Name ___________________________
Date _____
Period ______
English 8 Midterm Review Packet: General Information
On the midterm exam, you will be given a well-known expression and/or a famous quote which you will
then use to write an essay. You will be provided with two pieces of text that you will be able to use to
support your ideas in the essay.
Part 1: Reading Comprehension
o Read and annotate a fiction passage (20 points)
 Write a paragraph response
o
Read and annotate a nonfiction passage (20 points)
 Write a paragraph response
Part 2: Essay:
For this essay, you must make write an essay using 3 examples to prove the central idea to be true. (60
points)

You will write an intro paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.

Breakdown of examples:

o
You must use 1 example (REX) from one of the midterm exam texts.
o
You must use 2 examples from the texts you read in English class this semester.
English Class Literary Works:
o
“The Reunion” by John Cheever
o
“Sunday in the Park” by Bel Kaufman
o
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
o
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
o
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Your Midterm Date is: ___________________________________
English 8 Midterm Review Packet: Essay
The format for your timed essay should be as follows:
Introductory Paragraph:
 Hook—interesting statement
o Use the quote or central idea
 Transition statement
o Put the central idea into your own words
 Background information
o Use the LL statement—> This idea is not only true in life, but also in literature.
 Thesis statement
o One sentence explaining the books/ stories you will explain in your essay.
Body Paragraphs:
 T- topic sentence
o Start with the book/ story that you will refer to in this paragraph
 R-reason
o Tell how does the book connect to the central idea
 E-evidence
o Give specific details from the story/ book that help prove how the book connects to the
central idea
o You should have at least one blended quote and proper citation in your essay from the
example you took from the exam packet In fact, she said, “You are the best” (Lowry 54).
o You will not have any quotes or citations from the texts studied in class because you will
not have the books/ stories with you
 X-eXplanation
o Connect your specific details back to the central idea. Prove how the examples you’ve
given really support your ideas.
 Icon-conclusion sentence
o Sum up your point
o This can be its own sentence or be attached to the explanation. *Make sure the paragraph
is clear and feels complete.
Concluding Paragraph:
 Restate your thesis
o Make sure to use different wording from your original thesis
 Best point(s)
o Restate your best example(s) to remind the audience of your original purpose
 Clincher
o Last sentence of entire essay—should leave the reader thinking
o Can relate back to the central idea
Major
Title of story
Characters
Story Summary
Major Conflicts and
Resolutions
Main Themes (Lessons
Learned)