1. Don’t Panic

2.  Required: mandate from faculty across University  Goal: taking one in this class will better prepare you for taking one in the future

3.  If you’ve closely read the book & participated actively in the class activities, you are where you need to be.  You should review character names and the order of events in the novel. You should be familiar with the setting of all the events (both time and place). Also, review notes from your class presentations (group and one minute)  Bring your book and laptop to class.

4.  Your knowledge of the text and your ability to summarize & analyze the text to support a debatable interpretive thesis.  Note: I want to see you engaging with and reflecting on the text; I do not want you to merely summarize or regurgitate class discussions. I encourage you to take risks. Remember, any interpretation is valid as long as it can be supported by the text and the contexts of the work.

6. You have 60 minutes in which to write a timed essay. Half way through you start to run out of ideas. You forget about that brilliant point that you were going to make. You read through your essay and you get that horrible sick feeling that you haven’t answered the question properly.

7.  PLAN!  Take the first 10 minutes to plan your essay!  Bring a sheet of paper so you can make an outline before you start writing.

8.  NOTE: An in-class essay is the ideal time to whip out a five-paragraph essay. It keeps you focused, and it makes the task manageable.

9. Define the key words or phrases in the title. Briefly state the argument you are going to follow in the main body. Give a brief outline of what you are going to write about using the words of the title.

10.  You must avoid superficial statements  Each paragraph needs a balance of evidence and analysis.  Remember to constantly question: what do I mean? How do I know? Why should someone care? Am I making a point?

11.  Restate your argument using the words of the title.  Briefly summarise the main points again in one sentence.  Finish with a contemporary example or quote.

12.  Spend five minutes checking your answer.  If you run out of time go into note form and refer to your brainstorm.  Examiners will refer to the brainstorm or your plan if the essay is incomplete.

13. “Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear.” -Ezra Pound

14.  Three exam questions will be distributed at exactly 8:00 am on Thursday. You will pick one question to answer.  You will have 10 minutes to brainstorm/outline/free write on paper before you are allowed to open your laptop.  At 8:10 you will be allowed to open your laptop and begin writing. No use of the internet/searching is allowed.  At 9:10 you will be instructed to finish writing and submit your paper on the class website.