New York State
Comprehensive English
Regents Exam
Strategies for Success
Additional Resources
• www.regentsreviewlive.net
• regentsreview2@ymail.com
The *NEW*
English Regents
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One day, three hour exam
25 multiple-choice questions
2 short-response questions
1 Critical Lens essay
On the day
of the exam…
• Arrive early for your exam!
• Bring #2 pencils
• Check with your school to see
whether you need a pencil or pen
for the writing sections
How will my
exam be scored?
• Listening for Comprehension
– 8 multiple-choice questions
• Reading for Comprehension
– 12 multiple-choice questions,
6 for each passage
How will my
exam be scored?
• Reading & Writing for Critical
Response
– 5 multiple-choice questions,
2 short-response questions
• Writing for Critical Analysis
– Critical Lens Essay
How will my
exam be scored?
• Conversion Chart
http://www.nysedregents.org/concht/111
/english-cc111.pdf
How will my
writing be scored?
• Short-Response Questions
– 4 total points, 2 for each question
– 0 Points → incoherent, unfocused,
or personal in nature
How will my
writing be scored?
• Short-Response Questions
– 1 Point → partially developed,
implied evidence, grammatical errors
– 2 Points → well-developed and
focused, may have errors that
do not hinder comprehension
Read the Directions!
• Question #26 requires you to refer
directly to both provided passages
• Question #27 requires you to choose
one of the two passages to construct
your response and make reference to a
literary element or technique
Read the Directions!
• Remember – your response doesn’t have
to have sophisticated language or be
error free to earn full credit
Critical Lens
Essay Score
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0-6 Points, 4 or better is considered passing
Meaning
Development
Organization
Language Use
Conventions
Read the Directions!
• Be sure to:
– Interpret the quotation
– Agree or disagree with the quotation as
you’ve interpreted it
– Choose two literary works to defend your
interpretation of the critical lens
– Make reference to literary elements that
support your analysis of the quotation and
literary works that you’ve selected
Meaning
• Meaning is the extent to which
your response exhibits sound
understanding, interpretation,
and analysis of the task and texts.
Meaning
• Did you….
– prove you understand the question and
literary works you’ve selected?
– provide a reasonable explanation of the
Critical Lens quotation?
– analyze the literary works effectively as
they apply to your interpretation of the
quotation?
Development
• Development is the extent to which
ideas are elaborated using specific and
relevant evidence from the texts.
Development
• Did you….
– Use specific and appropriate evidence from
the literary works you selected to defend
your point?
– Use specific and appropriate literary
elements from the literary works you
selected to further develop your
argument?
Be careful to avoid PLOT SUMMARY!!!
Organization
• Organization is the extent to which the
response exhibits direction, shape, and
coherence.
Organization
• Did you….
– include an introduction, body paragraphs,
and a conclusion?
– ensure that your ideas flow logically from one
sentence to the next?
– remain focused in your analysis?
– use transitional words and phrases in a way
that unifies your essay?
Transition Words
& Phrases
• Transitions to show time
before, after, first, second, eventually, finally,
since, suddenly, to begin with
• Transitions of agreement
likewise, furthermore, additionally, similarly,
moreover, in addition, by the same token
• Transitions to contrast
but, on the other hand, on the contrary,
although, however, nevertheless, conversely
Transition Words
& Phrases
• Transitions to emphasize a point
again, indeed, for this reason, in fact, notably,
especially, significantly
• Transitions to add information
additionally, also, for example, for instance,
such as
Transition Words
& Phrases
• Transitions to clarify
in other words, that is to say, to clarify, put
another way
• Transitions to conclude/summarize
As a result, finally, in conclusion, consequentially,
therefore, accordingly, in essence
Language Use
• Language Use is the extent to which
the response reveals an awareness of
audience and purpose through effective
use of words, sentence structure, and
sentence variety.
Language Use
• Did you….
– demonstrate that you understand the
audience and purpose of your essay?
– use sophisticated language when
appropriate?
– construct sophisticated sentences when
appropriate?
– vary the length of your sentences as
appropriate?
Conventions
• Evaluation of conventions is the extent
to which the response exhibits
conventional spelling, punctuation,
paragraphing, capitalization, grammar,
and usage.
• Did you….
PROOFREAD?????
Task 1: Listening
for Understanding
The Directions:
• You will hear a listening passage once.
• You are permitted to take notes in your
exam booklet.
• You will have a few minutes to review your
notes and the multiple-choice questions.
Task 1: Listening
for Understanding
The Directions:
• You will hear the listening passage a
second time.
• You may take notes during the second
reading or answer the questions.
