Provincial Exam Prep: Response To Text
Part C: Response To Texts
In answering the written response question, students should be able to develop a multi-paragraph answer of at least 300 words (aim for 450-600 on the actual exam).
Students should demonstrate their understanding of works from the List of Examinable Texts. Students may also refer to other appropriate works. In their responses to Part C, students must not refer to the Sight Texts given in Part A of their Examination Booklet. Students should also be able to support a position, interpretation or response by citing specific details, features and information from the novel or film. Responses should be constructed with complete and effective sentences and adhere to the conventions of standard written English. Students will be provided with only one question for response.
Hints for this section of the exam:
1. Read the question! What theme are you being asked to connect to?
2. Brainstorm things you have read/watched this year that would be a good fit for the topic. For example, if the theme is "Modern vs. Traditional" then "Smoke Signals" would be a better film to discuss than "Rabbit Proof Fence" (Though both could work).
3. Remember, you must refer to at least ONE of the following texts that we have studied this semester (these are the works we have studied that are from the list of Examinable Texts):
Rabbit Proof Fence
Smoke Signals
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson
Keeper 'N Me by Richard Wagamese
"The Truth About Stories" Essay Collection by Thomas King (specifically the 2 essays: "You'll Never Believe What Happened" and "You're Not the Indian I Had In Mind")
The second text you discuss could be anything else such as "Indian Horse", "April Raintree" or "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian".
4. You should give as much detail as possible about the events/scenes/characters in the novels or films. Study character names and review key elements of the novel/film before the exam. If all you can do is recall very basic or general references to the works then you will not receive an upper level mark. Show that you know the novel or film well and that you can recall specific details and not just basic, obvious events.
5. Make sure you don't just list every thing you can remember about the novel or movie. Don't "re-tell" the whole book or film (the person marking your paper will have already seen it or read it!! Give clear and specific references from the novel/film that are relevant to the theme that you have been asked to write about!!
6. Write in the third person (don't use "I") and the present tense for this section of the exam. Don't talk about your own opinion or connect the novel/film to things in your own life. Your only job is to answer the question and connect the novel/film to the theme you have been given.
7. This is a full essay. Give yourself a good (but on the shorter side) intro. Then write 2 very well developed paragraphs about the texts you have studied. Then follow up with a clear conclusion that reminds the reader how the theme was demonstrated in two different works.
In answering the written response question, students should be able to develop a multi-paragraph answer of at least 300 words (aim for 450-600 on the actual exam).
Students should demonstrate their understanding of works from the List of Examinable Texts. Students may also refer to other appropriate works. In their responses to Part C, students must not refer to the Sight Texts given in Part A of their Examination Booklet. Students should also be able to support a position, interpretation or response by citing specific details, features and information from the novel or film. Responses should be constructed with complete and effective sentences and adhere to the conventions of standard written English. Students will be provided with only one question for response.
Hints for this section of the exam:
1. Read the question! What theme are you being asked to connect to?
2. Brainstorm things you have read/watched this year that would be a good fit for the topic. For example, if the theme is "Modern vs. Traditional" then "Smoke Signals" would be a better film to discuss than "Rabbit Proof Fence" (Though both could work).
3. Remember, you must refer to at least ONE of the following texts that we have studied this semester (these are the works we have studied that are from the list of Examinable Texts):
Rabbit Proof Fence
Smoke Signals
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson
Keeper 'N Me by Richard Wagamese
"The Truth About Stories" Essay Collection by Thomas King (specifically the 2 essays: "You'll Never Believe What Happened" and "You're Not the Indian I Had In Mind")
The second text you discuss could be anything else such as "Indian Horse", "April Raintree" or "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian".
4. You should give as much detail as possible about the events/scenes/characters in the novels or films. Study character names and review key elements of the novel/film before the exam. If all you can do is recall very basic or general references to the works then you will not receive an upper level mark. Show that you know the novel or film well and that you can recall specific details and not just basic, obvious events.
5. Make sure you don't just list every thing you can remember about the novel or movie. Don't "re-tell" the whole book or film (the person marking your paper will have already seen it or read it!! Give clear and specific references from the novel/film that are relevant to the theme that you have been asked to write about!!
6. Write in the third person (don't use "I") and the present tense for this section of the exam. Don't talk about your own opinion or connect the novel/film to things in your own life. Your only job is to answer the question and connect the novel/film to the theme you have been given.
7. This is a full essay. Give yourself a good (but on the shorter side) intro. Then write 2 very well developed paragraphs about the texts you have studied. Then follow up with a clear conclusion that reminds the reader how the theme was demonstrated in two different works.