ENG 241: American Literature Survey IIPreparation for Examination #1

Your first hour examination, as explained in our syllabus and policy statement distributed on day one and available at our course website, consists of both short answer and essay questions. The examination is worth 200 points, or 20% of the course grade. An explanation of the examination's format follows.

For the matching portion of the examination, you will place the letter of the alphabet corresponding to the correct story or novella title in the blank preceding the item. Since we read only five short stories, two novellas [Daisy Miller and The Awakening], and excerpts from one novel [Sister Carrie], all titles will appear as the correct answer to more than one question. The author biographies, essays, and other supporting materials will not be covered in this portion of the examination. Of course, I will not include character names in any of the story quotations, for that information would give each answer away. Here are a few sample questions and the matching key that will be distributed at the examination:

Section I: 25 Matching [2 points each = 50 points].

Place the letter of the alphabet corresponding to the correct story title in the blank preceding each item. Please print in capital letters when you supply your answers to avoid the confusion that sometimes results from presentation of lower case cursive handwriting. The stories are presented in alphabetical order and assigned a letter of the alphabet below.

A / The Awakening by Kate Chopin
B / Daisy Miller by Henry James
C / "Editha" by W.D. Howells
D / Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane
E / "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain
F / "The Other Two" by Edith Wharton
G / “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton
H / Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser

Here are two sample questions; use the key to select the correct answers:

1. _____She leaned over and kissed him—a soft, cool, delicate kiss, whose voluptuous sting penetrated his whole being—then she moved away from him.

2. _____”She doesn’t want to know me!” she said suddenly. “Why don’t you say so? You needn’t be afraid. I’m not afraid!” And she gave a little laugh.

Section II: Two Short Essays [70 points each = 140 Points].

As I explained in class last Thursday, the questions appear below exactly as they will appear on the examination, and you will be able to consult your textbook while writing your responses. Consider the topics below, and prepare your responses before you come to class on Thursday. You are required to bring to class a double-spaced, typed page [one inch margins on all four sides of the page] containing your thesis statement and an outline of your short essay. The outline may include the topic sentence for each body paragraph and lists of examples that you intend to use while completing the in-class essay. You will submit your two preparation pages with your examination. I will evaluate your preparation and each preparation page will earn a maximum of 10 points for a total of 20 possible points.

Of course, in your responses you will use MLA documentation style when presenting quotations from the text that you have chosen.

Short Essay #1. Define realism by writing a discussion of ONE of the following stories, being sure to use specific details from the story as well as supporting quotes and ideas from class lectures, handouts, and the short essays on realism in our textbook. The relevant essays, of course, are From "Novel-Writing and Novel-Reading: An Impersonal Explanation" by W.D. Howells [905-907] and From "The Art of Fiction" by Henry James [908-910].

A. Daisy Miller

B. "Editha"

C. "The Other Two"

D. “Roman Fever”

Short Essay #2. Define naturalism by writing a discussion of ONE of the following stories, being sure to use specific details from the story as well as supporting quotes and ideas from class lectures, handouts, and the short essays on naturalism in our textbook. The relevant essays, of course, are "True Art Speaks Plainly" by Theodore Dreiser [916-917] and "A Plea for Romantic Fiction" by Frank Norris [913-916].

A. Chapters I and III of Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser

B. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane

C. The Awakening by Kate Chopin