20 Tips for your Textual Analysis Test
Strategies to Help You Improve and Achieve
your Best Results on the Test
Textual Analysis Test Tip #1
Answer all of the assigned
questions. Do not leave any
question blank or unanswered!
There will be four short answer
questions on the test.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #2
Make sure that you understand
what each question is asking you to
respond to, and that you review the
definitions for the various literary
devices that we have studied in
class. If you are confused, ask
questions!
Textual Analysis Test Tip #3
Read the selected passage
carefully, and more than once,
before you begin answering the test
questions. Make sure that you
understand what the passage is
about (and where it occurs in the
novel) before you start to write.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #4
Upon your first and second reading
of the passage, underline/highlight
words and lines that you think are
important. Write directly on the test
paper. This will help you when you
are referring back to the passage
for quotations.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #5
Make sure that you are answering what
the question is asking. Do not get offtopic. You have 74 minutes to write the
test. Use part of the question to begin
your response in order to help you focus
on what information you should be
including in your answer.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #6
Ensure that your answers are detailed,
thoughtful, and that you support all of
your points with direct evidence from
the passage (quotations). Do not
vaguely refer to a line in the passage –
You must include a quotation in
quotation marks to prove your points
for each question.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #7
Review the Textual Analysis Rubric to
ensure that you know HOW you will be
graded on the test. Remember that you
will be receiving a holistic grade (an
overall impression of all four of your
answers according to the rubric criteria
provided).
Textual Analysis Test Tip #8
When deciding how much time you
should spend on each question,
consider that there are 4 questions on
the test, so each question should take
you approximately 16 minutes (this will
give you approximately 10 minutes to
read the passage and proofread your
writing).
Textual Analysis Test Tip #9
Do not use personal pronouns in
your responses. This is not a time for
personal reflection. This is a time to
be analytical! Be objective in your
word choice and demonstrate your
ability to be a keen critical thinker.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #10
You do not need to cite your
quotations on the test. For a typed
evaluation like a formal paragraph
or a literary essay, this is required,
but on a test with distinct time
constraints, citations are not
required.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #11
Bring a dictionary with you in case
you struggle with some of the
vocabulary in the passage. You are
allowed to use this during the test,
but you are not allowed to use your
class notes. However, dictionaries
will not be provided for you.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #12
If asked about inferred information
from the passage, ensure that you not
only provide adequate context for the
passage, and that you explain what
important information can be inferred
from the text provided, but also be sure
to explore why this passage has a
greater significance to the novel as a
whole.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #13
Remember to refer to the theme of
the passage in more than one word.
If you think that the passage is
about hope, consider what about
hope is being discussed, and what
key message the passage is
attempting to convey to the
reader/audience about hope.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #14
It is not enough to simply identify an
example of a literary device without
explaining how and why it is used in
the passage. Remember to analyze
the purpose and effect of each
device that you examine on the
test.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #15
Double-space your responses on
the foolscap paper (long, lined
paper) provided in class. Do not
forget to do this on the test,
because it enables me to write
you more legible feedback.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #16
Answer all questions on the
foolscap paper provided,
number your pages, put your
name on all of the paper you
use, and put your pages in the
correct order upon submission.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #17
Underline the title of the novel,
according to proper formatting.
For example, The Great Gatsby.
Do this every time you refer to
the title of the novel.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #18
Lead into your quotations
thoughtfully! Do not just plunk them
in your answers because you know
that you need to use quotations.
Provide context – i.e. This is proven
in the passage when Daisy says,
“…” (transition carefully)
Textual Analysis Test Tip #19
If you have any time remaining in
the test after you have finished the
questions, proofread your writing
for errors prior to submission. Look
for spelling mistakes, punctuation
errors, missing words, etc.
Textual Analysis Test Tip #20
Stay calm and do your best.
You can do this!