Final Exam Review

English 421 Final Exam Review

Short Fiction
You must be able to:
Do a sight reading of a designated piece of writing & analyze is according to the terms studied this term
Draw a plot diagram
Understand all terminology & notes
Write an effective theme statement & provide a defense
Identify themes

Poetry
You must be able to:
Analyze and dissect a poem(s)
Understand all poetic devices and terms (notes & hand-outs)
Compare and contrast two poems
Write theme statements – identify themes
Answer questions relating to all poems studied in class
Have knowledge and understanding of sonnets (Shakespearean/Petrarchan)
Iambic Pentameter


A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare)
You must be able to:
Understand all important quotations (identify: speaker, situation, & meaning)
Understand all notes/hand-outs
Analyze the key characters
Have an understanding of the plot
Understand all "5 plots"
Understand all themes presented in the play


Good Luck Studying. Be mindful that this exam is performance driven. In other words, I am testing you to evaluate how you use all the skills you learned throughout this course. Remember to take your time during the exam, and re-read all sight readings at least twice to increase understanding and comprehension.

Important Notes for the Exam

Themes in MND: http://www.savefile.com/files/1599159

Characteristics of a Shakespearean Comedy: http://www.savefile.com/files/1599166

MND important quotations

You will be responsible for the following quotations from A Midsummer Night's Dream on your final exam:

http://www.savefile.com/files/1593632

I will distribute copies in class as well.

• Performed chant of "This is not just a platform for my dance" -- poem (analysis and discussion)
• Listened to much of Act III from MND
• Poetry quiz tomorrow -- know all terms from notes -- and sight reading of a poem and analysis

Wednesday, June 4th

• Finished reviewing poetry notes (on blog -- download -- must know material for quiz on Friday)
• Introduction to Sonnnets -- read "Sonnet 43" -- Sightlines (discussion and analysis)
• Discussed and analyzed "Envy" and "Non-conformist" poems Sightlines (pg.41 &31)
• MND class tomorrow
• Poetry quiz on Friday

Poetry Quiz

We will be writing a short poetry quiz (terms; analysis of a short poem) on Friday, June 6th.

Poetry notes

Here are some poetry notes to download:

http://www.savefile.com/files/1585059

http://www.savefile.com/files/1585060

http://www.savefile.com/files/1585061

Friday, May 30

• Listened to Act II of MND (followed along in books)
• Poetry sheet with questions is due for Monday
• Part II of novel study is due Monday

May 28th

• Worked on group project Act I (MND)
• Read/listened to MND Act II
• 5 paragraph essay is due: Friday, May30th

May 27th

• notes on Midsummer Night's Dream (MND)
• Passed out Act Summaries
• Listened to Act I sc i on CD
• Watched all of Act I
• Character Analysis is due Friday -- 5 paragraph essay

Monday, May 26 2008

• Notes on "Lyric poetry"
• Answered questions from poem "Letter to the Media"
• Listened to "I am a Rock" song pg. 3 Sightlines
• Copied questions (for homework)
• Part I of Independant Novel study is due Friday; Part II is due Monday

My apologies for my lack of entries!

I did not update my blog this week -- my apologies! Please come see me if you have any questions/concerns.

• Short fiction test (today)
• Ind. novel studies are due next Friday

May 16

Learning Stations in library Midsummer Night's Dream

Poetry Notes

Here are some important poetry notes:

http://www.savefile.com/files/1558864

http://www.savefile.com/files/1558865


You are responsible for these notes on our poetry test (to be announced)

May 15

• "Life of Shakespeare" video & worksheet (for marks)
• Intro. to Shakespeare (overheads, discussion)

May 14

• Ind. Reading
• Discussed "Borders" -- homework: find an example of a metaphor in the story
• Went over notes on poetry (I will post them on the blog tomorrow)
• Poetry hand-out; complete exercises for homework.

