English 3 Placement Exam
PLEASE COMPLETE AND EMAIL THIS TEST TO YOUR COURSE TEACHER!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to TPS English! Please have your student take this exam so we can determine which TPS English class will best meet his or her needs.
This test contains three sections: Grammar, Composition, and Literary Analysis. Please note that while all students must complete the Grammar section, they are only required to write EITHERthe Composition essay ORthe Literary Analysis essay, not both.
- If your child has registered for English 3: Foundations, he or she needs to complete the Grammar and Composition sections.
- If your child has registered for English 3: Literature Survey, he or she needs to complete the Grammar andLiterary Analysis sections.
To maintain your seat reservation, please return this test within one week of receiving it. You may print the exam to write on it; however, all answers must be typed into this document and submitted to the teacherin Microsoft Word or Libre Office file format (see instructions on Libre Office here). Please follow this format for both the file name and the email subject line: (Your last name)_Placement_(Your section number)
Example: Smith_Placement_Section1
NOTE: Your ability to accurately follow these directions does influence the decision regarding your placement. Name your file according to the standard stated above. Finally, if you have questions, please email the course teacher directly.
Thank you. We look forward to working with your family this year!
The TPS English 3 Teachers
Dear Students,
Complete the appropriate sections of this exam carefully and to the best of your ability. We will evaluate your grammar and writing skills as well as your ability to follow instructions.
Questionnaire (ALL students)
In the spaces provided, briefly answer the following questions so we know a bit about you! Your answers in this section will not affect your score.
1. What is your name (first and last)?
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2. What will your age and grade be at the start of this class?
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3. What TPS English courses have you taken or are you taking? Who were your teachers? What final grades (or current grades for current courses) did you receive?
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4. What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses in grammar?
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5. What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses in writing?
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Grammar Section (ALL students)
Clauses: In the spacesprovided, label the underlined clauses as independent or subordinate.
1. He will go to the library after school so he can renew his library books.
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2. That is not the best way to complete your homework if you want a good grade.
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3. After class is over, you should study for your test.
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4. Because she did not wake up on time for class.
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5. He wanted to do well, so he studied all afternoon.
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Parts of Speech: In the numbered spaces below, label the part of speech of the corresponding numbered word in the sample sentence as adjective, adverb, conjunction, interjection, noun, preposition, pronoun, or verb.
Yikes! The teacherassignsus essays weeklyand expects themwithpracticallyno mistakes!
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Sentence Structure Errors: In the spaces provided, identify the following sentences assentence fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences, or complete sentences.
1. I do not like malls, they are so noisy and chaotic.
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2. However, I do enjoy a good trip to the zoo where there are many animal sounds.
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3. How about the zoo in the winter?
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4. Then the animals are much quieter and I enjoy seeing them resting and unstressed.
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5. I most enjoy the giraffes with their long necks and their long legs.
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6. I wish I had an annual pass so I could go to the zoo any time that I wanted.
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7. Perhaps I will ask for such a pass for my birthday maybe we could even go to the zoo that day.
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8. My birthday is in January, it would be a perfect time to go.
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9. Do you enjoy the zoo as much as I do?
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10. If only I could go every week.
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Punctuation: Add punctuation to the following sentences to make them correct using any of the following: apostrophes, commas, colons, exclamation points, periods, question marks, quotation marks, and semicolons. Do not change the wording of the sentences, and do not split them into two or more separate sentences. There may be more than one correct way to punctuate some sentences. Choose the method you think is best.
