Freshman Literature and Composition
Final Exam Review Guide-Semester 1
-Each final exam will be 1 hour and 30 minutes
-This exam will contain the following sections:
 60 multiple choice questions (Topics Covered: grammar, literary terms, short stories, vocabulary A Separate Peace , The House on Mango Street and 12 Angry
Men)
 5 short answer questions-at least 4 sentences
 Short Essay: See prompt below
Topics Covered:
 Parts of Speech:
8 Parts of Speech learned in class
 Commas:
Six comma rules
Resources for Studying:
 Class notes
 Grammar quizzes
Topics Covered:
 Vocab: Prodigy, jut, muffle, immense, tumultuous, prim, dreary, amiable,
 endearing, evasive, grimace, acute, cunning, stifle, vex
Raymond’s Run
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Plot, characters, Squeeky’s transition
The Bats
Plot, characters, symbol, dynamic characters
All Summer in a Day
Plot, characters, setting, theme
Teenage Wasteland
Plot, characters, themes, whose to blame
A&P
Plot, characters, themes
 The Tell-Tale Heart
Plot, stylistic strategies
Resources for Studying:
 Vocab assignments

 Short story study guide
 Short story packet
 Class notes
 Short story test
Topics Covered:
 Point of View (know each type and be able to identify)
 Four elements of Setting
 Protagonist/Antagonist
 Tone
 Symbol
 Dynamic/Static characters
 Theme (definition and examples in stories)
 Plot diagram
Resources for Studying:
 Class notes (green packet)
 Short story test
Topics Covered:
-Vocabulary: Prodigious, formidable, emblem, venerable, perilous, erratic, tedious, indignant, galvanize, elite, ambiguous, preeminent, exuberant, foreboding, contemptuous
-Major plot elements
-Characters
-Key quote
-Ideas from class: faulty perspective, Christian allusion, river symbol
Resources for Studying:
 Vocab assignments
 Class notes/handouts
 Quote analysis packet
 Reading quizzes/test
Topics Covered
 Basic plot elements
 “Show Don’t Tell” strategies: reference point, specific traits, physical condition, color, metaphor, and five senses
Resources for Studying:
 Class notes
 Your annotations
 Vignettes

Topics Covered:
 Basic Plot elements
 Major characters
 Details of trial by jury discussed in class: Verdict, unanimous, reasonable doubt, innocent until proven guilty (5 th amendment)
 Summary of Supreme Court case that you read for fishbowl discussion
Resources for Studying
 Twelve Angry Men packet
 Reading guide (questions from class)
 Fishbowl discussion notes
Directions: Choose one text from class and respond to the following essay in at least 3 paragraphs
Is this text relevant to today’s adolescent?
Guidelines:
 Texts to choose from: All Summer in a Day , Teenage Wasteland , The Tell-Tale
Heart , A&P , Raymond’s Run , The Bats, The House on Mango Street, A Separate
Peace , or 12 Angry Men
 Find at least 3 specific (but different) elements of the story that you find relevant or irrelevant. You should have one paragraph for each of the connections.
 For each element, use one quote to prove your point. Be sure to analyze the quote, explaining how it illustrates the story’s relevance or irrelevance.
 Remember, this is a formal essay, so you will want to use clear paragraph topics, transitions, supporting details etc. I will not grade on spelling.
*You may prepare 1 side of a 3x5 note card to use during this essay. I will collect the note card at the beginning of the exam, and you can use it once you get to the essay portion only. This is where you should write down your thesis and your three quotes.
*Please note, if you fail to use and analyze specific quotes, you will not get higher than a “D” on this portion of the exam. Please be sure to prepare a note card and remember to bring it in the day of the exam.