Sample Exam Questions - English 325

•  *  Who is Lin Nai-Nai?
• In which book is a broken church window a significant image?
• *  Which book takes place in China?
• *  Explain the significance of the title Homesick.
• What is the difference between poetry and verse?
• What distinguishes a true picture book from other books which are illustrated? Identify one good example of a picture book and briefly justify your choice.
• Define contemporary (or modern) realism by describing its characteristics and purpose. Give two examples of books which fit into this category.
• In Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins we have a dishonest, cruel, anti-social, racist, anti-church protagonist in a story which has a rather harsh ending. Justify Paterson's motives in writing such a story: what does the book try to accomplish, and how well does it succeed?
• Define historical fiction by its most important characteristics and name a book which fits into this category. List 3 criteria for evaluating works of historical fiction.
• What is the difference between fictionalized biography and biographical fiction? *Which category describes  Homesick: My Own Story? How can you tell?
• Why is it useful to have children write their own poetry? How can writing it help them appreciate reading it? Identify 3-4 elements of poetry (in Kennedy's terms or more sophisticated ones) you might discuss with children before having them try to write their own.
• Informational (nonfiction) books (including biography) involve three essential components: facts, concept, and tone/attitude. Explain each category by discussing/describing an information book you have read recently, either assigned or unassigned.
•  Discuss this passage from Hatchet.  Identify the speaker and situation.  Then discuss Brian's preoccupation with his parents' divorce:  why is this thread present in the book?  What thematic connection does it have with the main story, and how does this passage pivotal in understanding what the book is about?
 
He did not know how long it took, but later he looked back on this time of crying in the corner of the dark cave and thought of it as when he learned the most important rule of survival, which was that feeling sorry for yourself didn't work.  It wasn't just that it was wrong to do, or that it was considered incorrect.  It was more than that--it didn't work.  When he sat alone in the darkness and cried and was done, was all done with it, nothing had changed.  His leg still hurt, it was still dark, he was still alone and the self-pity had accomplished nothing.

Essay: answer ONE question in detail.

A. Most adults who challenge books do so with good intentions, wishing to protect children from undesirable influences. What are two or three of the most common objections to books that get challenged? What possible dangers exist in allowing Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Smith to determine that a particular book should be removed from Utopia Elementary School? Discuss two or three problems with censorship.

B. You are a teacher (you decide whether it's a public or private school). Write a letter to parents in which you justify your decision to use one of the following often-challenged books in your classroom. Choose a book you know well enough to discuss and defend:
 

• Maurice Sendak's Outside Over There - 3rd grade
• Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins - 5th grade
• Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic - 4th grade
• Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time - 6th grade
• Katherine Paterson's A Bridge to Teribithia - 5th grade