Reading Comprehension and Analysis on the Test
It wouldn't be much of an English exam if there wasn't reading on it. In addition to passages from The Odyssey and Great Expectations, there will be a short story excerpt and a non-fiction excerpt for you to read. You will then answer multiple choice questions based on the reading passage.
Check out these tips for taking multiple choice reading tests.
Here are a few practice tests to help you prepare.
Check out these tips for taking multiple choice reading tests.
- Reading for the Main Idea
- Mistakes to Avoid when Determining the Main Idea
- Identifying Topics, Main Ideas, and Supporting Paragraphs
- Finding the Central Idea in Literature
- Steps for Solving a Passage Based Reading Question
- 25 Test-Taking Tips and Strategies
Here are a few practice tests to help you prepare.
Writing on the Test
It wouldn't be much of an English exam if there wasn't an essay question on it. For the final exam essay, you will be required to read a literary passage and write a 4-paragraph essay. In your response, you will need an
introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. You will Identify a central idea in the text and
analyze how the author’s use of writing strategies (literary elements or
literary techniques or rhetorical devices) develops this central idea. You will need strong and thorough evidence from the
text to support your analysis (this means you should quote from the text in
your essay).
This is similar to many of the writing assignments we've had throughout the year. Here's a checklist of skills you should be able to demonstrate during the essay.
This is similar to many of the writing assignments we've had throughout the year. Here's a checklist of skills you should be able to demonstrate during the essay.
- Identify a central idea or theme in the text.
- Analyze how the author’s use of writing strategies develops this central idea. Examples include: characterization, conflict, denotation/connotation, metaphor, simile, irony, language use, point-of-view, setting, structure, symbolism, theme, tone, etc.
- Use strong and thorough evidence from the text to support your analysis.
- Organize your ideas in a cohesive and coherent manner.
- Maintain a formal style of writing.
- Follow the conventions of standard written English (ie: no grammatical or spelling errors).
- Writing Tips for High School Students
- TIps for Writing a Literary Analysis from Appalachian State University
- Writing about Literature Tips from Sierra College
- The Center for Writing Studies at the University of Illinois
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