Freshman Second Semester Final Exam Study Guide

Okay, frosh. Here's the deal: Your final exam has two parts, and comprises 10% of your semester grade. Each part of the exam is weighted equally.

For the multiple choice exam, study all the concepts we covered this year related to free verse poetry, as well as other forms, such as haiku and sonnets. Review the homonyms we have repeatedly emphasized. Review the kinds of leads and conclusions that have been consistently emphasized. Also review the punctuation rules we covered via Sleeping Dogs and Eats, Shoots & Leaves. Review the essential aspects of of argumentative essays. Finally, review the basic reading skills we covered, such as self-questioning and inferencing.

For the essay exam, you must do some outside research prior to the exam, and you will hand this research in with your final. The research notes may not exceed one sheet of paper. You will get one of the following two prompts at random - be prepared to argue either one:

Argumentative essay: Recently, cell phones in schools have become a hot-button topic, with strong reasons for and against allowing cell phones in schools. Imagine your school is going to ban all cell phones from the campus, even from lockers and backpacks. Anyone caught with one will be immediately suspended, regardless of circumstance. In an essay, argue AGAINST this ban, citing evidence that you have collected. You must cite the evidence correctly, either in blocked or in-text citation form, as you build your case in order to get credit. You also must use one of the lead and conclusion technique we have studied this year, and if you use a question technique, either in the lead or conclusion, your essay will earn a grade of zero.

Argumentative essay: Recently, cell phones in schools have become a hot-button topic, with strong reasons for and against allowing cell phones in schools. Imagine your school is going to ban all cell phones from the campus, even from lockers and backpacks. Anyone caught with one will be immediately suspended, regardless of circumstance. In an essay, argue FOR this ban, citing evidence that you have collected. You must cite the evidence correctly, either in blocked or in-text citation form, as you build your case in order to get credit. You also must use one of the lead and conclusion technique we have studied this year, and if you use a question technique, either in the lead or conclusion, your essay will earn a grade of zero.