The Details:
 PART 1: The in-class essay portion of your exam is on Wednesday, June
17th. You have 1 period to write the essay.
 PART 2: The sight passage with multiple-choice questions portion of your exam is on Monday, June 22 at 8:30am in room _______. The exam is only
30 minutes in duration on this day.
Exam format:
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PART 1: You will write ONE well-structured, four paragraph, literary essay based on your choice of ONE of the three topics provided on the exam.
You will be expected to incorporate BOTH texts studied this year (The
Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet) in the body of your essay.
PART 2: You will read a sight passage (a short story) and you will answer twenty (20) multiple choice questions that will address the content of the story, literary devices and elements present in the story, plus thematic connections from the story and the texts studied this semester (The Great
Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet).
Steps for completion:
PART 1:
1.
Read over the exam instructions carefully before you begin.
2.
On the exam, you will find THREE (3) topic options for your essay. Read each question and quickly brainstorm approaches for each in order to determine which option will be the best one for you to select.
3.
Choose ONE of the essay topics provided.

4.
For the purposes of this exam, you may devote one body paragraph to
The Great Gatsby, and one body paragraph to Romeo and Juliet.
5.
Plan your thesis statement, supporting arguments, and points/proofs/ analyses; in your body paragraphs, you must make reference to two specific examples from the core texts in the form of accurate paraphrasing or direct quotations as proof for your points.
6.
Write your essay. Maintain a formal tone (no personal pronouns, no contractions, and no slang) and use persuasive/confident language to assert your position throughout your essay.
Exam essay practice questions:
Use these questions to help you study…
 Create a practice essay outline and accompanying literary essay for
each sample question provided. Time yourself! You should be able to complete an essay for one question (with a quick brainstorm and outline) in 75 minutes! Do this 4 times for maximum practice!
1.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Discuss the truth of this statement with reference to both core texts studied this semester (The Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet).
2.
Discovering a truth can impact an individual's choices and his/her relationships with others. Discuss the truth of this statement with reference to both core texts studied this semester (The Great Gatsby and Romeo
and Juliet).
3.
The most important life lessons come from personal experience. Discuss the truth of this statement with reference to both core texts studied this semester (The Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet).
4.
Literature shows us that personal maturation comes at a price of pain and loss. Agree or disagree with this statement, create a thesis and discuss how it applies to the characters in the literary texts studied this semester
(The Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet).
PART 2: Read the short story provided and answer the multiple choice questions.
TO PREPARE FOR part #2 of the EXAM ON Monday JUNE 22ND:
To prepare for the sight passage and multiple choice questions, you should review the literary terms and devices we’ve discussed this year. The following is a list of suggested vocabulary to review (in no particular order):
 tone
 theme

 characterization
 types of irony (situational, verbal, dramatic)
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 conflict (types of conflict)
 setting (the various elements and how they contribute to understanding) types of character (protagonist, antagonist, round, flat, major, minor, foil)
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Characterization (ways to understand a character)
 Character development (static vs. dynamic) narrative perspective
 voice
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 metaphor
 simile symbolism
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 personification
 imagery alliteration
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 allusion (classical, literary, historical, Biblical)
 hyperbole foreshadowing
 pathetic fallacy
 analogy
 literary genres (satire, drama, non-fiction, tragedy, comedy)
Practice sight passage and multiple choice questions (attached):
 Please read the short story entitled “Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer, and complete the TWENTY (20) practice multiple choice questions based on the story’s content and literary elements. Remember, practice makes perfect!