English III/IV Honors Study Guide PDF

Study Guide- English III/IV Honors Midterm You may use a hard copy of the novel for writing the two paragraph analysis only. Here is a link to purchase the book if you haven’t purchased it already. You will be given 20 multiple choice, 10 true/false, 5 fill in the blank and 5 short answer questions....

Study Guide- English III/IV Honors Midterm You may use a hard copy of the novel for writing the two paragraph analysis only. Here is a link to purchase the book if you haven’t purchased it already. You will be given 20 multiple choice, 10 true/false, 5 fill in the blank and 5 short answer questions. You may not use the book for this section. Key Concepts to Review: 1. Themes and Plot Their Eyes Were Watching God: ○ Janie’s journey towards self-realization and independence. ○ Her relationships with Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake. ○ The symbolism of the horizon and the pear tree. ○ The role of nature, the hurricane, and how they reflect Janie's emotional state. ○ The significance of Janie’s return to Eatonville at the end of the novel. Strange Fruit: ○ The symbolism of “strange fruit” hanging from the trees as a representation of lynching. ○ The critique of racism in America and the emotional impact of the song’s imagery. ○ The use of imagery to describe the horror of injustice. 2. Literary Devices: Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things to highlight a particular aspect (e.g., the horizon symbolizing Janie’s dreams). Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., “The trees swayed like dancers in the wind”). Juxtaposition: Placing two elements side by side to highlight their differences (e.g., contrasting Janie’s marriages). Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human elements (e.g., “The house groaned under the weight of the storm”). Imagery: Using vivid language to appeal to the senses and create mental pictures (e.g., the imagery of lynched bodies in Strange Fruit). 3. Important Characters: Janie Crawford: The protagonist who embarks on a journey to find herself. Logan Killicks: Janie’s first husband, whom she marries out of a sense of duty. Joe Starks: Janie’s second husband, a wealthy and ambitious man who imposes his vision of life on her. Tea Cake: Janie’s third husband, who brings joy and freedom to her life but also challenges her. 4. Key Symbols and Motifs: The Horizon: Represents Janie’s dreams and longings. The Pear Tree: Symbolizes Janie’s ideal vision of love and sexual fulfillment.  The Storm/Hurricane: Represents uncontrollable forces of nature and their impact on Janie’s life. Strange Fruit: Symbolizes the horrific racial violence and injustice of lynching. Study Tips: Review Excerpts: Focus on passages from the book that highlight important symbols, themes, and character development. Practice Identifying Literary Devices: Be able to recognize examples of metaphor, simile, juxtaposition, personification, and imagery within the text. Understand Character Motivations: Be able to explain why Janie makes certain decisions in her relationships and how they contribute to her growth. Key Events in Strange Fruit: Understand how the song conveys the pain and horror of lynching through its vivid imagery. Theme Connections: Be able to connect the themes in Strange Fruit (racism, violence, injustice) to the themes in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Character Analysis Prompt In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Tea Cake is a complex character whose actions can be interpreted in various ways. Do you think Tea Cake is a good person? Why or why not? Write a two-paragraph opinion-based analysis explaining your stance. Use at least two excerpts from the book to support your opinion. Be sure to address both his positive and negative traits in your response. Study Guide: How to Write an Opinion-Based Analysis Step 1: Understand the Prompt Identify what the prompt is asking. In this case, decide whether you think Tea Cake is a good person or not. Note: You should focus on forming a clear opinion while considering both sides. Step 2: Plan Your Analysis 1. First Paragraph: ○ Topic Sentence: State your opinion clearly. Example: Tea Cake is ultimately a good person because his actions show genuine love for Janie, despite his flaws.  ○Support: Provide 1-2 reasons for your opinion. Example: Discuss Tea Cake’s kindness and playfulness, citing moments where he enriches Janie’s life. ○ Evidence: Use a specific quote or event from the book to back up your point. Example: “He could be a bee to a blossom—a pear tree blossom in the spring” (Hurston). 2. Second Paragraph: ○ Counter argument and Rebuttal: Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint. Example: While some might argue that Tea Cake’s treatment of Janie is sometimes controlling, his intentions were ultimately to protect and care for her. ○ Support: Provide evidence for why the opposing argument does not outweigh your main opinion. Example: Use quotes that show his remorse or growth. ○ Concluding Sentence: Reinforce your opinion. Step 3: Write Clearly and Persuasively Use transitions like however, on the other hand, and therefore to connect ideas. Keep your tone respectful and confident, even when discussing Tea Cake’s flaws. Step 4: Revise and Proofread Check for grammatical errors and ensure your ideas flow logically. Verify that you’ve included at least two excerpts to support your opinion. Example Framework First Paragraph: State your opinion and give reasons. Provide a quote or moment from the text that supports your stance. Second Paragraph: Acknowledge an opposing viewpoint. Refute the counter argument using evidence. Reaffirm your position in a strong concluding sentence. Rubric for Two-Paragraph Essay (30 Points Total) Content and Structure (15 Points Total) 1. Clear Topic Sentence (3 Points) ○ 3: Strong and clearly stated opinion addressing whether Tea Cake is a good person. ○ 2: Topic sentence is present but lacks clarity or strength. ○ 1: Topic sentence is vague or off-topic. ○ 0: No topic sentence provided. 2. Evidence and Support in First Paragraph (4 Points) ○ 4: Includes 1-2 strong reasons with specific quotes or events that directly support the opinion. ○ 3: Includes reasons and evidence, but they are somewhat unclear or not directly related. ○ 2: Includes reasons, but lacks specific quotes or evidence. ○ 1: Minimal reasoning or evidence provided. ○ 0: No reasoning or evidence provided. 3. Counterargument and Rebuttal in Second Paragraph (4 Points) ○ 4: Acknowledges the opposing viewpoint with a clear counterargument supported by evidence and reasoning. ○ 3: Acknowledges an opposing viewpoint, but the rebuttal lacks clarity or sufficient support. ○ 2: Mentions opposing viewpoint, but no clear rebuttal is provided. ○ 1: Minimal or unclear mention of an opposing viewpoint. ○ 0: No counterargument or rebuttal provided. 4. Concluding Sentence (2 Points) ○ 2: Strong conclusion that reinforces the main opinion. ○ 1: Weak conclusion or does not clearly reinforce the opinion. ○ 0: No conclusion provided. 5. Use of Quotes (2 Points) ○ 2: Effectively incorporates at least three quotes from the novel that enhance the argument. ○ 1: Uses quotes, but they are not fully integrated or relevant. ○ 0: Does not include quotes. Language and Writing Conventions (10 Points Total) 1. Clarity and Organization (4 Points) ○ 4: Essay is well-organized with logical flow and transitions between ideas. ○ 3: Essay is organized but could improve in flow or clarity. ○ 2: Essay lacks clear organization or is difficult to follow. ○ 1: Ideas are jumbled or lack a clear sequence. ○ 0: No organization or clarity. 2. Grammar, Spelling, and Mechanics (3 Points)  ○ 3: Few to no grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. ○ 2: Some errors that do not significantly impede understanding. ○ 1: Frequent errors that distract from the content. ○ 0: Errors significantly impede understanding. 3. Language and Tone (3 Points) ○ 3: Language is engaging, appropriate, and formal for an academic essay. ○ 2: Language is appropriate but may lack engagement or formality. ○ 1: Informal or inappropriate language is used. ○ 0: Language is unclear or inappropriate. Critical Thinking and Depth of Analysis (5 Points Total) 1. Depth of Analysis (5 Points) ○ 5: Demonstrates deep understanding of Tea Cake’s character and uses evidence to craft a nuanced argument. ○ 4: Shows good understanding with some depth in analysis. ○ 3: Adequate understanding but lacks depth or complexity in analysis. ○ 2: Minimal understanding with surface-level analysis. ○ 1: Argument lacks depth or demonstrates misunderstanding of the character. ○ 0: No critical analysis present. Total Points: ____ / 30