Final Study Guide and Announcement

Study Guide

English Finals

2011-2012

On your final, you will not be asked to define these concepts, you will have to know what they are to be able to identify them in the passages you will read.

 

Tone: the author’s attitude toward the audience, the characters, or the subject itself.

Theme: The message of a piece of literature. Theme is the point that the author is trying to get across. It is usually not stated outright. You will have to infer (coming to a conclusion based on the given information and your own logical reasoning) the theme of a piece of literature.

Figurative language: type of language that goes beyond the literal level (or the surface meaning). Figurative language includes the following:

Imagery (visually descriptive writing that helps a reader imagine something in the story)

Metaphor (compares one thing in the terms of another, a comparison where one thing is said to be something else. Ex. You are a test-taking ninja. This is a metaphor because, to the best of my knowledge, you are not actually a ninja.

Simile: A comparison that uses like or as to suggest one thing is like another. Ex. You are like a testing ninja. If there were such a thing. You still are not a test-taking ninja, but you share some qualities with a test-taking ninja.

Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration to make a point

Alliteration: Repetition of the beginning sound of a word

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds

Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds

Personification: Giving non-human things human characteristics

Onomatopoeia: Word that imitates the sound it represents

Logical Appeals: the reasonable structure and support that holds the whole paper together. It is using evidence and facts to support your claims.

Emotional Appeals: Manipulates the audience’s emotions to get them to agree with the author

Ethical Appeals: Accesses the audience’s values and sense of right and wrong to persuade them to the writer’s point of view.

Mood: is the general atmosphere created by the author’s words. It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those words. It may be the same throughout a piece of literature, or it may change from situation to situation.

Speaker (in a poem): the narrator of the poem (not necessarily the author)

Paraphrase: Put something into other words or your own words

Thesis Statement: Main point or argument in an essay

ENG IV: We will no longer be taking the final that we went over in class. We will take a different final instead.

1-6-2012

1-4-2011

Progress reports were sent out today, as well as earlier this week. You need to bring it back to me, signed by your parents.

Eng IV and H Eng IV: Today we began our practice final. If you score a 50% or above on this assessment, I will give you extra credit. If you take BOTH the practice test and the final, I will take the higher of the two grades. You still need to be here for the final on Thursday of next week. The final will count for 20% of your grade. The written portion of the final was handed out in class today. This is due on Monday. It is as follows:

English IV Final Part One

 

Choose one of the following topics and write a two page persuasive/satirical essay. You must have at least two sources and an MLA works cited page.

 

All papers should be typed, double spaced, in Times New Roman font with one inch margins all around.

 

For Full Credit, all essays must include the following:

Emotional Appeal: making your audience feel a certain way in order to persuade 10 pts

Logical Appeal: using evidence to support your claims 10 pts

Ethical Appeal: Using the audience’s sense of right and wrong to your advantage in support of your claim 10 pts

Elements of satire: exaggeration (or hyperbole), irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean, humor or sarcasm, a focus (what, exactly, are you saying is wrong with society?) 10 points

In-text citations: “Direct quotes go in quotations” (the author’s last name or the “title of the article if there is none” go in parentheses). The period goes outside the parentheses. Or paraphrases where you take an idea and put it into your OWN words and include a citation (Allison 1).  10 pts

MLA works cited page 20 pts

Organization: Clear introduction, body, and conclusion, paragraphs and sentences follow logical order, the essay has a fitting title 20 pts

Student voice: the creative perspective of the writer is clear, student uses engaging language, student writes in a way unique to him or her 10 points

Grammar and usage: 10

 

 

Topics (Choose One)

1. Gun control

2. Campaign Finance

3. Overpopulation

4. Global Warming

5. Racism/prejudice

6. Drugs/drug policy

7. Obesity

8. Immigration/immigration policy

9. The economy

10. College tuition

11. Contracts for sports figures

12. Celebrities as role models

13. Gas prices (you might look at the reasons behind the rising and falling prices for sources, for example).

14. The upcoming presidential campaign and the candidates

15. Healthcare and/or healthcare reform

 

