Nichols

English I, Semester II
Final Exam Review
DHS 2016
Second Semester Final Exam Review

Directions: The Semester Exam will be essay based. You will be allowed to use notes that you
have taken for the final.
Anything that you would like to use on the test must be turned in to me by the end of class on
May 27th (whether I am here or not) to be checked off. Please staple all papers together neatly
with all fringe edges from spiral notebooks removed. Please double check before you turn
anything in. Anything that I have not received at this time will not be allowed into the final.
The following ideas/prompts are presented to you as potential questions to choose from on your
exam. I cannot offer any more information than I have already given. Please outline/plan for your
exam appropriately. The more you prepare in advance, the more successful you will be on the
day of the test. If you do not do anything to prepare for this, you will more than likely fail this
final.
***For the purpose of the test, an essay will be defined as a well written, thoughful piece of
literary analysis of a minimum two paragraphs (4-6 sentences each). Your essays should utilize
specific, relevant examples from the text as well as explain the significance of your chosen
examples.
**Please only choose selections that we have read for class this semester.
*English I Regular: You will answer five essay questions in total. You must choose at least one
essay question from each part, the fourth and fifth essay questions may be chosen from Parts I,
II, or III.
*English I Pre-AP: You must choose at least one essay question from Parts I, III, or IV. You will
not write an essay for Part II as we did not cover this. The fourth and fifth essay question may be
chosen from Parts I, III, or IV.
Your essays will be considered on the following criteria (20 points per essay):
-Meets length requirement (minimum 2 paragraphs/ 4-6 sentences each, -5 pts each sentence
short)
-Written in complete sentences (Incomplete sentences will not be considered in your final count)
-Written in correct, grammatical English (-1 pt for every error after 3 per essay)
-Thoughful analysis and sythesis of the question presented, not a mere summary of the piece
used.
-Answers all parts of the question asked. Ignoring parts of the essay question will result in partial
credit.
Part I: Poetry: You will be expected to answer at least one of the following essay questions.

Nichols
English I, Semester II
Final Exam Review
DHS 2016
1. Choose any two poems, and in a minimum of two paragraphs, discuss the main
inspiration or realization of the selection, how that inspiration or realization came to be,
and how the speaker feels about it.
2. Several of the poems contain stanzas or lines that are very expressive. These lines or
stanzas contain striking ideas or images that leave a strong impression on the reader.
Choose any two poems that you think do this. In a paragraph or two, defend your choices
by discussing the strong impressions they leave and how they do this.
3. In many of these selections, people learn important lessons about life. Choose two
selections in which a lesson is learned. In a paragraph for each poem, tell what is learned,
by whom, and how it is learned.
Part II: Drama [Regular English I only]: You will be expected to answer at least one of the
following essay questions.
1. Characters in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet frequently choose to practice deception
rather than to tell the truth. Choose any one occasion in this play where you think telling
the truth might have had more positive results and explain why this might have been the
case.
2. In many of the selections within Unit 4, characters make choices that, for good or bad,
affect their lives. In turn, characters are influenced by the decisions of other characters
and by external circumstances. Some characters believe that they control their own fates,
while other characters assume they have no control at all. Choose one selection, and
analyze how one or two characters are influenced by forces that are seemingly beyond
their control. Explain what these characters might have done to escape or change their
fate. *If you choose this question, you must write over The Tragedy of Romeo and
Juliet*
Part III: Epic and Myth: *Must write over The Odyssey*
1. Despite their best efforts, some individuals in this unit make mistakes on their
journeys. Choose one selection in which a character or person makes a mistake. What
do you think is the worst mistake make on that journey? What is so bad about the
mistake?
2. Do you think that Penelope is as heroic as her husband? Support your opinion with
details from the text.
3. These selections include many courageous individuals. Who do you think is the most
courageous? Explain your answer in a minimum of two paragraphs.
Part IV: Genre Fiction [English I Pre-AP only]:
1. If you had your choice of living in the setting of any one or the selections in this unit,
which one would you choose, and why? Which setting would you least like to live in, and
why?
2. Which of the selections in this unit seems the most realistic to you? Which seems the
least realistic? Support your opinions with references to the selections.

Nichols
English I, Semester II
Final Exam Review
DHS 2016
3. How does one of the stories in this unit rely on mood? Use evidence from the story to
support your answer.