1. Now I want to thank you for the wonderful job you did on your science presentation
2. Where the student got his idea will be revealed in tomorrows class
3. Next week it is our turn
4. What we need to do is obvious the question is how to get the supplies we need
5. Suddenly I dont know where this project is going because it has taken an unexpected turn
6. What do you make of this phrasemust be an original idea
7. Does that mean I can only come up with an idea nobody has ever thought of before
8. That will be a difficult unachievable task dont you think
9. However if we are going to do this we need to start with a purpose a plan and an objective and then we need to start raising funds
10. Although my parents wont give me money they will let me do extra chores
11. Therefore between you and me we should be able to make this work unless of course we need thousands of dollars
12. For such short notice you have a solid plan of action said Mr Stevens our teacher
13. To learn more about inventing he suggested we read two magazine articles entitled A Young Inventors Idea and Inventing Within a Budget
14. Although the two articles topics encouraged us we got our best idea from my sister
15. I will tell you but I cant share my original idea just yet you might steal it
This is the end of the Grammar Section. Continue to one of the following pages to complete the appropriate essay portion (remember not to do both).
Composition Section (English 3: Foundations studentsONLY)
Choose ONE of the prompts below and write a five-paragraph essay, paying close attention to the following rules. You will be evaluated in part by how well you follow instructions!
Start your essay on a new page below this one.
Use black Times New Roman size 12 font.
Double-space your essay and indent the beginnings of paragraphs.
Give your essay a fitting title and center it above your composition.
Underline your thesis sentence in the introduction.
Use active verbs in your writing. Do not use more than TWO “be” verbs per paragraph:am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being.
Do not use second-person voice (you, your,yourself).
Do not use first-person voice (I, me, my, mine) unless giving a personal example.
Do not begin any two sentences in the same paragraph with the same word.
Do not use contractions or parentheses.
Each paragraph should contain six-eight sentences.
Proofread your work carefully before you submit.
Prompt 1: “The biggest difference between people who succeed at any difficult undertaking and those who do not is not ability but persistence. Many extremely talented people give up when obstacles arise. After all, who wants to face failure? It is often said about highly successful people that they are just ordinary individuals who kept on trying, who did not give up. – Adapted from Tom Morris, True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence
Is persistence more important than ability in determining a person's success? Write a five-paragraph essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Prompt 2: Technological advances have freed society from tiresome labor, such as washing clothes by hand, hauling heavy loads, and walking long distances, and have given people increased access to information and entertainment. Yet, when given a choice, many people still resist using modern conveniences. There must be something gained from not using technology.
Are there benefits to be gained from avoiding the use of modern technology, even when using it would make life easier? Write a five-paragraph essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Start your essay on a new page below this one.
Literary Analysis Section (English 3: Literature Survey studentsONLY)
Click on the link below and read the following short story. Then choose ONE of the prompts below and write a five-paragraph essay, paying close attention to the following rules. You will be evaluated in part by how well you follow instructions!
LINK:
Start your essay on a new page below this one.
Use black Times New Roman size 12 font.
Double-space your essay and indent the beginnings of paragraphs.
Give your essay a fitting title and center it above your composition.
Underline your thesis sentence in the introduction.
Use active verbs in your writing. Do not use more than TWO “be” verbs per paragraph:am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being.
Do not write in first-person (I, me, my, mine) or second-person (you, your,yourself).
Do not begin any two sentences in the same paragraph with the same word, and do not begin any sentence with the articles a, an, or the.
Do not use contractions or parentheses.
Each paragraph should contain six-twelve sentences.
Incorporate quotations from the text to support your point.
Proofread your work carefully before you submit.
Prompt 1: Not every story has a clear “message” or “lesson,” but readers can glean something instructive from many stories. What is the primary lesson of "The Necklace,” and how does that lesson correspond with the teachings of the Bible? Argue your response in a five-paragraph essay usinga few quotes from the story and from your Bible to support your point.
Prompt 2: On the surface, Mathilde’s main desire in “The Necklace” is to go to a fancy party; however, readers can use Maupassant’s descriptions to determine what she really wants. What motivates Mathilde in this story, and how should Christians make decisions in contrast to Mathilde’s method? Argue your response in a five-paragraph essay usinga few quotes from the story and from your Bible to support your point.