8 TH GRADE HONORS LANGUAGE ARTS
Study Guide for the Fall Final Exam
Overview and Format:
Final exams are meant to be challenging, and you will find this to be true of your English final. Final exams are also
supposed to help students pull together the many different things they have studied over the semester. In other
words, a good final exam helps students make sense of the semester while giving them an opportunity to prove
they have learned what they were supposed to learn. This study guide will help you prepare. Take it seriously, and
you will do well.
Your final exam will be divided into the following four sections. Each section will count as 25% of your exam grade.
1. Sentence Sense and Vocabulary
This section is closely related to the sentence drills we frequently do in class. You’ll need to be able to explain
what phrases and clauses are. You’ll have to identify different kinds of phrases and clauses in sentences that I
provide. I’ll use some terms we’ve studied in Units 1-7 of the vocab book, so you’ll need to recognize what
those terms mean so you can work the problems. You’ll also have to transform some OS style sentences by
adding phrases and clauses to make them more informative and interesting. This section will test your
knowledge about sentence building blocks and your ability to use the “Swiss Army Knife of Thought” (the
reporter questions) to guide your writing.
2. Stories We've Studied and Analytical Terms
You guessed it: in this section you’ll have to answer questions about the stories we’ve studied. You can expect
some matching questions, some multiple-choice and some short answer. A lot of the questions will focus on
who does what. Some of the questions will go deeper into the characters and plot. Some questions will
definitely focus on the coming of age aspect of the stories we’ve read. You’ll need to know the difference
between round and flat characters, and between static and dynamic characters, and you’ll need to give
examples from our readings. This section will test your knowledge about stories we’ve read, your knowledge
about how authors develop character and plot, and knowledge about the “coming of age” story pattern and
other specialized terms used in literary analysis.
3. Reading Skills
In this section I will give you several passages to read and then you'll answer reading comprehension questions that
are based on those passages. It will be pretty straightforward, just like the drills in the exercise V section of the units
in your vocabulary books. This section will test your basic reading comprehension skills - things like figuring out the
meaning of a word in context, finding insights about characters, and basically determining the main ideas in a
passage.
4. Writing Skills
In section one, you'll prove how much you've learned about writing solid sentences. In section four, you'll
show me what you can do with longer writing tasks. I will give you a big question that relates to each of the
stories in section two. Each of these big questions will require you to write an intelligent and well written (i.e.
organized and detailed) paragraph. This section will test your ability to come up with appropriate topic
sentences, and your ability to explain and support those topic sentences by using relevant examples in clear,
interesting sentences that work together.
Advice on studying...
The exam will count as 20% of your semester grade, so make sure you take the exam seriously. STUDY WISELY DO NOT PANIC OR PROCRASTINATE, INSTEAD KEEP CALM AND START STUDYING EARLY. Use the exercises in this
guide to help you. Make flash cards, write practice paragraphs and quiz yourself. Quiz each other. While you are
home for the break, talk about the stories we read with your family. They will probably enjoy talking about what
you've studied, and talking can be a good way to remember things.
SECTION ONE, SENTENCE SENSE:
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES AS PART OF YOUR REVIEW:
1. Words are the building blocks for phrases and clauses. Phrases and clauses are building
blocks for sentences. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?
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2. What is a prepositional phrase, and how can they be used to add “when” and “where”
information to a sentence? Illustrate your answer with an example.
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3. What is an appositive phrase, and how can they be used to add “who” information to a
sentence? Illustrate your answer with an example.
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4. What is a participle phrase, and how can they be used to add excitement and how
information to a sentence? Illustrate your answer with an example.
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5. There are two kinds of clauses, dependent and independent. What is the difference? Give
an example of each.
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For each of the problems below, decide whether the group of words is a phrase, a dependent
clause or an independent clause, and write P, D or I in the blank to indicate your choice.
6. _______ this morning
7. _______ Scott ran to the store
8. _______ to get milk and cereal
9. _______ but he forgot to take his wallet
10. _______ he felt like a knuckle-head
11. _______ standing at the cash register
12. _______ searching through pockets
13. _______ while the cashier shook his head in disgust
14. _______ when he got home
15. _______ with no breakfast
16. _______ for his little sister
17. _______ she cried because she was so hungry
INSTRUCTIONS: Transform (re-write) each of the sentences below, adding a phrase or clause that
provides information related to the word in parenthesis. Accuracy with the book is helpful but not
critical. Your transformed sentence must be grammatically correct. The words in bold are vocabulary
terms that will be helpful for you to know: look them up if you don’t remember what they mean.
Example: (who/why/where) Mr. Brunner chastised him for not paying attention.
______At
the museum that morning, Percy didn’t realize he’d been so distracted by
Nancy Bobofit’s subterfuge until Mr. Brunner called him out for not paying
attention.___________________________________________________________________________________
18. (why) Grover was tired all day yesterday, but he was invigorated today.
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19. (who/why/how) She had been a fugitive, but now she was a tree.
