End of Course Exams
...they're just days away.
THE WRITING EXAM = MONDAY, APRIL 1st
THE EXPOSITORY ESSAY
- only 26 lines to write on
- purpose is to inform or explain
- non-fiction writing
- use a bubble map, plus/delta chart, venn diagram or rough outline to brainstorm
- remember to never sit on the fence
- has 3 body paragraphs (intro, body, conclusion)
- you need a hook
- must have a THESIS
- includes a specific real world example
VERSUS THE LITERARY ESSAY
- only 26 lines to write on
- purpose is to entertain (you're writing a story after all)
- fiction writing
- use a plot triangle to brainstorm
- you can write in 1st or 3rd person
- ...you can have 3 paragraphs, or not-- I'll leave it up to you
- must have believable characters and an interesting plot
- use dialogue (make your characters talk)
- you need a hook
- remember to use figurative language!
- you need a resolution
For the writing exam...
Students will have FOUR hours, yes just four hours, to...
- write three essays
- they will have to write one Expository, and one Literary Essay-- and then they will have to write one more (it could be either Expository OR Literary) that will be selected by the State and will be used as a Field Test, or in other words will not count towards their score.
-It's so important that students finish all three essays, because there will be no indication which essay will be counted as the Field Test. - answer approximately 30-40 multiple choice questions
-the questions will be about grammar and revision, and students will be given options to correct the phrase(s) in the question stem.
THE READING EXAM = TUESDAY, APRIL 2nd
MULTIPLE CHOICE:
- approximately 70 multiple choice questions
- over several reading selections
- similar to the types of questions seen on tests throughout our school year
- will be geared toward making inferences about the text
-- as opposed to being merely comprehension
SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES
- students only have 10 lines to write their responses
- anything outside those lines will not be counted-- cannot double line
- must include textual evidence (specific quote from the text) to support their claim
- commentary is the most important part of the short answer-- can the student explain why their quote proves their claim?
In class we've been working on using the acronym "APE" to help remember the steps:
A = ANSWER (what's your answer or claim?)
P = PROOF (what proof from the text can you find to back up or support your idea?)
E = EXPLAIN (so what? why is this important, what does it prove, or what's the
significance?)
FOR THE READING EXAM...
Students will again only have four hours to...
- read several "short" selections of text
- answer multiple choice questions about each selection
- write three short answer responses about the text selections
STUDENTS CAN USE A DICTIONARY & THESAURUS WHENEVER THEY WANT DURING THE TEST
For more information please visit
Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns...
Email: samullins@burlesonisd.net
Website: fc.burlesonisd.net/~samullins
Location: Burleson Centennial High School, 201 South Hurst Road, Burleson, TX
Phone: (817) 245-0250