Tuesday, May 13

• Ind. Reading
• Homework check questions
• Finished discussing questions for "The Tunnel" & "Borders"
• Homework: continue reading your indep. novel

Monday, May 12

• Ind. Reading
• Homework check "The Tunnel" questions
• Discussed questions
• "Borders" questions are due tomorrow
• Intro. to Poetry - - Journal response

Friday, May 9th

• Worked on "The Tunnel" & "Borders" questions (both due Monday for ALL students -- I will be doing a homework check).
• Introduced Independent Novel Study: http://www.savefile.com/files/1548232
• Character Sketch hand-out: http://www.savefile.com/files/1548233
• Passed out another hand-out ( you can get it from me Monday if you were absent).

"The Tunnel" Questions:

Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Support your answers with evidence from the story.
1. Outline the plot of this story. Be sure to identify the introduction, the conflict, the main events in the rising action, the climax, and the resolution.
2. Describe Kenton. Why does Kenton find playing Barbies such a difficult activity?
3. Explain how the author used the ‘flashback technique’ in her story. What effect does this technique create? Note: Ellis uses the past tense in her flashbacks to indicate that the flashback occurs in the mind of the character, and does not represent a shift in time in the narrative.
4. What two things bring fear to Kenton? What physical responses does Kenton have to the fear?
5. Assess the characterization in this short story. Do you find the portrayal of a six-year-old and sixteen-year-old realistic? Support your opinions with references to the text.
6.Write a theme statement for this short story. Defend your choice.

Thursday, May 8

• Ind. Reading
• Read the short story "Borders" Sightlines pg.79
• Complete questions for homework:

"Borders"
Sightlines pg.79

1.Where are the boy and his mother going?
2.What response do the border guards want from the mother?
3.What is the mother’s response to the guard’s persistent question?
4.Give 3 characteristics of Salt Lake City.
5.Identify the conflict in "Borders" and explain whether it is external or internal.
6.Find an example of a simile, metaphor, and personification in this story.
7.Did the title of the story intrigue you? Why or why not? Create a new title for this short story and explain why you chose this title.
8.Name each of the characters in this story and give a brief description of each.
9.Write a theme statement for the story and defend your choice.

Wednesday, May 7

• Ind. Reading
• Finished copying questions -- overhead
• Grp Work: Fear
• questions are due for homework

Tuesday, May 6th

• Journal Response
• Pre-reading: Prediction Chart
• Started to read "The Tunnel" aloud -- Sightlines textbook
• Copied questions from overhead
• Homework: Finish reading short story & complete questions for homework

Monday, May 5

• Handed in novel study projects TKAM
• Discussed "Lysandra's Poem"
• Copied questions from overhead for "The Tunnel"

Friday, May 1

• Passed in TKAM books -- people will lose marks every day they are late
• TKAM test
• Novel Study is due Monday

Wed. April 30th

• In-class assignment worth marks on "The Bicycle" worth marks
• TKAM test tomorrow: 5 paragraph essay on TKAM themes (notes on blog) & matching
• Novel Study is due Monday, May 5
• TKAM novels must be passed in tomorrow or you will be penalized one mark/day on your novel study.

TKAM test Thursday

Your test will consist of a matching (characters) component & a 5 paragraph essay on one of the themes in TKAM (see theme notes on blog).

Tue. April 29

• Reading
• Notes on TKAM themes (test on Thursday) -- discussed...available on the blog
• Test Thursday TKAM
• Novel Projects are now due on Monday, May 5th
• ALL TKAM BOOKS MUST BE PASSED IN -- NO LATER THAN THURSDAY!!!

Monday, April 28

• Library -- choose books for Independant Novel
• Reading -- 25 minutes (in class)
• TKAM --discussed notes on themes -- download from previous post

TKAM theme notes

Download: http://www.savefile.com/files/1528413

Friday, April 25

• Group questions on "Lysander's Poem"
• Copied individual questions -- to be done as homework
• Discussed the story
• Passed back TKAM questions
• HW: questions and novel study

Thursday, April 24

• Finished copying questions for "Long Walk to Forever"
• Discussed answers
• Copied "Theme Statement" notes
• Other theme statement notes posted on the blog
• Read "Lysandra's poem" in Sightlines

Wed. April 23

• HW check on questions and notes
• Finished copying "Elements of Fiction" notes (need for upcoming quiz)
• Corrected questions 1 & 2 "Lather and Nothing Else"
• """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" " A Secret Lost in Water"
• Copied questions for "A Long Walk to Forever" 1-6 for HW

