Montgomery County Public Schools
English 10A Exam Review
FORMAT
Readings
Students will read four excerpts from:
 a novel
 a memoir
 an epic poem
 a classical play
Selected Response Items
Students will be required to
 determine the meaning of words by using context.
 make inferences about characterization, motivation, and other narrative elements.
 make inferences about the author’s purposeful use of language and form.
 make inferences about the main idea, theme, or author’s perspective.
 identify and explain the author’s use of techniques devices in poetry and prose.
 identify the tone based on the language of a text.
 apply course terms to interpret poetry and prose.
 find textual evidence to support some of their responses.
Two Writing Tasks
The first writing prompt is worth 30% of the exam grade. Students will choose one
passage from the exam and explain how the author uses language to evoke a
particular effect. Students should spend 3–5 minutes to plan, then spend about 10–15
minutes writing. They should clearly state the effect and identify specific examples from
the text that contribute to this effect. Students may wish to focus on one or more of the
following:
contrast
figurative language
repetition
dialogue
imagery
syntax
diction
irony
tone
The second writing prompt is worth 30% of the exam grade. Students will choose one
passage from the exam and write a narrative that continues the story. Students
should spend 3–5 minutes to plan, then spend about 35–40 minutes writing. While
planning their responses, they should consider:
 What is the situation or conflict at the end of the passage?
 What is the main character feeling, and how might this influence his or her actions?
 What is the tone or mood of the passage, and what is the best way to continue
that tone or mood?
 How does the author establish the perspective and narrative voice of the passage,
and what is the best way to continue that perspective and voice?
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • GRADE TEN • ©2016 MCPS
English 10A Exam Review
PREPARATION
Review Course Terms

Review definitions and concepts of course terms.

Apply course terms to texts and writing assignments.
Review Notes, Assessments, and Other Student Resources Pages

Review close reading strategies and discussions about the author’s purposeful use of
rhetorical techniques and literary devices.

Read and consider journal entries.

Review characteristics of narrative texts.

Review characteristics of poetry and oral texts using classical language.
Review Portfolio

Read, analyze, and evaluate paragraphs, essays, and other papers.

Review rubrics used for writing and speaking, including the Scoring Guide for Writing
and the 6-Traits rubrics.

Review how to use various graphic organizers to plan writing.

Review the process of editing and revising writing.

Review strategies for organizing and developing paragraph and multiparagraph
responses.

Review strategies for developing persuasive essays and speeches.

Review strategies for using quotations and paraphrased ideas.
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • GRADE TEN • ©2016 MCPS
English 10A Exam Review
COURSE TERMS
Students should be able to use the terms below to analyze purposeful use of
language to achieve a particular effect. In other words, it is important to
know what these things are, but even more important to know how and why
they are used.
Alliteration
Juxtaposition
Allusion
Mood
Attitude
Motif
Audience
Oxymoron
Author’s attitude (v. speaker’s
Parallelism/Parallel structure
attitude)
Paraphrase
Author’s purpose
Plot
Characterization
Point of view/Perspective
Cliché
First person
Colloquialism/Colloquial language
Third person
Conflict
Limited
Contrast
Objective
Denouement
Omniscient
Dialogue
Reliable narrator
Diction
Unreliable narrator
Direct address
Pun/Wordplay
Epiphany (moment of insight)
Repetition
Figurative language
Rhetorical question
Hyperbole
Rhyme/Rhyme scheme
Metaphor
Setting
Personification
Symbol
Simile
Symbolism
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Syntax (inverted, straightforward,
etc.)
Idiom
Theme
Imagery
Tone
Irony
Word choice
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • GRADE TEN • ©2016 MCPS
Scoring Guide for Writing: Textual Analysis
Score of 5
This response demonstrates consistent mastery, although it may have minor errors. This response
 effectively states and develops a claim, provides strong insights, and uses well-chosen detail to
achieve its purpose.
 is well organized, focused, and coherent.
 uses language and vocabulary purposefully.
 varies sentence structure skillfully.
 is generally free of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4
This response demonstrates adequate mastery with occasional lapses in quality. This response
 states and develops a claim, exhibits sound thinking, and uses appropriate supporting detail.
 is generally organized, focused, and coherent.
 generally uses language and vocabulary effectively.
 demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
 may have some errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 3
This response demonstrates partial mastery, but it has one or more flaws. This response
 states and develops a claim but needs more consistent thinking and supporting detail.
 sometimes lacks organization, focus, and coherence.
 generally uses language coherently, but some word choices are vague or inappropriate.
 has little variety in sentence structure or has some sentence errors.
 may contain a number of errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 2
This response demonstrates little mastery and is marred by one or more weaknesses. This response
 has a vague or limited claim, weak thinking, and inappropriate or insufficient supporting detail.
 is poorly organized, lacking focus and coherence.
 uses limited language and vocabulary or incorrect word choice.
 demonstrates simplistic or incorrect sentence structure.
 contains errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that sometimes hamper meaning.
Score of 1
This response demonstrates a lack of mastery and serious flaws. This response
 does not state or develop a claim and provides little, if any, supporting detail.
 is disorganized, rambling, or incoherent.
 has numerous errors in vocabulary and use of language.
 has serious flaws in sentence structure.
 contains numerous errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that consistently hamper meaning.
Score of 0
No response or a response that is completely irrelevant will receive a score of zero.
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • GRADE TEN • ©2016 MCPS
Scoring Guide for Writing: Narrative
Score of 5
This response demonstrates consistent mastery, although it may have minor errors. This response
• effectively continues the narrative, maintaining consistency with the original passage in
characterization, tone, and setting.
• offers a creative and logical resolution or development of the conflict.
• purposefully uses vivid language and concrete vocabulary.
• varies sentence structure skillfully for stylistic effect.
• is generally free of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4
This response demonstrates adequate mastery with occasional lapses in quality. This response
• logically continues the narrative, maintaining consistency with the original passage in
characterization, tone, and setting.
• offers a reasonable resolution or development of the conflict.
• generally uses language and vocabulary effectively.
• demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
• may have some errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 3
This response demonstrates partial mastery, but it has one or more flaws. This response
• continues the narrative in a way that is not always consistent with the original passage.
• offers an adequate resolution or continuation of the scene.
• generally uses language coherently, but some word choices are vague or inappropriate.
• has little variety in sentence structure or has some sentence errors.
• may contain a number of errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.
Score of 2
This response demonstrates little mastery and is marred by one or more weaknesses. This response
• creates a narrative that is sometimes confusing or has little in common with the original passage.
• offers an unclear resolution or continuation of the scene.
• uses limited language and vocabulary or incorrect word choice.
• demonstrates simplistic or incorrect sentence structure.
• contains errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that sometimes hamper meaning.
Score of 1
This response demonstrates a lack of mastery and serious flaws. This response
• offers an incoherent or undeveloped narrative or a response that does not fit the task.
• has numerous errors in vocabulary and use of language.
• has serious flaws in sentence structure.
• contains numerous errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that consistently hamper meaning.
Score of 0
No response or a response that is completely irrelevant will receive a score of zero.
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • GRADE TEN • ©2016 MCPS