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Literary Devices 1
Literary Devices 2
Grammar
Test-taking Tips
Life Advice with Ms. Lyons
100
When a prompt asks you to discuss the work as a whole, it means you need to discuss this.
What is theme?
100
The students aced their test / The teacher was mighty impressed / She ran around dancing / And singing and prancing / "AHS is surely the best!" What is the rhyme scheme of this stunning poem?
What is A, A, B, B, A
100
Name the error in the following sentence and rewrite the sentence correctly: Although it has been too cold lately, Eloise loves walking her dog outside and to go for a run on the weekend.
NOT PARALLEL! Although it has been too cold lately, Eloise loves walking her dog outside and going for a run on the weekend.
100
After you have looked at all of the background information in italics and the title of the passage, this is the next thing that you do.
What is check and see if there is an open response prompt?
100
Experts (and Ms. Lyons) recommend that you get at least this much sleep each night… particularly before the MCAS!
What is eight hours?
200
You can save money by spending it. This an example of what?
What is a paradox?
200
Identify the shift in Sarah Kay's "The Paradox": When I am inside writing, all I can think about is how I should be outside living. When I am outside living, all I can do is notice all there is to write about. When I read about love, I think I should be out loving. When I love, I think I need to read more. I am stumbling in pursuit of grace, I hunt patience with a vengeance. On the mornings when my brother's tired muscles held to the pillow, my father used to tell him For every moment you aren't playing basketball, someone else is on the court practicing. I spend most of my time wondering if I should be somewhere else. So I have learned to shape the words thank you with my first breath each morning, my last breath every night. When the last breath comes, at least I will know I was thankful for all the places I was so sure I was not supposed to be. All those places I made it to, all the loves I held, all the words I wrote. And even if it is just for one moment, I will be exactly where I am supposed to be.
What is between "if I should be somewhere else" and "So I have learned to shape the words thank you"?
200
Name the error in the following sentence and rewrite the sentence correctly: Closing her book in quiet contemplation, the student's mind wandered back to the stunning vistas she had just encountered through the gift that is literature.
DANGLING MODIFIER Closing her book in quiet contemplation, the student reflect on the stunning vistas she had just encountered through the gift that is literature.
200
This is the number of questions you should leave blank on the MCAS.
What is ZERO?
200
List three things you can do to manage stress. (The most creative/helpful answers will get the points.)
Answers will vary. Some ideas: 1. Go for a walk. 2. Play with a puppy. 3. Take a bath. 4. Exercise. 5. Write a poem. 6. Go rock climbing. 7. Clean. 8. Meditate. 9. Practice deep breathing. 10. Watch a movie. 11. Call a friend. 12. Play English Jeopardy.
300
This is the "baggage" a word carries (the meanings we associate with it).
What is connotation?
300
This is a word's "dictionary" definition (not the associations we have with it).
What is denotation?
300
Name the errors in the following sentence and rewrite the sentence correctly: Merlin bought his girlfriend Edna ten dozen petunias for their anniversary, she loved them so much that she exclaimed, "Someone did their homework! Petunias are my favorite".
Run-on! Pronoun/antecedent disagreement! Misplaced punctuation for a quote! Merlin bought his girlfriend Edna ten petunias roses for their anniversary. She loved them so much that use exclaimed, "Someone did his homework! Petunias are my favorite."
300
This is where your thesis goes.
What is the last sentence of your introduction?
300
In addition to a balanced breakfast, what are other things you need to make sure you do on test day?
What is stay hydrated (brains perform best when you are hydrated!) and dress in layers (MCAS is in A building… sometimes it can be chilly)?
400
Identify the literary device! (In addition to alliteration): In Seamus Heaney's "Digging," the speaker refers to the "squelch and slap of soggy peat."
What is imagery?
400
An excerpt from the diary of Janie Crawford (as transcribed by C. Lyons): I sat in wonder under the tree and eagerly watched the ecstatic blooms be brought to life. Oh, to be any tree in bloom! What is the tone? Explain your answer. (Best answer/explanation receives points!)
Answers will vary.
400
Name the error in the following sentence and rewrite the sentence correctly: Everyone should tell their friends that each person who comes to the Sophomore gathering will have the time of their life!
Pronoun/Antecedent disagreement! (X 2!) Everyone should tell her friends that each person who comes to the sophomore gathering will have the time of her life! (his or his/her work, too!)
400
The open response rubric tests these two things.
What are whether you clearly/completely answer the question and whether you have relevant/specific evidence?
400
This is the greatest predictor of success.
What is GRIT?
500
List and explain each of the three types of irony.
What is: 1. Situational-- what happens is the opposite of what we/the characters expect. 2. Dramatic-- we know something that a character does not (this creates drama/suspense!). 3. Verbal-- someone says the opposite of what s/he means.
500
This is the difference between satire and parody.
What is parody generally aims for a comic effect while satire often works to criticize/improve society?
500
Name the error in the following sentence and rewrite the sentence correctly: The students trusted that the teacher would be late, knowing that she oftentimes did interpretive dances in the hallways during passing time.
MISPLACED MODIFIER! Knowing that their teacher oftentimes did interpretive dances in the hallways, the students trusted that she would be late.
500
List the three main reasons this thesis makes Ms. Lyons cry (hint: there are actually 3.5 reasons): In "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Caesar's pride causes his downfall for many reasons.
What is: 1. It isn't specific. 2. It doesn't address the work as a whole. 3. The title of long works (novels, plays, albums, etc.) should be underlined when handwritten/italicized when typed… NOT IN QUOTES. 3.5 Your thesis is already tackling a multi-part prompt-- smooshing the title/author in that one sentence is unwise.
500
On test day, you should eat a moderate breakfast (not too much or too little). Your breakfast should definitely contain what food group?
What is PROTEIN? (Brains need FUEL, too!)