REVISING
In his short story "Popular Mechanics," Raymond Carver uses literary elements and techniques to present a family ripped apart by competing interests.
The problem with this thesis is---
a. The family is not pulled apart in this story.
b. It should read 'the author' instead of Raymond Carver.
c. It should name two or three specific literary elements and techniques.
d. The words "ripped apart" should be placed in quotes for emphasis.
What is C?
It should name two or three specific literary elements and techniques.
This statement correctly uses punctuation.
a. “The Great Gatsby” depicts the tragedy of coming close to your dreams only to lose them.
b. The Great Gatsby depicts the tragedy of coming close to your dreams only to lose them.
c. “The Great Gatsby” depicts the tragedy of coming close to your dreams only to lose them.
d. The Great Gatsby depicts the tragedy of coming close to your dreams only to lose them.
What is d?
The Great Gatsby depicts the tragedy of coming close to your dreams only to lose them.
This is the definition of good writing.
a. Good writing uses fancy words and proper punctuation.
b. Good writing is meaningful, powerful, and clear.
c. Good writing is long, wordy, and references history.
d. Good writing is always different, always the same.
What is b?
Good writing is meaningful, powerful, and clear.
Postcolonial literary theory does this.
a. Affirms that a story is just a story. No more, no less.
b. Confirms the superiority of values that underpin a Eurocentric perspective (cold>hot, reason>emotion, science>custom), particularly in the regions that were sites to colonial rule.
c. Emphasizes the moral, spiritual, or metaphysical layers of human existence, considering the workings of this life a study for the afterlife, or divine providence.
d. Considers stories and situations, especially those from formerly colonized areas, from other perspectives, calling into question their underlying values.
What is d?
Considers stories and situations, especially those from formerly colonized areas, from other perspectives, calling into question their underlying values.
This answer balances a strong claim with specific points.
a. In “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses setting, characterization, and dialogue to make Gatsby sympathetic despite his many crimes. This creates irony at times. The sympathy comes from Carraway’s narrative point-of-view.
b. In “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Tom Buchanan to symbolize the snobbishness of the East Egg setting. By comparison, the self-made Gatsby seems sympathetic despite his underworld connections and deceit.
c. In “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby’s West Egg parties are democratic, open affairs while the characterization of Gatsby reveals that he is ambitious and hard-working. For example, his detailed childhood notebook from when he was young reveals his discipline and vision. It acts as the blueprint for the persona Gatsby creates.
What is b?
In “The Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Tom Buchanan to symbolize the snobbishness of the East Egg setting. By comparison, the self-made Gatsby seems sympathetic despite his underworld connections and deceit.
Which statement below is both true and correctly stated?
a. "One Art" is a story about loss by Elizabeth Bishop.
b. "The Great Gatsby" is a novel about ambition and deceit by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
c. Daniel Orozco's "Orientation" is a novel that satirizes conformity.
d. William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130" is a sonnet that lampoons overblown romantic language about love.
What is d?
William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130" is a poem that lampoons overblown romantic language about love.
CUPS stands for:
a. Commas, Underlines, Periods, Spelling
b. Cite, Understand, Paraphrase, State
c. Claim, Understanding, Proper wording, Sentences
d. Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling
What is d?
Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling
This acronym is a reminder of easy things to check in your writing. That's it.
Which statement below does not attest to the complexity of Raymond Carver's short story "Popular Mechanics"?
a. The description of the dark internal and external setting in the first paragraph foreshadows the darkness of the story's end.
b. The description of the setting in the first paragraph juxtaposes the atmosphere of hopefulness in early Spring with its ugly reality.
c. The parents' wish to possess the baby boy results in his harm.
d. The story's plot alludes to the judgment of Solomon, except with a far different outcome.
What is a?
The description of the dark internal and external setting in the first paragraph foreshadows the darkness of the story's end.
This statement is true, but it doesn't contribute anything to the discussion of the story's complexity, meaning layers, ambiguity, or contradictory structures.
This revision improves the flow of this passage:
Gatsby flexes his wealth through wild, lavish parties. Additionally, beneath the surface glamour lies a world of moral decay and shallow relationships.
a. To begin with, Gatsby flexes his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
b. For example, Gatsby flexes his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
c. Furthermore, beneath the surface glamour lies a world of moral decay and shallow relationships.
d. However, beneath the surface glamour lies a world of moral decay and shallow relationships.
What is d?
However, beneath the surface glamour lies a world of moral decay and shallow relationships.
This line is most correct according to CUPS (usage)
a. The Great Gatsby is a novel about a man who rose and falls for love.
b. The Great Gatsby is a novel about a man who rises and fell for love.
c. The Great Gatsby was a novel about a man who rose and falls for love.
d. The Great Gatsby is a novel about a man who rose and fell for love.
