Regents Study Guide

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ENGLISH REGENTS EXAMINATION

STUDY GUIDE

Who:

You

What:

The ELA Regents

Where:

The NYC iSchool

When: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 @ 9:15

Why:

To graduate high school!

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**PARTS OF THE EXAM*:**

Part 1:

Listening

Part 2:

Reading Comprehension

Part 3:

Controlling Idea Paragraph +

Figurative Language Paragraph

Part 4:

Critical Lens Essay

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PART 1:

Listening

Overview of the section: Someone will read a passage aloud to you twice. During the first reading, you will take notes on what you hear. After the first reading, you will be allowed to look at the multiple- choice questions. During the second reading, you will listen for the answers to the multiple-choice questions and take even more notes.

Structure Your Notes Like This:  Who

 What  Where  When  Why  How

Listening Section Strategies:

1. Make sure you can hear the reader

2. Tell the reader if he/she is reading too fast or too slow 3. Tell the reader if you can’t understand his/her accent

Multiple Choice Strategies:

1. Process of Elimination: Eliminate all obviously wrong choices and make an educated guess. 2. Context Clues: Use clues from the questions and your notes to choose the best answer

3. Circumlocution: Substitute a word that you know for a word that you don’t know to help answer the questions.

4. Re-read the questions: Read the questions and answers as many times as necessary to understand what the question is asking you.

5. Chunking: Read the questions in small chunks to help you understand what the question is asking you.

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PART 2: Reading Comprehension

Overview of the Section: You will be given two passages to read. You will then answer multiple choice questions.

Reading Comprehension Strategies:

1. Context Clues: Use clues from the passage to help your understanding

2. Circumlocution: Substitute a word that you know for a word that you don’t know to help understand the passage.

3. Re-read the passage: Read the passage as many times as necessary to gain understanding.

4. Chunking: Read the passage s in small chunks to help you understand what the question is asking you. 5: Take Notes: Take notes in the margins on topics that you think are important.

6: Read the Questions First: Read the questions before you read the passage so you can pay careful attention to the text.

7. Underline or Circle: Underline or circle keywords.

Multiple Choice Strategies:

1. Process of Elimination: Eliminate all obviously wrong choices and make an educated guess. 2. Context Clues: Use clues from the questions and your notes to choose the best answer

3. Circumlocution: Substitute a word that you know for a word that you don’t know to help answer the questions.

4. Re-read the questions: Read the questions and answers as many times as necessary to understand what the question is asking you.

5. Chunking: Read the questions in small chunks to help you understand what the question is asking you.

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PART 3: Writing Paragraphs

Overview of the Section: You will be given 2 passages to read: an excerpt from a short story and a poem. You will then answer multiple-choice questions and write the controlling idea paragraph and the literary element/technique paragraph.

CONTROLLING IDEA PARAGRAPH

Step 1: Topic

Sentence  In passage 1 by ___________________________ (name of author) and passage 2 by _________________________________ (name of author) both passages establish a controlling idea of ___________________________ (get controlling idea from directions)

Step 2: Define the

Controlling Idea  _______________________________ (controlling idea) can be defined as….  _______________________________ (controlling idea) is…

Step 3: Example

from passage 1  In passage 1, the author states ...(whatever quote). This quote means that… Step 4: Example

from passage 2  Similarly in passage 2, the author mentions…(whatever quote). This quote demonstrates. Step 5: Concluding

Sentence: Connect both of these examples to the controlling idea.

 These examples show how the authors developed their passages centered on the controlling idea of __________________________ (controlling idea).

 Both passages show how the controlling idea of _______________________ is developed.

LITERARY ELEMENT/TECHNIQUE PARAGRAPH

Step 1: Topic

Sentence  In passage 1 or 2 by ___________________________ (name of author) uses ______________________________________ (literary element or technique) to develop the passage

Step 2: Define literary

element/technique.

