Writing on the Midyear Exam
The SAT-Style Essay
During the first semester we have studied several works of literature and one film that explores heroism and monstrousness. (These works include an epic poem (Beowulf), a film (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein), a "monster" book of your choice, a novel (Lord of the Flies), and a short story ("The Demon Lover"). Below are two quotations that we discussed during the second term.
"I believe that man suffers from an appalling ignorance of his own nature."
William Golding
"Simon thought of the beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick."
from Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Plan and write a well-organized essay in which you support, refute, or revise one of the quotations. Develop your position with reasoning and examples taken from two works we have studied in English during the first semester and from personal experience and/or observation.
Notes: Be careful. Take some time to understand the quotation you have chosen and the essay prompt. Plan your essay ahead of time. You must have notes. In your notes you might (1) write down your understanding of the quotation including key terms, (2) brainstorm reasoning and examples to support your opinion on the quotation, (3) organize the brainstorm into an outline. Doing this ahead of time will allow you to spend the exam time developing your ideas fully and writing with clarity and accuracy. Notes are worth five points.
Warning: Make sure you go beyond merely identifying “ignorance” or pointing out “heroes” and “sickness”. Make sure you develop an argument. Convince me you're right.
Reflective Personal Epilogue
Then, in an epilogue – an extra paragraph – use first person (I, me, my) to carefully explain and fully develop an insight into human nature you have had while studying heroes and monsters this semester. The epilogue is worth five points.
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