The Listening Passage
• Is non-fiction
• Is approximately a page and a half long
• May take between five and ten minutes to read
The January 2011 and NYS Sample
Listening Passages were:
– Approximately 800 words long
– Told from a 1st person point of view
Active Listening
• An Active Listener will:
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Remember why s/he is listening
Make a conscious effort by remaining focused
Listen for key words, ideas, and phrases
Think about information in the passage while
listening to it
Active Listening
• An Active Listener will:
– Note important signals or verbal cues that
indicate important information
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Does the speaker slow down?
Does the speaker raise his or her voice?
Does the speaker change his or her tone?
Does the speaker gesture with his/her hands?
Strategies for
Note Taking
• Write only what seems important – key words and
phrases, main ideas, important facts and details
• Be concise – be as brief as possible without losing
meaning – write words and short phrases, not
entire sentences
Strategies for
Note Taking
• Organize your ideas – try to follow a simple
outline format or put main ideas on the left and
supporting details on the right; leave space for
more notes during the 2nd reading
• Use shortcuts – b4, bc, w/, w/o, &, info, ex, @,
→, ?
• Consider the “five Ws” – who, what, where,
when, why…and also how
Test-taking Strategies
• Multiple-Choice Questions
– Read only the question first; try to think of a
reasonable answer on your own.
– Check to see if there is a choice close to the
answer you imagined.
– Use the process of elimination by crossing out
answers you know are wrong.
Dissecting the
MC Questions
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Inference
Listening Comprehension
Tone
Point of View
Inference Questions
An inference question is a question that requires
you draw a conclusion, or inference, based on
the information presented and logical reasoning.
Inference Questions
By stating that Abigail Adams “reached beyond
the kitchen and the nursery,” the speaker
suggests that Abigail:
(1) suffered from boredom
(2) broke with tradition
(3) sought new friends
(4) Traveled the country
Which answers
are wrong?
• (1) – there is no evidence that Abigail
Adams is bored
• (3) – while this may be true, there is
no evidence to prove it
• (4) – this is the tricky choice!
• The correct answer is (2).
Listening
Comprehension
Listening comprehension questions are questions
that require you to recall or
recollect a fact or detail from the passage
that was directly stated.
Listening
Comprehension
As stated by the speaker, letter writing
presented Abigail Adams with:
(1) an unexpected friendship
(2) a trivial pastime
(3) an emotional release
(4) a displeasing chore
Tone and
Point of View
• Tone is the attitude of a speaker, writer,
or subject.
• Point of View is the perspective of the
speaker, writer, or subject.
• Both tone and point of view questions
often have adjectives as possible
answers.
Strategies for
Tone and POV
• Read the question, cover the choices,
and answer the question with your own
adjective – is there a choice that is a
synonym of the word you selected?
Strategies for
Tone and POV
• Ask yourself if the attitude or perspective is
positive or negative – eliminate choices that
don’t seem to match your determination –
sometimes you can do this even if you don’t
know the meaning of some of the choices!
What is the TONE?
The speaker’s tone in the account
can be described as
(1) harsh
(2) respectful
(3) sarcastic
(4) objective
Prefixes with Positive Connotation:
pro, syn, sym, ben
Prefixes with Negative Connotation:
de, dis, non, in, im, un, con, mal
Task 2: Reading for
Understanding
• 12 multiple-choice questions
– 6 questions on an informational, non-fiction
passage
– 6 questions on a literary passage (fiction)
Task 2: Reading for
Understanding
The January 2011 and NYS Sample Reading
Passages were:
• Informational
• Between 500-600 words
• Told from a 3rd person perspective
• Literary
• Approximately 600 words
• Told from a 3rd person perspective
Part 2: The
Informational Passage
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Reading Comprehension
Inference
Main Idea
Vocabulary in Context
Structure
Vocabulary
in Context
The Passage:
“It’s an accessible sport. It’s not just for racing;
it’s also for recreational riding. It’s a barrier breaker
that allows a disabled rider to participate in cycling
with friends and families who may be riding
conventional bicycles.”