Hon Eng III:

 

Junior research paper resubmissions are due Monday. You MUST turn in your original graded copy, your revised copy with the changes highlighted so I can compare the two, and a clean copy that I will file for your senior portfolio. If you do not turn in these things and I have no paper from you on file, your grade will change to a zero. Today, we passed back all work, discussed make-up assignments, and I handed out the written portion of your final exam, which is due on Mon. It is as follows:

 

 

Hon Eng III Final Exam Part One

Short Answer: Choose one question from each category and write a one to two paragraph response to the question. You must quote and cite the text for each response to receive any credit. You should have a total of six responses. Write down the question you are answering as the title to each response.

 

Spin:

1. How does the structure of this section contribute to its meaning?

2. Why does Tim O’Brien continue to write about the war when it is so far in the past?

 

On the Rainy River:

1. What is Tim O’Brien ashamed of in this section?

2. What is surprising about this section? (Describe the twist and how it affected the  meaning of this story.)

 

Enemies and Friends:

1. In “Enemies” why did Dave Jensen break his own nose?

2. In “Friends” why does Lee Strunk’s death relieve Dave Jensen of “an enormous weight” (66).

 

How to Tell a True War Story:

1. What is a true war story? What is not a true war story?

2. Why are true war stories difficult to tell?

3. Why is the section about the baby buffalo included? Who or what should readers pity and why?

 

The Man I Killed and Good Form:

1. What do you think (using evidence to support your opinion) bothered O’Brien most about killing the young man?

2. In Good Form, why does Tim O’Brien tell the readers he did not kill that man, what was the purpose of this deception?

 

The Lives of the Dead:

What, according to Tim O’Brien, is the purpose of writing stories?

 

Make sure each response is thoughtful and thorough. If I do not see that you are thinking deeply about the text, I will not give you credit for your answers.

 

Monday we will begin our practice exam. If you score above a 60% on it, I will give you some extra credit toward your final grade. You may also answer additional questions about The Things They Carried for extra credit.

 

I will be here after school Monday and Tuesday until 3:30 if you need to make up work or see me about your grade.

1-3-2011

Journal Prompt: Have you ever found it difficult to stand up for something you believe in? Why? What was the situation? How was it resolved (in other words, did you overcome your hesitation or not?)

Eng IV: Today, students took summative exams. There was a grammar worksheet that is due tomorrow. I also will NOT accept any satire projects after tomorrow.

H Eng III: We read Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address (http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html). Students were to highlight parts of the speech they did not understand as well as unfamiliar words. Then, they were to discuss them with a partner, define the unfamiliar words and paraphrase the parts they didn’t understand on a separate sheet of paper. This was handed in for a grade.

H Eng IV: We read Tennyson’s “In Memoriam” and discussed it in pairs. We reviewed “The Lady of Shalott” and the Victorian period. Satire projects were due today.

All Classes: Extra Credit Opportunity

Research campaign finance. Write a one to two page essay on where candidates get the money to fund their advertising. You must have a Works Cited page and two sources that you refer to in the body of the essay.

1-2-11

Journal Prompt: Describe something that you learned over the break.

Eng IV: Today, there was a spelling quiz.  We read “The Lady of Shallot” by Tennyson, beginning on page 930 of the text. Satire projects are due Jan. 4. Tomorrow we will have summative exams.

H Eng III: Today, we had a spelling quiz. We read “The Emancipation Proclamation.” Tomorrow we will read Lincoln’s second inaugural address. You need to finish The Things They Carried by next week. The writing portion of your final, as well as some multiple choice questions, will be based on this book. Resubmissions for the junior research paper are due Monday, Jan. 9.

H Eng IV: We had a spelling quiz and read “The Lady of Shallot” beginning on page 930. Satire projects are due tomorrow.

Announcement: I will be available this week for tutoring Tues., Thurs., and Fri. of this week until 3:30. Please see me if you need help with your junior research paper.

