June 21, 2016

Exam Review

Your Novel Research Paper is due today at 4:00.

I have left feedback on your Evidence of Learning Document: Final Edition. If you would like to speak to me about your course mark, please use this form to book time with me. Or you can email if you feel that better suits you.

Today, we will begin the exam review.  I will take some time today to go over how to write a good essay-style exam answer. You can see that there is an exam question that asks you to write in an organized, methodical manner. This means that the answer is organized around a thesis statement and that there is evidence to support your thinking integrated into the answer.

Let’s consider the following prompt:

Consider one novel that you read this semester. Your character undergoes a transformation or major change in this story. Select at least three events that prove that the character in fact changes. 

Content marks or what combination of general and specific comments will give me 12 marks?

  1. 12 general points—very unlikely
  2. 6 general points, with an illustration for each point—ok
  3. 4 general points, with 2 examples or 1 lengthy illustration—better
  4. 3 general points, with at least 2 examples both with explanations—best

Plan an answer to this prompt using one of the above formulas. Be prepared to share your thinking with the class. You have 15 minutes.

Put your thinking on chart paper and share.

Finally, we will review the My Interpretation of The Joy Luck Club essay and annotate it for content and style.

Style marks:

  1. Introductory sentence/Hook                /1
  2. Sentence variety                                      /2
  3. Spelling and grammar                           /2     
  4. Word use and rhetorical use                /2
  5. Concluding sentence                              /1

Continue to review for the exam tonight, and be prepared to ask me questions about it tomorrow.