Vocabulary
in Context
The Question:
The passage includes the quotation about the
handcycle being a “barrier breaker” (line 8) in
order to stress its
(1) durability
(2) affordability
(3) portability
(4) accessibility
Structure Questions
• Anecdote – the author’s use of personal
stories to convey the main idea
• Cause & Effect – the author presents a
problem or idea, outlines causes of the
problem or idea, and then presents the effects
that the causes have on the problem or idea
• Chronological Order – information is presented
in the order it happens
Structure Questions
• Comparison/Contrast – the author introduces
two or more events, people, places, or ideas
and then identifies their similarities and
differences
• Problem & Solution – the author presents a
dilemma and a possible solution or solutions
• Process/Listing – an author might use this style
if the information presented involves a series
of steps
Part 2:
The Literary Passage
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Inference
Vocabulary in Context
Structure
Literary Terms
Part 2:
The Literary Passage
Special Cases:
Author’s Purpose
Punctuation – dashes (emphasis), question
marks (reflection), exclamation points (strong
emotions)
Literary Term
Questions
• Identify
For example, “Line 27 contains an example
of…”
• Apply
For example, “The repetition used in line 16
emphasizes the…” or “The water jug (line
42) becomes a symbol of…”
Important
Literary Terms
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Characterization •
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Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
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Flashback
Foreshadowing
Allusion
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Historical
Literary
Biblical
Mythological
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Dialogue
Irony
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Situational
Verbal
Dramatic
Important
Literary Terms
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Point of View •
Conflict
Theme
Tone
Imagery
Mood
Sound Devices •
• Alliteration •
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Assonance
Consonance
Onomatopoeia
Rhyme
Repetition
Figurative Language
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Symbolism
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Part 3:
Reading for Critical Response
• Two literary passages
– Poem
– Short story
– Excerpt from a novel
Part 3:
Reading for Critical Response
• Five Multiple-choice Questions
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Inference
Vocabulary in Context
Structure/Form
Mood/Tone
Literary Terms
Writing for
Critical Response
• Two Short-Response Questions
– #26 – Controlling Idea/Both passages
– #27 – Literary Element or Technique/One
Passage
Short response does NOT mean short!
How do I construct a
well-developed paragraph?
A well-developed paragraph for
Question #26 will include the following:
• Introduction of the topic sentence and controlling idea
(1-2 sentences)
• Development of the controlling idea (1-2 sentences)
• Examples or details from the 1st passage that support
your controlling idea and a description of how they
prove your point (2-3 sentences)
How do I construct a
well-developed paragraph?
A well-developed paragraph for
Question #26 will include the following:
• Examples or details from the 2nd passage that
support your controlling idea and a description of
how they prove your point (2-3 sentences)
• A conclusive statement that reiterates your
controlling idea (1 sentence)
Exemplar –
Question #26
“Successful and efficient communities cannot be
built on laziness. In this era, in which hard work is
rewarded and lathargy punished, communities must
have a solid core of hard workers. In Passage II, the
author expresses his gratitude torward these people.
In fact, he states, “I love people who harness
themselves…who pull like water buffalo, who strain
in the mud and the muck to move things forward.”
Exemplar –
Question #26
“The author compares these hard workers to oxen
and water buffalo, who are some of the hardest
working animals. In Passage I, the author clearly
admires his grandfather, who worked extremely
hard to take care of his farm. Now it is the
author’s turn to work, shoveling the sidewalks on
his street corner. Since there is a high school and
elementary school nearby, it is imperative that the
author do his job.”
Exemplar –
Question #26
“Children often walk by his house on their way to
school and back and it is his “obligation” to keep
those streets clear. The author’s hard work is
crucial in his communities’ success. In both
passage, hard work is rewarded with gratitude
and respect.”
How do I construct another
well-developed paragraph?
A well-developed paragraph for
Question #27 will include the following:
• An introductory thesis statement (1-2 sentences)
• Introduction and explanation of the literary
element or technique (1 sentence)
• Examples from the passage you’ve selected of the
literary element or technique you’ve chosen; try
to find at least two or three! (2 sentences)
How do I construct another
well-developed paragraph?
A well-developed paragraph for
Question #27 will include the following:
• Analysis of HOW the author’s use of that
literary element or technique help the author
to develop the passage, and specifically, the
controlling idea (2-3 sentences)
• A conclusive statement that reiterates your
analysis of how the literary technique conveys
meaning (1 sentence)
WARNING!!!
The directions for Question #27 do not say you
must define the literary element or technique
you select.
HOWEVER, the January 2011 scoring materials
provided to teachers say that a score of 2
“provides an appropriate explanation of the
literary element or technique chosen”.
WARNING!!!
Remember, this is a new exam and the testmakers are still ironing out problems with the
exam. Perhaps this will be corrected for the
June exam, but to be safe, please provide an
explanation or definition of the literary
element or technique that you choose! It
certainly will not hurt your score!
Exemplar –
Question #27
“In Passage I the author uses the literary element
of point of view to help develop his passage. The story is
narrated by the author. This allows the reader to gain a
deeper understanding of the narrator because the
reader is given a direct window into the mind of the
author. This window gives the reader an opportunity to
understand his thought process.”
Exemplar –
Question #27
“When the narrator starts discussing how his
obligation to shovel his sidewalk was passed onto
him by his grandfather the reader has an easier time
understanding and connecting to it than they would
if the narrator was someone other than the author.”