Theme Statement Notes:http://www.savefile.com/files/1519311

Tuesday, April 22

• "Lather and Nothing Else" questions pg.346 #'s 1 & 2 (a & b) for homework
• Overhead -- copied notes "Elements of Fiction"
• Homework: Read " A Secret Lost in Water" Sightlines & complete questions from overhead

Monday, April 21

• Passed in TKAM questions Part II
• Journal Entry: Heritage/Ancestry
• Copied definitions from overhead "Lather and Nothing Else"
• Homework check: questions from Friday
• Answered questions together in class -- discussion

Novel Questions Part II due Monday!

• Passed back tests, quizzes, 5 paragraph essays
• Copied questions and worked on for "Lather and Nothing Else"
• Due Monday & Novel Questions

I'm back...

Hello all,
I am back after a brief blogging hiatus:)

I will briefly review what was done over the last week.

Tue: Group work -- "Themes from TKAM"; passed in at the end of class

Wed & Thur: Watched the movie TKAM

Monday, April 14th

• Read TKAM and worked on questions (due April 21st)
• Novel Study is due May 2nd

Friday, April 11th

• TKAM test

Thursday, April 10th

• TKAM journal entry "Atticus' advice to Scout" -- see me or a classmate for more details if you were absent.
• Reviewed and discussed important quotations in chapters 1-11 (Part I) which will be on the test tomorrow. You can download these from a previous blog entry.
• Reviewed chapter questions 1-9 on test tomorrow.
• Bring your books to class tomorrow; if you finish early you can read quietly/work on questions or novel project.
• Those who had to re-submit their 5 paragraph essays should do so tomorrow.

TKAM quotations for test on Friday

Hello all,

I hope you are all doing well on your midterms. Here are the quotations for your test on Friday. We will be reviewing them in class on Thursday. You are responsible for #'s 1-8

http://www.savefile.com/files/1491756

Friday, April 4th

• Passed back TKAM questions 1-9
• Copied overhead with important quotations from TKAM which will be on the test next Friday, April 11th
• You must identify the "Who, What, Where, When & Why" for each quotation. Give as much info. as possible about events surrounding the quotation and its significance. You are responsible for #'s 1-8 on the test.
• Your test will cover Chapters 1-11

Thur. April 3

• 2 quizzes: non-fiction & essay
• Homework: finish "Diary of Anne Frank" questions; read TKAM; complete corresponding questions

Wed. April 2

• Gave time to practice presentations
• Presented Chapter Representation TKAM to the class
• Copied questions for Anne Frank's diary excerpt (Sightlines)
• Two quizzes are tomorrow on essays & non-fiction. You are responsible for all notes and material covered in class thus far. Please see previous blog entry for specific information.

Tue. April 1st

In-class group assignment: TKAM

We worked on a chapter representation that consists of a chapter summary & creative component. All groups will present their work in class tomorrow.

Please bring your rubric to class.

Reminder: Test on essay writing and non-fiction is on Thursday, April 3rd.

P.S: I am not having twins -- April Fools!!

TKAM upcoming test on April 11th!!

We will also be having a test on the first part of TKAM on Friday, April 11th.
I will give you more information about this test in class tomorrow.

Mon. March 31, 2008

• Reading TKAM
• Students handed in 5 paragraph essays
• Homework check on "Going Home to Auschwitz"
• Discussed questions
• Non-fiction test: You will read a piece of non-fiction writing and you must be able to identify the following:

Thesis statement (explicit/implicit)

Rhetorical questions (effect of each)

Main arguments (explain how each argument supports the thesis -- choose strongest argument and defend your choice)

Tone of the piece (author's attitude towards the subject ie: sarcastic, serious, humorous, etc)

Purpose: what was the reason or goal for writing this piece (to persuade, educate, inform, etc.)

Type of writing (essay: persuasive,narrative,descriptive, expository, diary entry, article, speech, etc.)

You are also responsible for all notes and questions relating to non-fiction or essay writing.

