English FINAL EXAM

The final exam for Dr. Nohrden’s English 8 classes will likely cover the following areas:

Poetry:

You will be tested on general understanding of poetry. This includes knowing the following terms:

verse

stanza

quatrain

triplet

cinquain

rhyme and rhyme schemes

meter

iambic pentameter

sonnet

haiku

tanka

ballad

villanelle

free verse

You should also know the difference between various poetic devices, including, but not limited to, metaphor, simile, apostrophe, and personification. You should also be ready to write a short essay about a poem and to explicate it.

Novel Study:

You should understand how a novel is created, including the development of conflict, setting, theme, point of view, and especially characterization.

Shakespeare:

You should understand how Shakespeare created his plays with an emphasis on tragedy and plot development. Just as important, you must understand the differences in the characters as shown by Othello and how they contribute to the conflict and how theyrelate to characters in other stories. Review the play at home and be familiar with various parts of the play, the names of the characters, and various aspects of setting, theme, plot, point of view, and characterization. Be ready to write about Othello.

Writing Techniques:

By the time of the final exam, we will have learned and practiced thesis-based writing. You should be certain that you understand how to create a thesis, the mechanics of essay writing, the importance of a thesis statement and other elements of an essay (such as a dynamic opener or “hook”). You will also be required to know how to reduce the excessive number of linking verbs (helping verbs) and to include imagery in your writing.

Debate:

You should be to understand the value of debate and to be able to write convincingly about both sides of a controversial topic based upon your own research.

EXTREMELY HELPFUL STUDY HINT: Review all prior tests and quizzes. This will help you become familiar with what you don’t know. Also, go over prior writing assignments and read the teacher’s notes. This can be particularly enlightening if you are making the same mistakes from assignment to assignment.