12-16-2011

Juniors: You will have one week from Jan 2 to return your Junior research papers. If you had to resubmit, you must bring three copies back. One will be the graded copy you received today. The next will be the copy you give to me to grade where you have highlighted all the changes you have made. The other copy will be the clean copy that will go into the portfolio. This is your last chance to turn in a passable paper. Make sure that if you use an idea that isn’t yours, but put it COMPLETELY in your own words, you use a parenthetical citation. If you use something from another source directly, it needs to be in “quotes,” with a parenthetical citation immediately after that sentence. Quotes should be no more than a sentence or two long. This is your paper to write, you should not be copy and pasting a paper together from other sources.

12-16-2012

Extra Credit Assignments:

If you are doing poorly in my class, you may do an extra credit essay. This essay MUST be high quality and your own original work. It must also cite the original texts as well as any outside sources consulted and must have a works cited page in proper MLA format. If you fail to meet any of these requirements, you will not receive credit for this assignment. Due January 3, 2012. No late work will be accepted.

Eng IV first and third block: Read pgs. 635-653 (Gulliver’s Travels) and write a three page (typed and double spaced) analytical essay in which you identify the focus of the satire, the type of satire it is, the satirical devices used, and evaluate the effectiveness of the satire overall. You may need to consult and cite outside sources to help you figure out what it means. You must cite the text to support your analysis in proper MLA format. No credit will be awarded for papers without proper citations and a Works Cited page.

Hon Eng III: Read pages 734-761 (“The Open Boat”) and write a three page (typed and double spaced) analysis essay in which you examine the plot, characterization, theme, and tone. Analyze how this story reflects the ideas of naturalism. You must cite the story to support your analysis and have a works cited page for credit. No credit will be awarded for papers without proper citations and a works cited page.

ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE JANUARY 3^rd. NO EXTRA CREDIT WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.

12-15-2011

Journal Prompt: Free Write Thursday

Eng IV: Today was the senior breakfast. I will not accept your “A Modest Proposal” questions after tomorrow.

H Eng III: We had a quiz on Frederick Douglass’ Narrative and a vocabulary quiz. Research papers will be returned to you after the break.

H Eng IV: We read the first section of Gulliver’s Travels today and took a quiz on it. We will have the vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

 

12-14-2011

Journal Prompt: What social problems do we face today? And how might we fix them?

Eng IV: Most students helped move gifts for the field trip today. However, the questions for “A Modest Proposal” are due tomorrow. This grade will count as a reading quiz.

H Eng III: We reviewed the vocabulary words, read some of Frederick Douglass’ Narrative and will have a quiz on both tomorrow.

H Eng IV: We worked on satire projects and handed in the questions for “A Modest Proposal.” There will be a vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

12-12-2011

Today, in class 12-12-2011

Journal Prompt: Is cannibalism ever okay? When? Why or why not?

 

Eng IV: We looked at some examples of satire and began reading “A Modest Proposal” finish this reading for tomorrow (pgs. 622-631). We will have a reading quiz. Also, complete the subject and verb agreement worksheet you were given in class and hand it in tomorrow. I also handed out this satire assignment, due Friday if you want extra credit, or when we return from break if you want to have to do it over your break. Satire Assignment

________________________________________________________________________

 

Step One: Locate a target. Examine the news for a start, find something that you feel is wrong with our society or the way we look at things and behave. Attack widespread hypocrisy, stupidity, contradictory policies, the way we handle the economy, etc. Identify a problem.

 

Step Two: Decide how to attack the target once you’ve located it. For the purposes of this assignment, you have three choices.

 

1. Write a 1-2 page satirical article or essay such as the one we read in The Onion or like “A Modest Proposal.” This article should offer some solution to the problem, but the solution should not really be feasible. It should be something that catches the reader off guard and draws attention to the problem itself. For example, Republican candidate Newt Gingrich proposes building a mining colony on the moon. I might write an article encouraging American citizens to push for relocation to the moon, explaining that the moon has what we lack here in jobs and resources, and bringing up the idea of Manifest Destiny by asserting that we, as Americans, have a natural right to own the moon.