You are responsible for the questions on the following pieces of writing in your Sighlines book:

"My Left Foot"

"Rick Hansen: The Only Wheelchair in Town"

"My Body is my Own Business"

"My Body"

"None of the Above"

"Going Home to Auschwitz"

"The Diary of Anne Frank"

You are also responsible for the material covered in the in-class essay assignment "Characteristics of an Essay".

You should know what makes a good thesis statment. If you wish to read over additional notes you can download the following : http://www.savefile.com/files/1476005

Friday, March 28

• Passed in TKAM questions 1-9
• Passed out information on midterm evaluation
• Worked on questions "Going Home to Auschwitz" for homework
• 5 paragraph essay is due on Monday!

Thursday, March 27

• TKAM reading/questions
• Copied questions for "Going Home to Auschwitz"
• Worked on questions
• Reviewed outline for 5 paragraph essay due Monday
• TKAM questions 1-9 due tomorrow~!!

5 paragraph essay: You need to include the following:

Title page

Outline

Rough draft

Rubric

Your outline should look something like the following example:

Topic: Obesity Epidemic

Thesis Statement:

I. Topic (Introduction)

A. (supporting information)

B. " "

II. Topic

A.

B.

III. Topic

A.

B.

IV. Topic

A.

B.

V. Conclusion

Wednesday, March 26th

• Ind. Reading TKAM/questions
• Discussed "Holocaust" and "Auschwitz"
• Read "Going Home to Auschwitz" Sightlines pg. 291
• TKAM questions due Friday
• Essay due Monday
• Bank Mark: Do Jewish people refrain from eating pork? If so, on what days?

Tuesday, March 25

• TKAM independent reading
• Worked on questions
• TKAM overhead
• Discussion
• 5 paragraph essays are due Monday
• TKAM questions 1-9 are due Friday
• 5 paragraph sample essay and rubric were handed out

5 paragraph essay information

5 Paragraph Essay -- Due: March 28th
Obesity Epidemic
Your mission is to write a 5-paragraph essay which explores the reasons behind the obesity epidemic which is plaguing today’s society.
Choose three areas from the following topics to elaborate on:

Availability of fast food
Lack of exercise
Increased use of television/video games
Lack of time
Money
Laziness
Lack of parental influence (rise of the two-income family)

For each area, write a short explanatory paragraph. You must include a topic sentence which is then supported by specific details. Each paragraph should be between 5-9 lines.

Outline for your essay is as follows:

Introductory Paragraph (First Paragraph): Introduces the topic and includes the thesis statement.
Body Paragraphs (Paragraphs 2-4): Should each contain an area on which you choose to explore.
Concluding paragraph (Paragraph 5): Re-statement of thesis statement using different words, brings essay to a close.

Thursday, March 13th

• Free Write (writing portfolios)
• Copied instructions for 5 paragraph essay due: March 28th
• Read TKAM and worked on questions
• Spelling Bee

Wednesday, March 12th

Sorry for the delay!!! I hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable March Break...I will miss you all (can't believe I actually wrote that! lol)

• Read Joshua Freed's None of the Above (Sightlines pg 382-383)
• Copied questions from overhead
• Discussed upcoming novel study for TKAM now due May 2nd
• Chapter 1-10 question TKAM due March 28th (Friday)
• Answered questions from My Body (Sightlines)
• Hand-out "How to write a 5 paragraph essay"

Tuesday, March 11

• In-class essay assignment
• TKAM: reading/questions

Monday, March 10th

• Passed out permission forms to be handed in tomorrow
• Important in-class assignment to be done in class tomorrow (you will have to complete it at lunch if you miss)
• In-class group essay analysis -- worth marks

Thursday, March 6

• Reading
• passed back TKAM learning station packages
• passed back "Sex in the Media" assignments
• TKAM impromptu test Ch.1&2
• Copied questions from overhead for "My Body"
• Read/viewed comic strip -- questions should be completed for homework

Pop Quiz

There will be a short "pop quiz" tomorrow on the first two chapters of TKAM (must know information about characters).

Good luck!

Tuesdsay, March 4th

• Library: TKAM learning stations (handed in at the end of class)

Monday, March 3

• Passed back "Thank-you letters"


• In library for Day #1 of TKAM learning stations


• Go directly to the library tomorrow.

