Agenda: AP Lit Exam: Poetry MC

Questions Practice Poetry MC Questions

“Woodchucks” Answer Discussion

Homework: Complete and submit your

Critical Lens essay by Sunday at midnight

Self-assess you essay (on the rubric) and bring it in on Monday

Take out: Pen/Pencil Notebook Highlighter

Goals: Practice answering

AP-style multiple choice questions in preparation for the exam

MARCH 29 - WOODCHUCKS

MULTIPLE CHOICE

60 min to complete 50-60 MC Q’s No penalty for incorrect answers 4 or 5 lit passages (2 poems, 2 prose) USUALLY:

1 old (pre 1900 poem) 1 new (post 1900 poem) 1 old prose passage 1 new prose passage

3 TYPES OF QUESTIONS

General Comprehension Questions: Ask about: primary purpose, overall characterization, or tone of passage. They tend to be the most challenging questions on the exam. Examples:

The passage is primarily about . . . Which of the following choices best describes the tone of the passage? Which of the following choices best describes the narrator’s relationship to his sister?

Detail Questions: Refer to chunks of a passage – demand close reading Examples:

What does the author mean by “aesthetic” (line 19)? Which of the following is the best paraphrase for the sentence that begins at line 13?

Factual Knowledge Questions: Questions are more rare General knowledge questions about language, grammar, and literary analysis Examples:

Which of the following meters is used in line 3 of this poem? In line 19, the phrase “frozen fire” is an example of . . . What the object of the verb “took” in line 14?

TIPS FOR TAKING CONTROL:

Scan Ahead Look for familiar authors and styles

Change the order You may choose to skip passages

POE! Write in the booklet

Half Right is ALL WRONG If part of an answer “looks good” but the other part does not… IT’S

WRONG! Watch the Clock

PACE YOURSELF! More than 15 minutes per passage is TOO LONG Read Carefully –

This may seem obvious, but don’t space out Guess Wisely

Always guess when in (complete and utter) doubt

“WOODCHUCKS” BY: MAXINE KUMIN

You have 15 minutes to read and analyze the poem, and answer the multiple choice questions that follow

We will check the answers, and work through the explanations when you have finished