 

2. Create a political cartoon. Using the example above, my political cartoon might include a drawing of the moon with several mansions, and a drawing of the US below looking run down. The caption might read “When Outsourcing Goes Too Far.”

 

3. Write and perform a piece of stand-up comedy. You can identify a problem and offer humorous solutions. However, your stand-up MUST be satire and not just observational comedy. You can address several problems, as long as you maintain the purpose of satire.

All projects must be approved by me before being presented to the class.

 

Step Three: Present your work to the class.

 

Modes of satire:

Sarcasm

Treating trivial concerns or situations seriously

Treating serious concerns as unimportant or trivial

Exaggeration

Understatement

Naive Speaker

Incongruity (presents things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to the surroundings)

Irony (situational: When a character or reader expects one thing to happen but something else actually happens. Verbal: When a writer or character says one thing but means another).

Diatribe: Angry direct attack in the hope of eliminating what the satirist regards as undesirable conditions, attitudes, and behavior

Parody: Imitates the style of particular work or writer

Reversal: Presents the opposite of the normal order

 

 

Grading Scale

 

 

 

KEY TRAITS	3 (Strong)	2 (Average)	1 (Weak)
DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS	Student clearly identifies a problem and offers a blatantly satirical solution to the problem described.	Student identifies a problem and offers a solution.	Student fails to identify a problem or fails to offer a solution.
Conventions of satire	Student’s work shows clear understanding of satire. The student uses at least two of the modes of satire for portraying his or her message. Artwork is skillfully related to the topic, a problem is addressed, and the work is coherent.	Student’s work shows some understanding of satire. At least one mode of satire is used. Artwork is related to the topic, and the work makes sense.	Student fails to show an understanding of the satire. One or fewer conventions of satire are used, or are used incorrectly. Artwork does not relate to the topic, or the piece does not make sense as a satire.
LANGUAGE FACILITY AND CONVENTIONS	The message is clearly portrayed, the conventions of language are observed.	The message makes some sense, most conventions of language are observed.	The message does not make sense, most conventions of language are not observed.

 

 

Hon Eng III: We paraphrased the poems of Emily Dickinson. For homework, you should paraphrase the poem on pg. 554 “My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun.” For Wed. read pages 560-569 in the textbook. Complete and study your vocabulary worksheet handed out last week. We will have a quiz on the remaining words Friday. You also need to read the first story in The Things They Carried (also titled “The Things They Carried”) for Friday.

Hon Eng IV: Today we brought back projects from the Wooden Horse. Complete and study the vocabulary worksheet passed out today, we will have a quiz on Friday. We will also discuss “A Modest Proposal” tomorrow, so come prepared with some questions about the piece. Work on your satire project for Thursday. (See assignment above).

12-9-2011

Today in class 12-9-2011

Journal Prompt: Free write Friday

Eng IV: We watched some examples of satire and completed a worksheet on comma placement. You will need your book in class on Monday. Congratulations to everyone for completing their senior exit presentations. Satire Notes Power Point

Hon Eng IV: We handed out The Things They Carried, took a vocabulary quiz on word parts, corrected the spelling quizzes from yesterday, and read Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” Your homework is to read pages 546, 548, 550-551, and 553. You should also paraphrase “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” for Monday.

Hon Eng IV: We watched some examples of satire. Next week you will be creating your own piece of satire. For homework, you should read all of “A Modest Proposal” and answer comprehension questions 1-3 on pg. 632-33. Also, come up with three questions for discussion on Monday.

12-6-2011

Journal Prompt: Write about the best gift you’ve ever received. What was the occasion? Who gave it to you?

Eng IV and Hon Eng IV: Presentations for senior exit began today. Way to go seniors who have finished. Presentations will resume on Thursday. Please be on time for your presentation, and be prepared to wait. Today, things ran a little behind schedule.

Hon Eng III: I will check your vocabulary worksheets on Thursday and we will have a quiz on Friday. We will review on Thursday. Today, junior research papers were due. If I did not receive your junior research paper, I will not accept it unless you were absent today, in which case, I need it tomorrow. We talked about Emily Dickinson today and will read some of her poetry tomorrow.