3rd Essay Prompt

Prompt 2008 Form B

This essay scored a/an… Turn to your Buddy What score would you have given this essay? Why? This essay scored a/an… *Here’s why:

Look at your own essay Let’s look at a sample… On your essay: Based on the scoring rubric provided by the College Board, what would you have scored your own essay? What score did you receive? What could you have done differently to increase your score on this essay? What did you do well on this essay? Let’s look at a sample…

The 3rd Essay This prompt is called a Free-Response question There are many different directions this prompt could take you The prompt typically consists of a provocative style question designed to encourage you to think about the “big picture” concepts of novels and plays You are allowed to choose any title of literary merit The readers look for: Literary insight Awareness of character Comprehension of theme Ability to transfer specific ideas and details to a universal concept A well-organized essay written in a mature voice The essay should: Indicate your ability to choose appropriate illustrations from a full-length work and connect them in a thoughtful way

Past Prompts The journey as a major force in a work What happens to a dream deferred? Transformation (literal/figurative) Descent into madness/hell Ironic reversal in character’s beliefs/actions Perception and reality A child becomes a force to reveal Ceremony or ritual plays an important role The role of the fool, comic character, or wise servant who reveals… Mysterious person Etc.

Things to Think About. . . Be sure you know the novel/play you selected in detail: the author’s name the full title of the work of literature character names Underline titles of novels and plays. Watch out for plot summary—remember to make a claim and then explain/analyze and prove it with evidence— paraphrased—from text. Remember, literary lenses and Foster’s ideas help to unlock the work of literature, but the author does not apply them— you as a reader does. Your analysis should focus on what the author does in his/her work of literature.

Things to Think About Be definitive—your job is to persuade me. Avoid wording like “may mean” or “could suggest”—either it does or it doesn’t—and then explain in detail. Watch summarizing evidence—summarizing too much leads to plot summary. Be specific in what you are using as evidence and then remember to cite it. Be careful in your selection of literary elements. Avoid things you need text evidence to prove—like diction, syntax, etc. Using themes to prove themes is awkward.

Prompt 2009 Form B

Look at your own essay Let’s look at a sample… On your essay: Based on the scoring rubric provided by the College Board, what would you have scored your own essay? What score did you receive? What could you have done differently to increase your score on this essay? What did you do well on this essay? Let’s look at a sample…

This essay scored a/an… Turn to your Buddy What score would you have given this essay? Why? This essay scored a/an… *Here’s why:

Next Steps Keep reviewing titles of books of literary merit. Note that the open response prompts ask for plays or novels, not poems or short stories. Note that you need to know specifics—author, title, character names, themes, symbols, main events Be sure you have actually read the work of literature you are talking about!!

Re-Do Opportunity Choose one of your three essays. Choose a different prompt. Re-write the essay. Time yourself—about 40 minutes. Staple the new essay to the old one and turn it in by May 4.

Prompt 2011 Form B

Look at your own essay Let’s look at a sample… On your essay: Based on the scoring rubric provided by the College Board, what would you have scored your own essay? What score did you receive? What could you have done differently to increase your score on this essay? What did you do well on this essay? Let’s look at a sample…

This essay scored a/an… Turn to your Buddy What score would you have given this essay? Why? This essay scored a/an… *Here’s why:

The 3rd Essay This prompt is called a Free-Response question There are many different directions this prompt could take you The prompt typically consists of a provocative style question designed to encourage you to think about the “big picture” concepts of novels and plays You are allowed to choose any title of literary merit The readers look for: Literary insight Awareness of character Comprehension of theme Ability to transfer specific ideas and details to a universal concept A well-organized essay written in a mature voice The essay should: Indicate your ability to choose appropriate illustrations from a full-length work and connect them in a thoughtful way

Past Prompts The journey as a major force in a work What happens to a dream deferred? Transformation (literal/figurative) Descent into madness/hell Ironic reversal in character’s beliefs/actions Perception and reality A child becomes a force to reveal Ceremony or ritual plays an important role The role of the fool, comic character, or wise servant who reveals… Etc.

Planning In your RJ, make a list of all of the novels you have read and are familiar with (Note: just because you read it doesn’t mean you are familiar enough with it to use it for this essay) Under each title, list any big ideas/concepts/themes that are associated with that title. Use novels AND plays Try to remember author and character names along with setting and time period. Continue to build this list over the next couple of weeks – we will combine our lists together as the test nears!

Planning In your RJ, make a list of all of the novels you have read and are familiar with (Note: just because you read it doesn’t mean you are familiar enough with it to use it for this essay) Under each title, list any big ideas/concepts/themes that are associated with that title. Use novels AND plays Try to remember author and character names along with setting and time period. Continue to build this list over the next couple of weeks – we will combine our lists together as the test nears!