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Here it is: Sociology Survey
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Essay Topics Written to Better Accommodate an Exam Essay (also updated on the .pdf)
Senior English Final Exam Essay Prompts
1. Grace and Power: The Tempest is a play about power and grace in contradiction, in tension, in resolution, in harmony. Examine the dynamic of power and grace in The Tempest. What lesson does this interchange provide the reader?
2. Slavery: Caliban was a slave to Prospero; upon meeting Stephano, he pledges himself to a new master: “Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban,/ For aye thy foot-licker” (4.1.208-209). Can you think of one modern example where a person, singing of freedom, really only moves from one slavery to another? Explain by tying aspects of Caliban’s slavery to your chosen type of modern slavery. You may also use a paper Bible if you wish (consider Luke 11:24-25).
3. Freedom: Is freedom synonymous with autonomy? Is anyone really free in the play? In the world? Use specific examples from The Tempest to illustrate your answer. You may also use the Bible (paper copy or from memory).
4. Magic: Prospero's magic was the instrument of his own fall and rise. What is our distracting "magic" today? Where have we, too, abdicated our natural and civic duties, fascinated with "magical" sparkling wonders. Where has it isolated us from our natural rights and rulership? What hope may it yet offer? Cite specific instances from Prospero’s experience that relate to your modern example.
5. The Past: A character’s attempt to recapture the past is important in many plays, novels, and poems. Show with clear evidence from the work how the character’s view of the past (reverential? bitter? longing? something else?) is used to develop a theme in The Tempest.
6. Laughter: “The true test of comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter” (George Meredith). Choose a character or scene in The Tempest that awakens “thoughtful laughter” in the reader. Write an essay in which you show why this laughter is “thoughtful” and how it contributes to the meaning of the work.
Notes:
- Always write in terms of specific literary elements (exposition, dramatic irony, protagonist, climax, paradox, repetition, epiphany, point of view, syntax, etc.).
- Underline your thesis. (Also, underline book and play titles.)
- Title your essay with the bold word or words introducing your prompt.
- Write only on the front of your lined pages. Single space; write in pen.
Week 17, Block Day
* Open
- Turn in Out of Class Experiences (green folder)
- Turn in Rewrites (green folder)
- Look over Focus for 0 scores
* Check Annotations
* Work in Class
HW: Quiz Questions Review
Week 17; Wednesday, 12/9/15
* Open
* Take Notes on Essay Topics from the Study Guide. At least one will be included on the final exam essay portion.
HW: See "Assignments" on the right for links
- Last word: Divination
* Take Notes on Essay Topics from the Study Guide. At least one will be included on the final exam essay portion.
HW: See "Assignments" on the right for links
- Out of Class Experience (printed or handwritten on paper)
- Rewrites (on paper and submitted to turnitin.com)
Week 17: Tuesday, 12/8/15
* Open
* Per. 1: Check Guide
* Review Answers
* Terms
- Mettle (noun): a person's ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way. (Spirit, strength of character, steel, resolve, backbone, grit.)
- Etymology: Latin metallum "metal; mine, quarry, mineral"
- This is a variant spelling of "metal" which won its independence.
- The reader's imaginative prowess is tested by the Gawain poet's sensuous (not sensual) description of the Green Knight; likewise, Gawain's mettle is tested by Lady Bercilak's more sensual (not sensuous) allusions and connotations.
- Knotty (adj.):
* Per. 1: Check Guide
* Review Answers
* Terms
- Define and provide an example (quote or explanation) from The Tempest
- Term Definitions: Dr. Wheeler. In general, his first sentence defines; the rest explains.
- You may work in groups
Monday, 12/7/15
* Open
* Terms
HW: Five Pages of Annotation Due Tomorrow
- Paragon (noun): a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.
- Etymology: paragone ‘touchstone used to discriminate good from bad gold,’ from medieval Greek parakonē ‘whetstone.’
- Your reputation precedes (not proceeds) you, Sir Gawain, as you are a paragon of knightly honor.
- Mutinous
* Terms
- Define and provide an example (quote or explanation) from The Tempest
- Term Definitions: Dr. Wheeler. In general, his first sentence defines; the rest explains.
- You may work in groups
- A few notes (see board)
- AP In-Class Essay Rubric and Grades
- In-Class Essay Rewrite Open to All Students
- Study Good Student Examples; Do Not Copy Them
- Due block day per instructions. This is an optional assignment.
HW: Five Pages of Annotation Due Tomorrow
Block Day, Week 16
* Open
- Week 16, Last Word
- Copy one poem into your notes, if you have not already
* Work in class; The Tempest
- Act IV
Final Exam, Semester 1
Multiple Choice:
- History and Literature
- Except for The Tempest, these will be questions that you've already seen on previous quizzes and tests.
- History: Anglo-Saxon Times, Middle Ages, Renaissance
- Literature and notes: Caedmon's Hymn, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Tempest (review your Tempest guide)
- Grammar: Punctuation (apostrophe, semicolon, colon, comma, dash), Usage (red words), MLA, sentence types
- Vocabulary: The Tempest
- Analysis
- Review analysis essay writing and, specifically, thesis composition.
- Passage Examples:
- Gonzalo's utopia
- Caliban's description of the island
- Prospero's epilogue
- Open Examples:
- Examine how one character's perspective of and pursuit of freedom supports a central theme of The Tempest.
- Examine how forgiveness plays a central role in the The Tempest.
- More than 10 Lines of Your Quarter 4 Memorization
- Caedmon's Hymn
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