Test Terminology
Central Idea
What the text is mainly about; author's purpose
The road was a ribbon of moonlight on the cold, clear night.
metaphor
What is the FIRST thing you should do when you look at a text in the MC section?
Read the title, author, and year. Try to get some context if you can. It may help!
What will you be arguing in your essay?
A YES to the topic question or a NO to the topic question.
Just one!
Infer
To come to a conclusion through evidence rather than explicit statements
I'm going to be cool as a cucumber on Tuesday when I sit down for the Regents.
Simile
What is the SECOND thing you should do when you look at a text for the MC section?
Read the questions first and highlight the lines it tells you to look at specifically.
How many texts will you read? How many texts do you need to cite from in your essay?
You'll read 4 texts. You must cite from at LEAST 3 of them.
What are the two main parts of the literary analysis essay (what must you include)?
The central idea of the piece and a writing strategy the author uses to develop the central idea.
Develop
To expand, to explain in full detail
Metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things
How do you annotate a text? (general tips)
Mark up the text by underlining important facts or concepts, taking notes in the margins, circle difficult vocabulary or unfamiliar words.
How many paragraphs should your argument be?
5 paragraphs.
How many paragraphs is the literary analysis?
3 total paragraphs (thesis, central idea, literary element)
Analyze
To examine or reveal something in detail through close examination
Connotation
Emotional associations with a word
Describe the process of elimination when narrowing down your answer.
Eliminate answer choices by putting slashes through the answer choices that could NOT be correct.
What is a counterclaim?
The other side of the argument.
What literary element can you always fall back on if you are stumped?
Setting! Every story has one and chances are, the setting develops the central idea.
Interpret
To give meaning to something, to explain the meaning
Tone
Author or speaker's attitude toward their subject
What should you do if you do NOT know the answer to a question?
skip over it and continue with the other questions--you might come to the answer in one of the other questions.
What is a refutation?
the action of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.
What is the highest level you can get on the literary analysis?
4. You must score at least a 3 to pass this essay.