Preparation for Examination: Step by Step
1. Retrieve all material from the course and gather it in one place:
Study Guide for each reading
Notes for each reading
Informal Writing Assignments, In-class Writing
All informal responses, reflections, discussion starters
2. Organize the material by text.
3. Review each reading so that you understand and can explain the following:
Major characters: definition, development, characteristics
Minor characters: definition, role within the work
Characters in relation to one another within a work
Major Conflict: identification, development, resolution
Minor Conflicts: identification, function within the work
Plot: development; elements
Subplots: relation to main plot
Elements of plot in relation to one another
Theme: identification
Themes in relation to one another within a work
Setting: identification; function within work
Symbol: identification; analysis in relation to character, conflict, theme
Metaphors: Analyze each work and identify its major metaphors
Formal structure of each work: narrative form, point of view, conclusions
4. Ask questions of yourself and of each work. Bring questions you have to class.
5. After you have reviewed each reading separately, you need to connect the readings in relation our theme of “coming of age.”
Go back over your review notes and look for similarities and differences from reading to reading. Look for patterns or threads that connect one reading to another or one character to another. This step is the most important preparation you could do. You should make lists or charts or webs or outlines to help you review the readings
•Analyze all the characters from the course in relation to one another; focus in particular on the internal conflict in each work. Identify similarities and differences.
•Analyze the major conflict (development and resolution) in relation to one another
•Analyze minor conflicts and their functions within the work in relation to one another
•Analyze plot elements from the readings in relation to one another
•Analyze themes of the readings in relation to one another
•Analyze symbols and metaphors
•Analyze the formal structure
What are the similarities?
What are the differences? Are the differences major or minor?
What do the similarities suggest about the way young people make their way in the world?
How do you account for the differences?