English I H: Finals - Sandt

Hook

The opening sentence in an essay meant to grab the reader's attention.

Thesis Statement

A sentence that clearly states the main argument or point of an essay.

Topic Sentence

The first sentence in a body paragraph that introduces the paragraph's main idea.

Context (in writing)

Background information given before evidence to help the reader understand the quote.

Evidence

A direct quote or paraphrased idea from a text that supports your claim.

Analysis

Explanation of how evidence supports your thesis; the most important part of the paragraph.

MLA Citation

Format for quoting sources: "Quote" (Author Page). or for plays: (Shakespeare 3.2.14).

Formal Tone

Academic and objective writing style that avoids slang, contractions, and first/second person.

Fragment

An incomplete sentence missing a subject or verb.

Run-On Sentence

Two or more complete thoughts joined incorrectly without punctuation.

Comma Splice

Two independent clauses joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The rule that subjects and verbs must match in number (singular/plural).

Noun

A person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., Odysseus, courage).

Verb

An action word or a form of being (e.g., ran, is).

Adjective

A word that describes a noun (e.g., brave, clever).

Adverb

A word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb (e.g., quickly, very).

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about events that will happen later in a story.

Irony

When the opposite of what's expected occurs; includes dramatic, verbal, and situational irony.

Allusion

A reference to another text, myth, or historical event.

Symbolism

An object or action that represents a deeper meaning.

Theme

The central message or lesson of a story.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject (e.g., serious, sarcastic).

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional feeling of a piece (e.g., tense, hopeful).

Odysseus

Main character in The Odyssey; known for cleverness and leadership.

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus, known for her loyalty and intelligence.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus who matures over the course of The Odyssey.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom who aids Odysseus.

Poseidon

God of the sea who punishes Odysseus for blinding his son, Polyphemus.

Sirens

Sea creatures whose singing lures sailors to their deaths.

Scylla

A six-headed monster who eats Odysseus's men.

Cyclops

A race of one-eyed giants; Polyphemus is one.

Romeo

Impulsive Montague who falls in love with Juliet.

Juliet

Capulet who defies her family to be with Romeo.

Mercutio

Romeo's witty friend who curses both houses before he dies.

Tybalt

Hot-headed Capulet who kills Mercutio and is killed by Romeo.

Friar Laurence

Neutral party who marries Romeo and Juliet and creates the fake death plan.

Nurse

Juliet's confidante and messenger.

Fate

A major theme in Romeo and Juliet; referred to as "star-crossed lovers."

Hubris

Excessive pride that leads to downfall in Greek myths and The Odyssey.

Xenia

Greek concept of hospitality toward strangers.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in a line of poetry.

Simile

Comparison using "like" or "as."

Metaphor

Direct comparison between two unlike things.

Personification

Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or ideas.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses.

Rhyme Scheme

Pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines in a poem (e.g., ABAB, AABB).

Enjambment

When a line of poetry runs into the next without punctuation.

RACE Strategy

A structure for short responses: Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain.

Critical Reading

Reading carefully to understand tone, purpose, theme, and use of literary devices.

Main Idea

The central concept or point of a passage.

Inference

A conclusion based on evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statement.

How many objective questions are on the exam?

There are 140 objective questions, each worth ½ a point.

How many points are the short response questions worth?

30 points total.

What does the writing section cover?

Essay structure, body paragraph construction, writing rules, and citation.

How many writing questions are on the exam?

There are 5 writing questions.

What does the grammar section test?

Common writing issues, sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and parts of speech.

How many grammar questions are on the exam?

15 grammar questions.

How is the literature section organized?

By literature topics including matching and multiple choice questions.

What is covered in the general literary terms section?

Literary terms, elements, and conventions.

What does the Mythology section cover?

Plot details, characters, and literary elements in myths.

What does The Odyssey section cover?

Plot, characters, and literary elements from The Odyssey.

What does the Romeo & Juliet section cover?

Plot, characters, and literary elements from the play.

What does the Poetry section cover?

Poetic terms and poem-specific questions.

How many literature questions are on the exam?

Approximately 110 questions.

What does the critical reading section include?

One passage with 10 questions testing reading and thinking skills.

What is a complete sentence?

A group of words that has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

What is a sentence fragment?

A group of words that is missing a subject or a verb or doesn't express a complete thought.

What is a run-on sentence?

Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

What is a comma splice?

When two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

What is subject-verb agreement?

Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural).

What part of speech is a noun?

A person, place, thing, or idea.

What part of speech is a verb?

A word that expresses an action or a state of being.

What part of speech is an adjective?

A word that describes or modifies a noun.

What part of speech is an adverb?

A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

What is the role of a conjunction?

A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., and, but, or).

What are common problematic grammar issues?

Fragments, run-ons, comma splices, incorrect verb tense, and lack of subject-verb agreement.

Why is it important that the Cyclops says, "Nobody is hurting me"?

Because Odysseus told him his name was “Nobody.” So when the Cyclops screams for help, the others think nothing is wrong and don’t help. This shows Odysseus’s clever thinking.

What does Odysseus calling himself "Nobody" show about him?

It shows that Odysseus is smart and quick-thinking. He plans ahead and uses clever tricks to escape danger instead of only using strength.

Is it ironic when the Cyclops says "Nobody is hurting me"?

Yes, it’s ironic. He’s actually being hurt, but his words make it sound like no one is. This is both verbal irony and situational irony.

What kind of irony is used in the “Nobody” scene in The Odyssey?

Verbal irony (Odysseus’s fake name) and situational irony (the Cyclops is hurt but no one helps because of the confusing name).

What does this scene tell us about Odysseus’s character?

It shows that he is clever, brave, and values intelligence as much as strength.

What are the 3 main parts of an essay?

Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

What should be included in an introduction?

A hook, background/context, and a thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement?

A sentence that clearly expresses the main point or argument of the essay.

What is the purpose of a body paragraph?

To support the thesis with evidence and analysis.

What are the parts of a body paragraph?

Topic sentence, context, evidence, analysis, and concluding sentence.

What is a topic sentence?

The first sentence of a body paragraph that introduces the main idea.

What is context in a paragraph?

Background information that sets up the evidence so the reader understands it.

What is textual evidence?

A quote or paraphrase from the text used to support a point.

What is analysis in writing?

An explanation of how the evidence proves or supports the main idea or thesis.

What is the R.A.C.E. strategy for short responses?

Restate the question, Answer it, Cite evidence, and Explain how it supports your answer.

How do you properly cite a quote from a book in MLA format?

“Quote” (Author Page Number).

How do you cite a quote from a play like Romeo and Juliet in MLA?

“Quote” (Shakespeare Act.Scene.Line).

What are key rules for formal writing?

Avoid first and second person (I, you), contractions, and slang; use clear academic language.

Who is the hero of The Odyssey?

Odysseus, king of Ithaca, known for his cleverness and bravery.