Advice for Answering Common Prose Test Questions
1.
What is the thesis of the essay? Support your observation with proof. (3)
Be sure to:
 Explain the thesis in your own words
 Use a quote to validate your interpretation of the thesis and explain why you chose that
quotation
2.
What is the tone of this essay? What technique is used to create that tone? Support your answer with a direct
quotation from the essay and explain why you chose it. (4)
Be sure that:
 When you discuss tone, you are talking about a specific attitude the author has toward the
subject being discussed
 Offer a specific writing technique the author used to create the tone: diction, examples,
rhetorical devices
 You quote an example from the passage and explain why you chose it and how it demonstrates
the tone
3.
How is coherence achieved in the piece of writing? (4)
Be sure that:
 When you discuss coherence, you are discussing a specific technique the author uses to move
smoothly from one idea to the next or to connect ideas within the writing: transition words or
purposeful repetition of an idea
 You quote at least two examples from the passage that demonstrate how ideas are connected
 Explain how the examples link parts of the writing together
4.
Identify the narrative point of view and explain its overall effect on the passage. (3)
Remember to:
 Identify a specific type of narrative point of view: 1st person, 3rd person, etc.
 Clearly explain how it impacts both the essay and the reader, and what it might reveal about
the author
 Use direct quotations to support your observations
5.
How does the author create an effective conclusion? (3)
Be sure to:
 Offer a specific technique the author uses (see text pp. 11-12)
 Use direct quotations to support your observations
 Explain, specifically, how the technique impacts/engages the reader or wraps up the writing
 Note: this question can apply to introductions as well (see text pp.7-8)
6.
Choose five of the following and explain how each was used to add emphasis (reinforce the thesis): (3 marks each)
a. hyperbole
e. allusions
b. personification
f. diction
c. point of view
g. imagery
d. jargon
h. rhetorical question
Be sure to:
 Identify where the technique in question is found (ex. which paragraph in the writing)
 If the word evaluate is used, you should make a value judgment and give the pluses and
minuses of using this technique in the passage
 Specifically state what the technique adds to the essay
 Use direct quotations to support your observations
 Indicate what part of the question you are answering (e.g. 6a.)
7.
Find two examples of effective sentence structure used in this essay and explain why they are effective. (3 marks each)
Be sure that you:
 Refer to a particular type of sentence structure and provide a quotation from the passage to
show an example of that type of sentence
 If you are asked to explain the effectiveness of the sentence, state how using that type of
sentence emphasizes an idea or reinforces the thesis