Final exam structure and hints

Final Exam: Dec 3^rd and 5^th

On Dec 3, you will write an in-class exam. This will be a closed-book exam. There will be 8 short answer questions worth 5 marks each, which means that each answer needs to be fairly substantial to earn a potential five marks. The exam questions will mostly be focused on the material since the mid-term (Breakfast of Champions, Adaptation, Everything is Illuminated), but some questions will ask you to make connections to previous work.

Hints for exam questions:

• One question will be from the handout of questions on Breakfast of Champions that we did in groups
• There will one question that asks you to compare the novel Everything is Illuminated with its film adaptation
• Review the major themes we have been discussing in Everything is Illuminated, as well as in the course at large. Consider also our discussion about the postmodern deflation of the status of the author

On Dec 5, you will write an in-class essay. You will see the essay topics on your exam sheet on Dec 3, but you cannot bring in outside notes. You will be permitted to use your novel only. There will be a choice of three essay questions on the novel.

Reminder for Writing a Literary Analysis Essay:

A) Introduction

1. Topic Sentence

The first sentence of your introduction should provide the name of the author, the name of the text, and the main subject of your essay. Do not write in general terms about the subject as it relates to real life.

Which one of these topic sentences is more effective? Why?

1. “In our days, it is rare that we know only one version of a certain subject.”

2. “Ann Sexton and Angela Carter’s versions of “Little Red Riding Hood” differ greatly from each other.”

Rewrite the following topic sentence to make them more effective:

1. “The two rewritings of the Little Red Riding Hood story are “Red Riding Hood” by Anne Sexton and “The Company of Wolves” by Angela Carter.”

B. Thesis statement

Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. Do not make reference to what you will write about later; this style of “announcing” your plan will give you a statement of intention, but will not give you a thesis statement.

Which of the following statements is more effective? Why?

1. “In both stories, the authors ridicule the main character and make the story ironic.”
2. “In this essay I will begin by briefly discussing the author’s representation of the main character in each story and then I will compare and contrast the two.”

Rewrite the following thesis statements to make them more effective:

1. “The central character of story can be related to postmodern concepts.”
2. “This essay will examine how the two tales are considered as postmodern literary works, and also why Sexton rewrites these two characters into her own versions of fairy tales.”
3. “In this short essay I will analyze two of Anne Sexton’s remakes: Cinderella and Rumpelstilskin. I will elaborate on what makes these fictitious stories postmodern and what the author’s goals are for rewriting these characters.

C. Sentence Structure

Comma splices

A comma splice occurs when you join two separate sentences with a comma, which is not sufficient punctuation to join two separate sentences. Join them with a connecting word or separate into two sentences.

1. Fairy tales are cautionary takes, they teach morals and a clear sense of good and evil is shown.