Free Response Essay #3 Question Study Guide

By: Jennifer, Malik, Tony

Literary TermsAuthors purposeDictionImageryCharacterizationSettingSymbolism

Examples of Prompts1975. Although literary critics have tended to praise

the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully. Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author’s purpose.

1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character’s villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Examples Cont. 1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in

social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader’s or audience’s views. Avoid plot summary.

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

TipsDon’t merely summarize plots Be concise and time your essaysPick books that you know the best and relate to the

prompt easily.Don’t forget to connect the literary terms to the whole

story as a whole.Stay on topic meaning don't go away from what the

prompt is specifically asking youBe careful to read carefully if they say to use two

books or one. You will not get extra points if you use two when it asks for one.

Analyze prompts

Time Management 1-3 minutes reading and understand the

prompt5 minutes to pick a book or play10 minutes to prepare(out line)20 minutes to write your essay2-3 minutes proof-read

Strategies In every book or play there is a topic being

discussed and you must find multiple example of it. Cover both the significance of the novel and all parts of the prompt.

Ex: 1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader’s or audience’s views. Avoid plot summary.

Prompt TipsThe Prompt usually offers recommendations on

what to write like but you do not have to actually write about those examples only.

Ex: 1988. Choose a distinguished novel or play in which some of the most significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Prompt Tips cont. When working the prompt, you should try to

break it down and underline key words, find synonyms anything to help you understand the essay question accurately so you can write an on topic essay.

Essay TipsAlways have your thesis statement concise and never get off

the topic of it. Always have details to back up your argument!2003, Form B. Novels and plays often depict characters

caught between colliding cultures -- national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional. Such collisions can call a character’s sense of identity into question. Select a novel or play in which a character responds to such a cultural collision. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the character’s response and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.

You should use one novel to help answer the prompt; an example would be this one from 2003. The keywords are colliding cultures and the first novel which should be fresh in our memories should be the kite runner. This could be the perfect novel to use for this essay.

Essay Tips cont.You should avoid any type of plot summary!

Act like the test grader has already read the book!

If you do, try to keep it to a one sentence maximum to help elaborate your ideas fully, be concise and remember to use the vocabulary we studied all year.

Quotes? IF you could remember any at all, they will help tremendously in this essay.

Avoid using any form of first person and remember to stay on topic and be concise.

Remember* Your time is very limited so use it wisely