ENGLISH 2 SEMESTER EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Semester 2, 2011-2012
Mr. Fleming
To prepare for the final exam, study the following:
LITERATURE:
Know the events, characters, authors (and when they lived and their country of origin), and the themes of the following works we have read:
The Tragedy of Macbeth – William Shakespeare (20 questions)
“An Outpost of Progress” – Joseph Conrad (on English 2 page) ( 6 questions)
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini (20 questions)
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe (20 questions)
LITERARY TERMS and miscellaneous terminology (19 questions)
Metaphor
Plot
Context
Simile
Irony
Motif
Conflict
Theme
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Mood
Exposition
Allusion
Imagery
Monologue
Paradox
Symbol
Tone
Voice
Action
Soliloquy
SCHOOLS OF LITERARY CRITICISM ( 2 questions)
Psychological criticism: know the difference between the ideas of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
Know where and how “magical realism” was born as a literary movement.
GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION (13 questions)
· Sentence fragments
· Run-on sentences
· Using commas, semicolons
· Usage (homophones): loose/lose; its/it’s; affect/effect; there/their/they’re; chose/choose
A STUDY SUGGESTION: Start your studying early. Make flash cards. Do a little review each day so you will not be overwhelmed when you have a great amount of material to cover at the last minute. If you do a little review every day over a long period (rather than cram the last minute), the task of finals will not be a stressful experience. It should reveal to you how much you have learned and make you feel proud of your accomplishments.
THE FORMAT OF THE EXAM:
Part #1: Literature Section: 100 questions; 100 points.
All Multiple Choice
Part #2: Writing an in-class essay: 50 points
The essay prompts with instructions for completing will be given separately.
Students may not leave early and the testing period MUST BE TOTALLY SILENT UNTIL EVERYONE IS FINISHED.
English 2 Semester Exam: Essay Prompts and Instructions
Semester 2, 2011-2012
Mr. Fleming
A number of literary works read this year involve an individual’s struggle toward understanding and awareness. Read the prompts below and select one on which to write a complete response consisting of an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Develop a well thought-out, insightful response.
The paper has no specific page requirement; however you are expected to write a detailed and analytical paper which thoroughly responds to the question of the prompt. In your paper, you need to develop your own voice and style and to adopt sophisticated modes of communicating your ideas.
You may use any of the works we have studied this year to respond to the prompt.
Lord of the Flies A Separate Peace Oedipus Rex
The Metamorphosis The Tragedy of Macbeth The Kite Runner
Things Fall Apart “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
While you will write this essay in class, you will be permitted to bring in ONE 3” by 5” INDEX CARD with quotes/an outline which you feel will help support your views.
Prompts
1. In the literature read this year, which character do you believe experiences the “greatest” growth of understanding and awareness? You should use reasons and examples to support your selection. Think of this as a compare and contrast essay. In your response, you must acknowledge other characters to which you will contrast the character you did choose.
2. “SOMETIMES WE, OURSELVES, ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY”
From the novels, stories, or plays read this year, think of a character who has been her/his own worst enemy. This character may have caused her/his own problems or continues doing something that is harmful physically or mentally. Explain HOW/WHY the character has been her/his “own worst enemy.”
3. From a piece of literature you have studied this year, think of one character who has made a decision, whether good or bad. Identify that decision and its consequences, tell how it affected that character, and provide reasons that the decision was a good one or a bad one.