Review for English
Common Core exam Tuesday, June 14 12:15
Exam format:
3 parts:
Part 1: multiple choice questions
This consists of three reading passages that will be upward
of 1000 words each. One will be fiction, another non-fiction and the third
could be a poem or another fiction piece.
Basic strategy: Read the
instructions very carefully. What exactly is the question asking?
Fact based
response?
Definition within
the context of the sentence?
Connotative
meaning?
Specific strategies:
Circle or
underline topic words and any negatives.
Identify any modifiers and
qualifiers – e.g. only, always, sometimes, rarely. Exact words such as always,
never, none, must, without exception, mean that there is no exception. If you
can think of an exception, statements that include these words are incorrect or
false. In contrast, indefinite words, such as rarely, usually, seldom, sometimes,
frequently, often, can tolerate exceptions.
Try to think of the answer before looking at the options. Analyse the
responses available and match your answer with one of the choices – read them
all before making a choice. If your answer does not match exactly, find the
choice that most closely approximates your answer.
When you don’t know the answer
Use a process of
elimination: Try to narrow your choice as much as possible: which of the
options is most likely to be incorrect? Are there any options you can eliminate
straight away? Ask: are options in the right range? Is there something out of
range you can eliminate straight away? Is the measurement unit correct? Does it
sound reasonable?
Look for grammatical inconsistencies: In
extension-type (sentence complete) questions a choice will be wrong if the
question and the answer do not combine to make a grammatically correct
sentence. Also look for repetition of key words from the question in the
responses. If words are repeated, the option is worth considering
Be wary of options
containing definitive words and generalizations
Because they can’t tolerate exceptions, options containing
words like always, only, never, must tend to be incorrect more often.
Similarly, options containing strong generalizations tend to be incorrect more
often.
Part 2 Argument Essay
You will have four texts to read,
one of which may be a chart or diagram. You will write a source-based argument
on a topic.
Must dos
1.
Take a position on the topic. Just turn the
question around. Do not use any I thinks
2.
Read the task
carefully
3.
Read the texts carefully, annotating items that
support your argument, noting those that do not.
4.
Follow the outline rules we reviewed in class
(see below)
4 parts
1.
Introduction
Hook
Background
Thesis (refer to your task
2.
Three claims with textual evidence. This may be
woven into your own sentences, but MUST be identified in the text.
Remember a claim is a statement you make to support your argument
Remember that evidence is factual—NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK!
3.
Counter argument!!!!!!!!
This is where you refute your opponents’ argument. You got this from the
text.
4.
Conclusion
Restate the importance of your issue—paraphrase- do not repeat- the
introduction.
End with what will be the outcome if what you have proven does not come
to pass.
Part 3
Text Analysis Response
Carefully
read the text. This may be either fiction or nonfiction. Take your time and annotate as you go along.
This can be challenging reading.
Identify the
central idea of the text.
Select ONE
writing strategy that the author uses to develop the central idea.
Write two to
three paragraphs that support your analysis as to how this writing strategy is
used.
You must
weave in textual evidence
You must give an analysis statement as to
how or why this supports the central idea.
Important!
For fiction
works use a literary element or literary technique:
Characterization,
conflict, setting, metaphor, irony, foreshadowing, simile, imagery (remember
all 5!), symbolism, theme, tone and diction (that’s word choice) and denotation
and connotation.
For non-fiction, be careful. Sometimes imagery and irony
work, but the easiest way to handle these are through the rhetorical devices of
logos, ethos and pathos.
General statements:
Proof
read. You must have solid language conventions: spelling, subject /verb agreement,
consistency of tenses, and correct punctuation.
