Monday, June 13 Regents Review

 Review for English Common Core exam   Tuesday, June 14         12:15

Exam format:

3 parts:

Part 1: multiple choice questions

This consists of three reading passages that will be upward of 1000 words each. One will be fiction, another non-fiction and the third could be a poem or another fiction piece.

Basic strategy: Read the instructions very carefully. What exactly is the question asking?

                            Fact based response?

                            Definition within the context of the sentence?

                            Connotative meaning?

Specific strategies:

                           Circle or underline topic words and any negatives.

                            Identify any modifiers and qualifiers – e.g. only, always, sometimes, rarely. Exact words such as always, never, none, must, without exception, mean that there is no exception. If you can think of an exception, statements that include these words are incorrect or false. In contrast, indefinite words, such as rarely, usually, seldom, sometimes, frequently, often, can tolerate exceptions.

                          Try to think of the answer before looking at the options. Analyse the responses available and match your answer with one of the choices – read them all before making a choice. If your answer does not match exactly, find the choice that most closely approximates your answer.

When you don’t know the answer

Use a process of elimination: Try to narrow your choice as much as possible: which of the options is most likely to be incorrect? Are there any options you can eliminate straight away? Ask: are options in the right range? Is there something out of range you can eliminate straight away? Is the measurement unit correct? Does it sound reasonable?

 Look for grammatical inconsistencies: In extension-type (sentence complete) questions a choice will be wrong if the question and the answer do not combine to make a grammatically correct sentence. Also look for repetition of key words from the question in the responses. If words are repeated, the option is worth considering

Be wary of options containing definitive words and generalizations

Because they can’t tolerate exceptions, options containing words like always, only, never, must tend to be incorrect more often. Similarly, options containing strong generalizations tend to be incorrect more often.

Part 2 Argument Essay

            You will have four texts to read, one of which may be a chart or diagram. You will write a source-based argument on a topic.

              Must dos

1.       Take a position on the topic. Just turn the question around. Do not use any I thinks

2.       Read the task  carefully

3.       Read the texts carefully, annotating items that support your argument, noting those that do not.

4.       Follow the outline rules we reviewed in class (see below)

           4 parts

1.       Introduction

Hook

Background

Thesis (refer to your task

2.       Three claims with textual evidence. This may be woven into your own sentences, but MUST be identified in the text.

Remember a claim is a statement you make to support your argument

Remember that evidence is factual—NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK!

3.       Counter argument!!!!!!!!

This is where you refute your opponents’ argument. You got this from the text.

4.       Conclusion

Restate the importance of your issue—paraphrase- do not repeat- the introduction.

End with what will be the outcome if what you have proven does not come to pass.

Part 3

   Text Analysis Response

         Carefully read the text. This may be either fiction or nonfiction.  Take your time and annotate as you go along. This can be challenging reading.

          Identify the central idea of the text.

          Select ONE writing strategy that the author uses to develop the central idea.

          Write two to three paragraphs that support your analysis as to how this writing strategy is used.

          You must weave in textual evidence

          You must give an analysis statement as to how or why this supports the central idea.

   Important!

      For fiction works use a literary element or literary technique:

                     Characterization, conflict, setting, metaphor, irony, foreshadowing, simile, imagery (remember all 5!), symbolism, theme, tone and diction (that’s word choice) and denotation and connotation.

For non-fiction, be careful. Sometimes imagery and irony work, but the easiest way to handle these are through the rhetorical devices of  logos, ethos and pathos.

General statements:

                 Proof read. You must have solid language conventions: spelling, subject /verb agreement, consistency of tenses, and correct punctuation.