Feb.29th, 2008

• TKAM introductory "shoe" activity
• Brainstorming in writing portfolios about your 'shoe'
• Copied questions for shoe activity -- worked on them
• We will look at this later during our unit on short stories -- you will be asked to write a short story about your shoe & its owner.
• Handed back Essay in-class assignments (corrected most of the assignment together).

Have a great weekend!

Feb.28th

• Free Writing (Writing Portfolio)
• Answered questions (homework) -- discussion
• Passed out To Kill A Mockingbird
• Sex in the Media assignment -- due tomorrow!
• Passed out reading schedule& questions

Tue. Feb 26th, 2008

• Homework check : outline
• Discussed "My Body is My Own Business"
• Answered questions for above
• Handed out rubric for "Sex in the Media" assignment (now due Friday)
• Read 5 paragraph essay -- constructed outline
• Assigned more questions for above essay pg.51 Sightlines

Monday, Feb.25

• Ind. Reading
• Passed back "All About Me" Autobiography
• Passed out 5 paragraph essay & outline "Commercialization of Christmas"
• Passed out 5 paragraph essay on "movies" complete outline for homework.
• "Sex in the Media" assignment due: Thursday, Feb.28th

Friday, Feb.22

• Reading
• Read "My Body is My Own Business" aloud
• Discussed the Islamic religion
• Copied and worked on questions (homework)
• Copied notes "Non-fiction"
• New assignment: "Using Sex as a Selling Tool in advertisments" due: Thursday, Feb.28th

Feb.21, 2008

• Reading
• Corrected both sheets
• discussion

Feb.20th, 2008

• Free Write (Writing Portfolio)
• Notes on "Thesis Statements"
• Passed out sheets (2) topic sentences/supporting sentences (homework)
• Passed in "Thank-you letters"

Tue.Feb.19th

I was out at a workshop yesterday (the 19th); I hope everything went well in class.

• In-class assignment "Characteristics of Essays"
• Good copy of thank-you letter is due Wed.

Mon. Feb. 18th

• Pre-reading questions in notebooks
• Intro to "Rick Hansen: Man in Motion"
• Read above memoir aloud
• Copied and worked on questions (overhead) & journal entry
• Checked rough copy draft for "Thank-you letter" -- Good copy due: Wednesday

Friday, Feb.15th

• Reading (newspaper)
• Reading Response
• Thank-you letter to influential person in your life. Rough copy is due Monday. Do not worry about the format for the rough copy. Must be in proper format for the good copy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone has the chance to spend some time with their loved ones this evening!

• Finished watching the movie "My Left Foot"


• Writing Portfolio: "My Left Foot" chart -- challenges & how Christy overcame them
• Journal Entry #1 -- "My Left Foot"

For a bank mark

• Research the history behind Valentine's Day. Write me a few lines explaining how "Valentine's Day" came about. Pass into me at the beginning of class tomorrow for a bank mark.

Feb.13, 2008

• 45 minute class due to weather
• Continued watching "My Left Foot"

Tue. Feb 12

• Passed in "All About Me Autobiography"
• Homework check "My Left Foot"
• Corrected questions together -- "My Left Foot"
• Began to watch movie "My Left Foot"

Welcome Eng 421A 2008!

Hello all,

As this is my first post of the semester, I will have to post a brief update of what we have accomplished thus far. I hope everyone is enjoying their "storm day"!

Wednesday, Feb. 6th

• Icebreaker activity
• Course outline
• Expectations/rules
• Types of Essays notes
• "All About Me" assignment due: Monday (now Tuesday, Feb. 12)

Thursday, Feb.7th (shortened class due to exam review)

• Went over last days notes
• Passed out textbooks Sightlines (unfortunately not everyone has their own text...yet!)

Friday, Feb.8th

• Pre-reading activity (overhead) "memoir"
• Talked about our preconceptions about "intelligence" -- judging people on first impressions/physical disabilities.
• Read aloud "My Left Foot" Sightlines pg.71
• Discussion
• Copied questions from overhead -- worked on for the rest of class -- due Monday.