English Regents Exam Strategies
I. Task I--Listening and Writing for Information and Understanding:
A. You will write the mnemonic device: Teenagers Play Silly
Music Around School (this will help you to keep in mind the Tone,
Purpose, Speaker, Main Ideas, Audience, and Structure of the
listening passage)
B. You will listen to a reading passage and take notes while
listening. Pay close attention to main ideas, supporting details,
names, dates, transitions, the reader’s emphasis on certain
words and change in tone, and refer back to the situation and task
(these are given to as part of the instructions) to help you understand
the purpose, main topic, and audience of the reading passage.
Hint: When taking notes, use abbreviations (ex: Amer. for American
w/ for with) and write in phrases (not complete sentences). Also,
write supporting details under the main ideas. Use a dash (-) at the
beginning of each supporting detail.
C. Answer the multiple-choice questions. Look for key words
in the questions to help you find the answers in your notes. A helpful
hint to success on these questions: Cover up the answer choices
(with a piece of paper) and think of your own answer. You have a
better chance of getting the answer right this way! Now, look at the
answers and eliminate answer choices that are obviously wrong!
Then, find the best answer to the question—it must be completely
right!
D. Now, after you have finished the multiple-choice questions, you
are to look at the Situation and Task again. They will both focus
your writing and help you write the introduction.
E. Writing your Introduction paragraph of your essay: Begin with
a startling or interesting fact from your notes, by posing a question, by
quoting someone, or with an analogy, or comparison to something
else. Then, use the Situation and Task to gather some ideas to use
in your introduction. They will help you compose your thesis
statement (a sentence that presents the main focus of your paper),
which is part of your introduction. Finally, you will make sure to
introduce the main ideas that you will explain in detail throughout
your paper.
F. Write your Body Paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs): You will
explain in more detail each of the main ideas you introduced in
your introduction paragraph. Make sure they are well organized, use
lots of transitions (examples: first, second, next, then, finally, as a
result, therefore, for example, for instance, however, otherwise,
instead, in summary, in conclusion, in general), and make sure to
connect back to your introduction so your body paragraphs make
logical sense!
G. Conclusion Paragraph: Begin the conclusion with a
transition (ex: in conclusion, in summary, as the previous paragraphs
show, as we have seen), restate your thesis statement in different
words (from the introduction), and summarize the main ideas from
your essay. Hint: A way to make your conclusion more sophisticated—
add additional information/your opinions about the subject of your
essay to show how knowledgeable you are! Remember, though, not
to use “I”. Instead, you can say: “There are…” OR “Many people have
found that…”
H. After writing your essay, PROOFREAD to make sure you have
complete sentences, appropriate punctuation, proper spelling and
capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and NO run-ons.
II. Task II—Reading and Writing for Information: You must do
the following: 1.) Read an informative passage containing graphs,
charts, pictures, or tables. 2.) Take notes as you read and examine
the visual materials mentioned above. 3.) Answer some multiplechoice questions about the reading. 4.) Write an essay (following
the instructions I mentioned for Task I).
A. Before reading, write the mnemonic device on your paper so
you will keep in mind the tone, purpose, speaker, main
ideas, audience, and structure.
B. While reading, pay close attention to headings and
subheadings, transition words, proper nouns (capitalized
nouns that are specific!), and the visual materials (graphs,
charts, etc.). When looking at the visual materials, pay attention
to the captions (the explanation above or below the graphic),
the legend/key, and labels.
C. Pay close attention to the Situation and Task—you will use
them to write your introduction and focus your paper!
D. Using your notes and the multiple choice questions, you
will write your essay (following the same directions I
mentioned for Task I above)
III. Task III—Reading and Writing for Literary Response: You
will read two works of literature (often it’s a poem and a short
story), answer a set of multiple-choice questions, and write an
essay.
A. Make a Venn Diagram
In the left-hand circle, you will take notes on the first passage
(poem/short story). In the right-hand circle, you will take notes on
the second passage (poem/short story). Then, in the middle section
(where two circles overlap), you will take notes on what the two
passages have in common.
B. When answering the multiple choice questions, you will need to
recall literary elements and techniques: imagery, setting, mood,
theme, characterization, suspense, tone, symbolism, flashback,
foreshadowing, irony, simile and metaphor, conflict, climax, resolution,
structure, hyperbole, alliteration and personification. Review these
terms!!
C. Writing the introduction paragraph of your essay: Use the
Situation and Task to write the thesis statement and focus your
essay! Write out the title and author of each passage in the
introduction. Explain how both connect to the task. Introduce the
main ideas you will present in your essay.
D. Using your notes from the reading and the venn diagram, as
well as the multiple choice questions, write Paragraph 2 on
Passage I ONLY. Choose one literary element (from the list
above) from Passage I and connect it to your thesis statement
from the introduction (taken from the Situation and Task). Make
sure to get supporting details/examples from Passage I (you can
paraphrase or use direct quotes).
E. Using your notes from the reading and the venn diagram, as
well as the multiple choice questions, write Paragraph 3 on
Passage II ONLY. Choose one literary element (from the list
above) from Passage II and connect it to your thesis statement
from the introduction (taken from the Situation and Task). Make
sure to get supporting details/examples from Passage II (you
can paraphrase or use direct quotes).
F. Paragraph 4: Look at the venn diagram’s middle section
and notice what the two passages have in common. This
paragraph is devoted to the similarities between the two
passages! If you prefer not to write a five-paragraph essay, you can
just use this information in your conclusion paragraph.
G. Conclusion Paragraph: Begin with a transition (in
conclusion, in summary, as the previous paragraphs show, etc.),
restate your thesis in new words, and restate the main ideas you
presented in your essay.
H. Proofread your essay for errors in spelling, grammar,
capitalization, and punctuation. Make sure that titles of long works,
like novels or autobiographies, are underlined! Make sure that titles
of short works, like poems and short stories, appear in quotation
marks!
IV. Task IV—Reading and Writing for Critical Analysis: This is
the only Task that does not require you to read or listen to a passage
during the exam.
A. Read the Critical Lens statement carefully. Make sure you
understand what it means. Before you begin to write, restate the
Critical Lens in your own words. State whether you agree or disagree
with it and explain why you feel this way. Write down two works of
literature that can connect to this Critical Lens statement. Think about
literary elements from the two works you chose: theme, conflict,
characterization, foreshadowing, and symbolism are the best choices!
B. Writing the Introduction:
1. Write the Critical Lens
2. Tell what it means.
3. Explain whether you agree or disagree with it
(agreeing is better and easier!).
4. Connect the Critical Lens to two works of literature
that best support the quote and your opinion of the quote.
C. Paragraph 2: Discuss the first work and identify a literary
element used in that work. Explain how the element helps the reader
gain understanding of the work. Provide at least two examples
from the work to support your point. Use specific references and
details. Avoid plot summary! Relate this information back to the
Critical Lens!
D. Paragraph 3: Discuss the second work and identify a
different literary element used in that work. Explain how the
element helps the reader gain understanding of the work. Provide at
least two examples from the work to support your point. Use
specific references and details. Avoid plot summary! Relate this
information back to the Critical Lens!
E. Paragraph 4—Conclusion: Restate your position regarding
the Critical Lens. Summarize the main points you have made in
your essay (and refer to the works of literature you used) and how
they support your position.