 _____________________________________ (literary element or technique) can be defined as…

Step 3: 1 example of literary

element/technique from the passage

 The author states _________________________ (whatever quote). Explain how this quote is an example of the literary element or technique.

Step 4: Another literary

element/technique from the passage

 Another example of _______________________ (literary element/technique) is… (quote). Explain how this is an example of the literary element or technique.

Step 5: Concluding

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LITERARY ELEMENTS/TECHNIQUES

You will write about the following literary elements/techniques in your Literary Element/Technique paragraph (part 3) and your critical lens essay (part 4).

Device/Technique Definition Purpose Characterization The various means an author uses to describe

and develop characters (direct/indirect) To add interest to a text and entertain a reader Conflict A confrontation or struggle between opposing

forces

Ex. (Man v. Man ; Man v. Self ; Man v. Nature ; Man v. Society)

To add interest to a text and entertain a reader

Figurative Language Descriptions that associate or compare distinct things

Ex. simile ; metaphor ; alliteration ; personification ; hyperbole)

To add interest and entertain a reader

Flashback a scene that interrupts the present action to

depict some earlier event To add interest and entertain a reader Foreshadowing An author’s use of hints or clues to suggest

events that will occur later in a story To add interest and entertain a reader Imagery The use of language to convey a visual picture

or represent a sensory experience. To add interest and entertain a reader Irony A contradiction between what is expected (or

what appears to be) and what actually happens

Plot The sequence of events in a literary work exposition –rising action –climax –falling action -resolution

Point of View The perspective from which a narrative is told

– Ex. first-person “I” ; third-person (omniscient/limited)

Setting The time and place of the action in a literary

work To add interest and entertain a reader Symbolism Anything that stands for or represents

something else To add interest and entertain a reader Theme The central messages revealed through a

literary work To add interest and entertain a reader Tone The writer’s attitude toward his or her

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PART 4: CRITICAL LENS ESSAY

Overview of the section: You will write a 4 paragraph essay (Introduction, 2 body paragraphs and conclusion) based on your interpretation of the provided critical lens (quote). You will support your interpretation of the quote using two different works of literature and 2 different literary

elements/techniques.

INTRODUCTION:

Step Sample language to Use (Sentence Starters) C

Copy Quote

 Name of author once said…

 According to name of author… I

Interpret Quote

 This quote means that…

 This quote suggests that…

 In other words… A

Agree with Quote

 This quote is true in both literature and life.

 From my own experiences and exposure to literature, I have come to agree with this statement.

 This statement is true because… T

Thesis Statement

 Both (title of literary work 1) by (author of literary work 1) and (title of literary work 2) by (author of literary work 2) support the idea that….(refer back to your interpretation for the rest)

BODY PARAGRAPHS 1 & 2: (Choose 2 literary works and 2 DIFFERENT literary elements!) Step Sample Language to Use (Sentence Starters)

1. Topic Sentence  The novel name of literary work by author demonstrates that… (connect to your interpretation of the quote)

 In the novel name of literary work by author shows that… (connect to your interpretation of the quote)

2. Transition to Literary

Element  One way this work proves this point is through One way this work shows the meaning of the quote is through pick literary element .pick literary element.

 Name of literary work demonstrates this meaning is through the use of pick literary element.

3. Define Literary Element  Literary element is defined as….

 Literary element is… Step 4: Connect Lens and

Literary Element: Provide and explain TWO examples from the novel that support the quote using the literary device you have selected.

 For example …

 In addition to…

 Additionally….

Step 5: Concluding Sentence  As shown through literary element in name of literary work...(relate back to your interpretation)

CONCLUSION

Restate and agree with the quote  Author accurately said…

 Author truthfully stated…

Summarize main points  Author 2 in name of literary work 2 and Author 1 in name of literary work 1 used

literary elements to demonstrate that…. (meaning of quote)

Restate interpretation  Ultimately…(restate meaning of quote using slightly different words)