What is d?
The Great Gatsby is a novel about a man who rose and fell for love.
These are 3 revision steps:
a. Move things around, Add important details, Delete unnecessary words and phrases.
b. Check your punctuation. Check your spelling. Erase any mistakes.
c. Add more summary, Add fancier diction, Add pizazz.
d.Check capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling.
What is a?
Move things around, Add important details, Delete unnecessary words and phrases.
This is part of the subtext of "Master of All Masters."
a. People will usually do whatever their bosses ask of them, even if it makes no sense.
b. Employers create jobs, and jobs create stability and order.
c. Cats are dangerous, cursed creatures.
d. The serving girl's incompetence led to the master's house catching fire.
What is a?
People will usually do whatever their bosses ask of them, even if it makes no sense.
This sentence contains the best word choice revisions.
a. Gatsby resides in West Egg, a sanctuary for the recently rich, where he alludes to his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
b. Gatsby inhabits West Egg, a sanctuary for the recently rich, where he flexes his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
c. Gatsby resides in West Egg, a sanctuary for the recently affluent, where he boasts his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
d. Gatsby resides in West Egg, an arena for the recently rich, where he boasts his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
What is d?
Gatsby resides in West Egg, an arena for the recently rich, where he boasts his wealth through wild, lavish parties.
This line is free of CUPS (usage) errors.
a. Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway’s narration hide the darker aspects of Gatsby’s nature.
b. Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway’s narration hided the darker aspects of Gatsby’s nature.
c. Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway’s narration hides the darker aspects of Gatsby’s nature.
d. Throughout the play, Nick Carraway’s narration hides the darker aspects of Gatsby’s nature.
What is c?
Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway’s narration hides the darker aspects of Gatsby’s nature.
The folktale "Master of All Masters" does not do this.
a. Satirizes the pomposity of intellectuals.
b. Reveals the trouble that can ensue from unclear language.
c. Lampoons the unequal power dynamic of a workplace.
d. Reveals the insolence of the self-professed Master of All Masters.
What is d?
Reveals the insolence of the self-professed Master of All Masters.
Why? Because insolence is a verb that indicates a power-placement, namely, a person being rude to someone above them, not below them.
The conversational tone of Barthelme's short story "Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby" has this effect.
a. It amplifies the savagery of the characters and their actions.
b. It creates an ironic distance between the dialogue and action.
c. It draws attention to the story's central conflict, the difficulty of planning a party.
d. It echoes Colby's desperation and alienation.
What is b?
It creates an ironic distance between the dialogue and action.
Choose the best topic sentence below.
a. Light, including candles, sunsets, the electric blaze that appears to consume Gatsby's mansion, the single yellow light that illuminates Myrtle's death, and the green light that emanates from Daisy's dock, symbolizes the American Dream, visible to everyone, yet very different in intensity and effect.
b. Light, and the way it is described, is a symbol.
c. Light symbolizes the American Dream.
d. One literary technique that Fitzgerald, a talented, evocative author, uses to marvelous effect is symbolism.
What is C?
Light symbolizes the American Dream.
This line is free of CUPS (usage) errors
a. Daisy and Tom Buchanan are East Egg residents, and each embodies the hypocritical propriety of old money.
b. Daisy and Tom Buchanan are East Egg residents, and each embodied the hypocritical propriety of old money.
c. Daisy and Tom Buchanan are East Egg residents, and each embody the hypocritical propriety of old money.
d. Daisy and Tom Buchanan are East Egg residents, each embodies the hypocritical propriety of old money.
What is a?
Daisy and Tom Buchanan are East Egg residents, and each embodies the hypocritical propriety of old money.
In this literary text, the author uses literary elements and techniques to express the complexity of human experience.
a. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
b. "Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby" by Donald Barthelme
c. "Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver
d. All of the above
What's a simple
What is d?
All of the above
In Paul Bowles' short story "A Distant Episode," the Reguibat, nomadic people described as "a cloud across the face of the sun" symbolize this.
a. The Reguibat represent the forces of chaos and entropy that undermine all systems of order.
b. The Reguibat signify symbolic justice. The Professor's visit to the darkness violated both common sense and social customs. He crossed over a line.
c. The Reguibat symbolize the parallel social conventions of the other cultures. They value family, commerce, cultural identity, and view their enemies as less than human.
d. The Reguibat represent violence and the unknown, the nightmarish possibilities that flicker at the edge of our vision.
What is a, b, c, or d?
Each of these answers speaks to a symbolic meaning of the Reguibat. Therefore, each answer is a correct, if incomplete statement.