The English Regents Rewards Specificity, Not Generality

Part 3 Advice

Big Stuff: Want to pass? Do this…

Follow the directions. They ask for a central idea AND a writing strategy. Make sure you fully describe BOTH.

Smaller Stuff: Want a top grade? Do this…

1. Follow the directions! Yes, that is also on the above list, but to get a really good grade, you need to be specific. The English Regents rewards specificity, not generality.  Connect the writing strategy to the central idea. The directions ask you to analyze how one writing strategy develops the central idea. Don’t just describe a writing strategy—make a clear connection between the writing strategy and the central idea.  The directions also tell you to “maintain a formal style of writing.” An essay will pass if it contains contractions and informal language (as long as it contains a theme and a writing strategy), but it will not attain the highest score.  Use an adjective in front of each literary device; it will make your writing far more specific. For example, if you write that “the writer uses diction to illustrate the central idea,” all you are saying is that the writer uses words. What type of words are used? Jubilant? Disheartened? Erudite? Again, the English Regents awards specificity! 2. The central idea, the theme, is a full sentence! Please do not say, “The theme is living life with no regrets.” “Living life with no regrets” is a phrase, not a complete sentence. Describe what the passage reveals about living life with no regrets. How can people do this? What advice does the passage give? 3. Be concise. You do not need to write five pages for Part 3 of the English Regents. It asks for 2-3 paragraphs. . Support your points fully, yes. Use specific and pertinent text evidence, yes. But you do not need to write a response that is longer than the passage. (Writing five pages simply gives you more room to make errors!) 4. Grammar is your friend—be friendly! In our class we have worked hard to brush up on grammar. We discussed grammar every time writing assignments were returned (remember those discussions? ). A few things to review:  Apostrophe usage: “The author’s main point,” not “The authors main point.” (Yikes!)  Agreement: Incorrect: “When one lives simply, little things do not phase them.” Correct: “When people live simply, little things do not phase them.”  Comma splice: a comma splice means the writer has used a comma when he needs to use a semi-colon or a period. For example: Incorrect: “I was hungry, I had a snack.” Correct: “I was hungry; I had a snack.” OR: “I was hungry. I had a snack.”  Know that the above grammar rules do not make up an exhaustive list—we have covered many others this year, but the bottom line is that you should be attentive when writing, especially on an important exam. Be attentive to the rules. Be attentive to grammar.

It is helpful to review past Regents exams! On the NY State Education’s website you can even read student models (and review the scores of those models). Check it out at www.nysedregents.org/hsela/

 Come Prepared—bring your rested self to the exam (and a couple of blue/black pens).  You are ready! Good Luck!