MOCK EXAM WORKSHOPBlock B

In general… The mock exam is a learning experience

It lets you see how timing is really important

Take the comments we have given you and use these to improve on November 5th

We wrote a lot of comments! Don’t let this intimidate you. We want you to learn from this experience.

In general… Higher level papers have more

sophisticated use of language, quote integration, and ideas.

It is possible that you hit all of the main points and don’t get a 6. Your style of writing is important too!

Stand alone -- positives Most people included the title, author

and prompt

Most people used quotes to support their points

Most people successfully discussed the jump as a metaphor for making important decisions

Stand alone -- ways to improve Answer the prompt in your introduction

Instead of: In the poem “Prelude to Jumping in the River” by Katia

Grubisic, the jump acts as a metaphor for making important decisions.

Try: The jump in the poem, “Prelude to Jumping in the River” by

Katia Grubisic, represents the many important steps in making an important decision such as the mental preparation, the decision itself, and the aftermath of that decision.

Stand alone – ways to improve Stay focused on the prompt

Read the text carefully Many of you misread the ending

Use proper quote integration techniques

Use only one paragraph Watch your time here!

Synthesis -- positives Everyone used a point by point

comparison style

Most people used quotes as proof

Most people had a full developed essay Intro, body paragraphs, conclusion

Most people cited their quotes

Synthesis – ways to improve Answer the prompt in your introduction

Keep the prompt in mind as you write Some of you got off topic!

Use proper quote integration techniques

Develop your points Details!

Work on developing a stronger conclusion

Original Comp -- positives Great ideas!

Original stories – very creative!

Many people wrote narratives

Everyone was on topic

Original Comp – ways to improve Write a narrative (tell a story)

It is hard to score above a 4 with an expository essay

Write correctly Many of you had run-on-sentences and sentence fragments!

Use sentence starters Don’t always start with a subject – ex. I

Show vs. tell Describe what is happening rather than just telling

Re-Writes If you would like to re-write a section of the

exam, I will give you time in class next class.

You will not be re-writing the exact same piece.

You will be offered a new selection to write about.

I would suggest starting with the section where you need to improve the most.

PROVINCIAL EXAM TIPS

Yes, you should take notes!

Poetry tips Reread the poem Examine the multiple choice questions TPCASTT Read the poem out loud – whisper read Annotate the poem; think with your pen Focus on the beginning and end of the

poem Examine the title of the poem Focus on what you do know Consider doing poetry section last

Poetry Tone – “High School Senior” Contrast – “Summer in Yakima Valley” Metaphor – “Prelude to Jumping…” Symbolism – “Birthday Present From…” Theme – “Railway Club Blues” Irony – “Ordinary Life”

Oftentimes deals with nature See if you can tie to theme

Tone Attitude Feeling Adjectives are essential - nostalgic Avoid re-telling of plot Avoid happy, mad, sad, glad E.g. “Basement Stairs,” “High School

Senior” and “Quarry Pigeon Cove”

Contrast Can be done in two paras Equal time Look for shift in poem:

yet, but, and Stanza break, line break, white space

E.g. “Summer in the Yakima Valley”

Symbolism & Metaphor

X = Y Need to explain both sides of equation Need multiple examples

E.g. “Birthday Present from First Born”“Wordsmith”

Theme Look at end of poem Examine the title If a character learned something, you

should too Should be stated in subject verb format Difference between lyric and didactic

poetry themes

E.g. “Railway Club Blues”

More than one topic MUST deal with both prompts Not necessarily equal but cannot be one

sentence either Generally the second topic is theme (see

theme page for details)

E.g. “Crab” (imagery and attitude)“Quarter Horse Colts” (imagery and

theme)

Writing Tips Author, title and prompt in topic

sentence “title of poem” “speaker” not narrator Don’t confuse author/poet with speaker “~~~~~~” (l. 14). “~~~~~[changed text]~~~~” (l.14). “~~~~~/~~~~~~/~~~~~” (l. 14-16). Be sure you have a concluding sentence

Irony There will be a lot of irony – not just

one or two examples of it. Explain why it is ironic. Be sure to use APE here. Examine why the poet is using

irony…what is its effect.

E.g. “Ordinary Life”

Synthesis tips Read the prompt first Mark up the texts Read the texts multiple times. You have

the time to do this! Use it. Check bibliography on last page for citing Select quotes carefully and avoid over or

under quoting Integration of quotes is a higher level skill Be sure to answer the prompt

Synthesis Writing Tips Title, author, and prompt in introduction “Title” or Title – check the reference page “narrator” Do not confuse author with narrator “~~~~~~~” (para. 2). “~~~~~ [changed text]~~~” (para, 2). “~~~~~…~~~~” (para. 2). Vary quote integration; limit full sentence

quotes

Possible Synthesis topics

•Compare and contrast most grade 10 topics

•Who is more / less X Be-ers and Doers vs. Most Powerful

•How would x respond to y Hap vs. Andy Warhol

•What qualities do they share? Blindly vs. Versabraille

•Assess… (to what extent) Circus in Town vs. Happyness

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•Answer the prompt in the intro and use the body paragraphs to answer the question “why”.

•Give as much evidence from the texts as possible.

•Use synthesis words between stories to smooth information

Original Composition The markers want to see what you have

learned in 12 years of education. This is your time to show off. Consider doing this section first so fatigue isn’t a factor.

This section should NOT be completed in less than an hour.

I strongly advise you edit and proofread this section carefully.

Original Composition - Avoid “In this paper I will…” “It is very interesting / important / unique because…” “As you can see…”; “So you can see I have proven…” “It was a dark and stormy night…” “And then I woke up…” happy, mad, sad, glad, bad and other bad diction Dialogue punctuated incorrectly or over done Vulgar language or content “And then…” structure that ends in too much plot Long boring narratives Cliches Poorly done parodies

Original Composition - Do Have an interesting opening line Answer the prompt fully Try to illicit an emotional response Focus on something small and do it well Go over 300 words Show off. It is about content AND style. Remember your audience. The marker

will not be impressed that you wrote from a male perspective if they have no idea you are female. And, they can usually spot fabrications.

The difference between a 5 & 6IS STYLE… most students write persuasively –

maybe try something different or a combination of styles. Narratives work well.

sentence variety sentence starters: noun, -ly ending, -ing

ending, subordinate conj., try using similes, metaphors, irony,

foreshadowing, flashbacks, personification

Past Topics The best gifts are the simplest ones Role models influence our lives Experiences shape relationships We learn most from those closest to us Memories influence our lives

Past Topics Continued Our views of the past change as we

mature Self awareness leads to meaningful

change Certain events change our impressions

of life