American Lit.

GMAS
Review
Get excited!
Test Structure
This test is kind of a beast. Its not even so much hard
as it is annoying and loooooooong.
You will take it over the course of two days.
Section 1: Writing section. Heres where youll have longer
writing assignments (including a full essay) (You have around
1.5 hours for this section)
Sections 2-3: Reading sections. This includes reading
passages, selected response questions, and constructed
response questions. (You have a little more than an hour for
each of theses sections)
Types of Questions on the Test
Selected response: this is a new fancy name for multiple choice
A selected-response item, sometimes called a multiple-
choice item, is a question, problem, or statement that is
followed by four answer choices. These questions are worth one
point.
A technology-enhanced item has two parts. You will be
asked to answer the first part of the question, and then you will
answer the second part of the question based on how you
answered the first part. These questions are worth two points.
Partial credit may be awarded if the first response is correct but
the second is not.
Types of Questions on the Test, cont.
Constructed response: this is a new fancy name for short answer.
For these questions youll need to write a big healthy paragraph or two
shorter paragraphs as a response. Use RACE strategy and include
evidence.
A constructed-response item asks a question, and you provide a
response that you construct on your own. These questions are worth two
points. Partial credit may be awarded if part of the response is correct.
Use RACE strategy here. (RESTATE, ANSWER, CITE, EXPLAIN)
Make sure you include evidence from the text.
Read the prompt super carefully. Be really obvious with your answer.
We arent looking for subtlety and nuance here. Fancy words wont hurt,
though.
Write a lot. Itll give the grader a good first impression of your answer.
Types of Questions on the Test, cont.
An extended constructed-response item is a specific type of
constructed-response item that requires a longer, more detailed
response. These items are worth four points. Partial credit may be
awarded. For American Literature and Composition, you will
respond to a narrative prompt based on a passage you have
read, and the response will be scored according to the rubric for
the prompt. Partial credit may be awarded.
These usually are one of two types: either theyll ask you to write
a piece from another characters POV or theyll ask you to write a
beginning or end of a story after being presented with a passage.
This part is relatively easy, but it can be confusing for AP students
who are so used to writing analytical pieces. Remember that
your job in narrative writing is to tell a story.
Types of Questions on the Test, cont.
The extended writing-response item is located in section
one of the ELA EOC. Students are expected to produce an
argument or develop an informative or explanatory response
based on information read in two passages. There are three
selected response items and one two-point constructed
response item to help focus the students thoughts on the
passages and to prepare them for the actual writing task. The
extended writing response task is scored on a 7-point scale: 4
points for idea development, organization, and coherence, and
3 points for language usage and conventions
A 5-paragraph essay is good here. If youre asked to write a
persuasive piece, take a strong position.
Types of Questions on the Test, cont.
Read the question or prompt carefully.
Think about what the question is asking you to do. Go back to the
passage or passages and find details, examples, or reasons that help
support and explain your response.
Reread your response and be sure you have answered all parts of the
question.
Be sure that the evidence you have chosen from the text supports your
answer.
Your response will be scored based on the accuracy of your response
and how well you have supported your answer with details and other
evidence.
Extended-response items will also evaluate your writing. Your score will
be based on criteria such as organization, clarity, transitions, precise
language, formal style, objective tone, sentence structure, grammar,
punctuation, and usage.
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Fiction
Drama
Poetry
Genre
Characterization
Traits
Dialogue
Interior monologue
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Direct characterization
Indirect characterization
Setting
Structure
Chronological
Epistolary novel
Frame narrative
In medias res
External conflict
Internal conflict
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Point of view (first, second, third limited, third omniscient)
Perspective
Tone
Diction
Rhetoric
Syntax
Mood
Theme
topic
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Imagery
Symbolixm
Drama
Tragedy
Drama
Comedy
Dramatic irony
monologue
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Political drama
Modern drama
Theatre of the absurd
Poetry
Rhyme (end, internal, slant)
Consonance
Assonance
Alliteration
Rhyme scheme
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Poetry
Fixed form
Free form
Blank verse
Iambic pentameter
Narrative poem
Ballad
Lyric poetry (elegies, odes, sonnets)
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Authors purpose
Irony
Sarcasm v. verbal irony
Situational irony
Satire
Understatement v. overstatement
Figurative language
Simile
Metaphor
Allegory
Oxymoron
Personification
Hyperbole
idioms
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Connotation v. denotation
Context
Cognates
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Nonfiction
Informational text (also called expository nonfiction)
explains or informs
Argumentation (rhetoric)
Literary nonfiction (that boxer thing we read)
Implicit v. explicit
Infer
Fact v. opinion
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Claim
Controlling idea
Parallelism
Paraphrasing
Plaigiarism
Repetition
Analogy
Audience
organization
Terms for the American Literature
GMAS
Parallel structure
Semicolon
Independent clause v. dependent clause
Simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
sentences
Hyphen
Practice Testing Platform
Check out this link to play around on a practice testing
platform. Take a few minutes to get comfortable with
the tools, etc.
http://gaexperienceonline.com/
More Practice
For more information and more practice items, check
out the study guide provided by GADOE.
https://
www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment
/Assessment/Documents/Milestones/Study-Resource%20G
uides/Milestones_StudyGuide_AmLit_11-16.pdf