Part 4: Writing for
Critical Analysis
Before your exam:
• Choose 4 or 5 novels or plays that you have
read at some point in high school about which
you feel you can write well
• Take time to review the titles, authors, main
characters, setting, conflicts, symbols, and
themes
Part 4: Writing for
Critical Analysis
Before your exam:
• It’s generally not a good idea to choose a book
that you read on your own, as you will likely
find yourself writing about plot as opposed to
conducting literary analysis
Possible Choices
•
August Wilson
– The Piano Lesson
– Fences
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– The Great Gatsby
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William Golding
– Lord of the Flies
Charles Dickens
– A Tale of Two Cities
John Steinbeck
– Of Mice and Men •
– The Grapes of Wrath
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F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Harper Lee
– To Kill a Mockingbird
Elie Wiesel
– Night
Possible Choices
•
William Shakespeare
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Romeo and Juliet
Julius Caesar
Hamlet
MacBeth
Othello: The Moor of
Venice
John Knowles
– A Separate Peace
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Sue Monk Kidd
– The Secret Life of Bees
•
Chinua Achebe
– Things Fall Apart
•
Toni Morrison
– Beloved
•
Alice Walker
– The Color Purple
•
Arthur Miller
– The Crucible
The Critical Lens Essay
• Interpret the Critical Lens Quotation
• Agree or disagree with the quote as
you’ve interpreted it
• Select two literary works that you will use
to defend your analysis
• Include specific evidence and literary elements
or techniques from the selected works to
validate your interpretation
Analyzing the Quote
“…although the world is full of suffering, it is full also
of the overcoming of it.”
—Helen Keller
Optimism, 1903
Essentially, this means that while the world is
indisputably plagued with challenge, obstacle, and
strife, there are people who, through perseverance,
determination, and courage, are able to conquer the
difficulties they face and thrive as a result.
Framing an Introduction
Introduce the Topic
Connect the Topic to Literature
Introduce the specific literary
works you will use to support
your interpretation of the topic
This is the
first time
you should
mention the
books you
will discuss
THESIS
STATEMENT
The introduction of
the topic has nothing
to do with the books
you will discuss
Your thesis statement is the most important
sentence in your essay. It should connect
the topic, literary works, and the authors’
use of literary elements. Make sure your
thesis makes clear what you will discuss,
why you’re discussing, and how the works
you’ve selected demonstrate your point.
Sample Introduction
It is undeniable that the world is full of widespread
anguish and grief, but it is heartening to trust that it is
also full of individuals who strive to overcome that struggle
in a way that yields happiness, accomplishment, or simply,
peace. In literature, authors often craft characters that
struggle with such sorrow, but in the end, they emerge
victorious. Helen Keller once said, “…although the world is
full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
Sample Introduction
Essentially, this means that while the world is indisputably plagued
with challenge, obstacle, and strife, there are people who, through
perseverance, determination, and courage, are able to conquer
the difficulties they face and thrive as a result. For example, in the
works Night by Elie Wiesel and The Color Purple by Alice Walker,
both protagonists overcome great struggle in worlds filled with
obstacle. Through characterization and setting, both authors
convey the triumph of the protagonists, which simultaneously
proves the aforementioned interpretation valid.
Sample Introduction
Building a Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
oThis sentence should re-introduce the topic for
this particular paragraph and narrow your focus
of discussion
Building a Body Paragraph
Textual Evidence
oMinimize Plot Summary (no more than one sentence!)
oAnalyze the example you’ve provided, connecting it back to
the original question (at least three sentences)
oBe clear about how your example supports your point
(literary techniques)
oRepeat this process for each example
oBe sure to integrate text evidence and if possible, direct
quotes into your example
oEach body should be a minimum of twelve sentences, no
more than two of which should be plot summary
Building a Body Paragraph
Concluding Sentence
oEnd each body paragraph with an original
statement that ties back to the question.
oNEVER, EVER, EVER end a body paragraph
with plot summary!
Sample Body Paragraph
Crafting a Conclusion
• Restate your original thesis, preferably
in new, original language.
• Reemphasize the important points you
made in your essay in a creative fashion.
• This paragraph should be 3-5 sentences.
Writing Tips
• Titles of novels get underlined; plays,
short stories, and poems should be in
quotation marks
• Use present tense verbs to discuss
literature
• Wrong: Celie eventually found happiness.
• Right: Celie eventually finds happiness.
Writing Tips
• Explicitly reference literary terms such as
characterization or symbolism
• Avoid personal pronouns
• Wrong: The quote means you can overcome
dark times.
• Right: The quote means that one can
overcome dark times.
Time Management
You have three hours to complete your exam.
The reading of the listening passage will take about
15 minutes.
Time Management
Recommendations:
•1st: Listening Passage MC Questions (15-20 minutes)
•2nd: Part 4: Critical Lens Essay (1 hour)
•3rd: Part 3: Paired Passages
– MC Questions: 10-20 minutes
– #26: 20 minutes
– #27: 20 minutes
•4th: Part 2: MC Questions : (20-30 minutes)
Final Thoughts
GOOD LUCK!