Simile Examples
o His skin was as cold as ice. (This compares the temperature of his skin to ice.)
o She is sweet like honey. (This compares her kindness to honey.)
o He smells like a pig. (This compares his smell to a pig’s smell.)
Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word of phrase is used to make a comparison without using
the words “like” or “as”
 Metaphor Examples
o You are my sunshine.
o You are a brain.
o He is a pig.
Cause and Effect
Cause
“Why did this happen?”
 The cause is the reason something happened.
Effect
“What happened as a result?”
 The effect is what happens as a result.
Making Inferences
An inference is an educated guess based on information found in the text and your own prior
knowledge.
Clues from the Story + My Knowledge = Inference
Constructed Response Question for “All Summer and a Day”
Be prepared to write an extended response (one or two paragraphs) to the following question.
 Why do the children from Venus treat Margot so badly? Support your response with at least two
details from the story.