FINAL EXAM--TUESDAY, MAY 27, 0900-1100

            In order to do your best on the semester exam, you will need to prepare yourself thoroughly. This review sheet should aid you in your preparation.

Getting Started

      Make a plan! You should prepare to devote approximately 8 hours of study for the English exam (4:1 ratio of preparation to performance). You will need to secure the following in order to begin your review:

      *  A quiet, comfortable space free from distractions. NOTE: T.V. and loud music are significant distractions.

      * Appropriate texts (as noted below)

          * All quizzes and tests

          * Corrected papers (consider the topics)

           * Class notes

Major Themes

Moral, spiritual and intellectual devlopment.
    How do characters achieve moral, spiritual and intellectual growth?  How do they prepare to assume their place as responsible contributing adults in society?  What factors influence positive development?  What factors influence negative development?

Father/Son relationships.

    How do fathers influence the development of their sons (in both positive and negative ways)?  What are some successful strategies employed by fathers in the works we have studied?  What are some unsuccessful strategies?

Sibling relationships

    How do relationships with siblings help define characters?  What effect do these sibling relationhips have on characters?

First Steps

         Organize the above material into distinct areas along the following lines:

    Poetry: Review the poetry from third quarter.  Review the tools for poetic analysis.  Review the form of the Shakespearean sonnet.  These materials can be found on the third quarter assignment sheets.

    Literature:  The following texts will be included on the exam.  Make sure you are familiar with the major characters in these works.  Spend time reviewing the works scanning for particularly significant passages.

    A River Runs Through It (MacClean)
    Fences (Wilson)
    The Catcher in the Rye (Salinger)
    The Lord of the Flies (Golding)

         Be sure you have completed, collected and collated the review questions/sheets.

         Review the various material, test and quiz questions, notes, essay topics, etc. Read over all of these.

         Be sure that you understand and can answer all of the quiz and test questions.

         Spread your studying time out over several days. Cramming an entire semester into one night is counterproductive.

Write down any unanswered questions and bring them to class for discussion

Each review day is as only good as you make it: come to class ready to speak, ask, comment, and discuss--we are here to help you so ask for help.

Taking the Exam

Get a good night's sleep prior to the exam.

Work carefully, quickly and confidently. If you think you have the right answer, you probably do.