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20. (where/why) The hellhound leaped on Percy's chest and started biting him.
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21. (who/how) Regardless of the imposition, Crusty always made sure his customers fit their
beds perfectly.
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22. (who/where/why) Camp Half-blood is a sanctuary.
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23. (who/why) He alleged Hades had taken the master-bolt.
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SECTION TWO: STORIES WE'VE READ AND ANALYTICAL TERMS:
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES AS PART OF YOUR REVIEW.
"Through the Tunnel"
1. Write several sentences describing the main character Jerry. Address each of these questions:
Is he flat or round? Is he static or dynamic? Explain using examples from the story.
2. At the beginning of the story, Jerry stands at a fork in the path. Which path does he decide
to take on the second day? Why does he make this choice?
3. Jerry sees some older kids playing in the wild bay. He wants to join them, but he can't.
Explain.
4. In trying to get to the older kids, Jerry encounters a new challenge. Describe the tunnel he
finds and explain how he overcomes this challenge.
"Run"
1. Write several sentences describing the main character, Peter. Address each of these questions:
Is he flat or round? Is he static or dynamic? Explain using examples from the story.
2. Peter's sister and her friends make trouble for the family. Explain.
3. At the beginning of the story, Peter's mom asks him where he is going. Why is this a hard
question for Peter to answer?
4. Peter has a talent for running, and he loves to run. It makes him feel like he is in control of his
life. In the story, we learn that if Peter is actually going to get control of his life instead of
winding up like his mom (trapped by the problems on the reservation), he will have to use this
talent. Explain.
5. In choosing to find his friend in the city, Peter has to make some difficult sacrifices. Explain.
Which path does he decide to take on the second day? Why does he make this choice?
Horatio Hornblower and the Even Chance
1. Write several sentences describing the main character, Horatio Hornblower. Address each of
these questions: Is he flat or round? Is he static or dynamic? Explain using examples from the
story.
2. At the beginning of the story, Horatio finds himself far from home. How does his deployment fit
the Coming of Age story pattern?
3. Out of his element, Horatio finds himself a victim of bullying. Explain. Who is this antagonist
and what motivates him? Why does he target Horatio?
4. The protagonists in Coming of Age stories adapt to their new challenges, and become stronger.
Does this happen here? Explain in detail.
5. Horatio finally gets an opportunity to set things right, but it will involves tremendous risk. How
does Horatio decide to deal with this opportunity and manage the risk involved? Evaluate
Horatio’s “coming of age progress” in light of the decision he makes and the way he handles the
actual duel.
The Light in the Forest
1. Write several sentences describing the main character, True Son (John Butler). Address each of
these questions: Is he flat or round? Is he static or dynamic? Explain using examples from the
story.
2. At the beginning of the story, True Son must leave home, and travel to a new home. Unlike
Jerry and Peter, this is not a decision he makes - he is forced to do it. Explain.
3. True Son has two friends that are important to him (Half-Arrow and Little Crane), and he finds a
new friend in his younger brother Gordie. Describe all three of these friends and the explain
how they help True Son.
4. True Son also finds enemies in his Uncle Wilse and the Paxton boys. Who are these people, and
why are they so hostile to True Son? Where does their hatred come from? Write a solid
paragraph in which you explore the reasons for their hostility. Remember to address the
“culture clash” issues that we studied.
5. True Son has a lot of respect for his "Indian father," Cuyloga, even though he feels rejected by
him. True Son's biological father, Harry Butler, is a successful and respected farmer, but no
matter how nice Harry is, True Son does not respect him. Is this only a matter of skin color? Is it
only a matter of True Son's resentment for being brought to live with the whites? Or is there
more going on? Write a solid paragraph in which you describe True Son’s struggle to be true to
his values as he moves from one culture to the other.
6. As with Peter in “Run,” it isn't clear whether or not things will work out happily for True Son, but
it is clear he has done something courageous and independent. Explain how has he "come of
age" in the story. Be sure to address any changes we see in his character, and the decisions he
makes.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
1. Write several sentences describing the main character Percy. Address each of these questions: Is he
flat or round? Is he static or dynamic? Explain using examples from the story.
2. At the beginning of the story, Percy has a lot of self-doubt. Things are not good at home, and
they aren't good at school. Explain the problems he faces and how those problems add to the
quality of the story.
3. Write a short paragraph each about Grover and Annabeth. Be sure to address the personal
problems each character faces, and how those problems motivate them to risk their lives
helping Percy on his quest.
4. Percy has to deal with a number of bullies and manipulative characters in the story. Write a big
paragraph that compares and contrasts some of the bullies that play a role in Percy's journey.
5. Write a paragraph that describes Camp Half-Blood and some of the characters that Percy meets
there. How do his experiences at camp help prepare him for his quest?
6. Write a paragraph that explains the quest as Percy and his allies understand it when they set off
for the journey west.
7. Make a spreadsheet that identifies the challenges that Percy and his friends face on their quest,
when and where they occur, and what happens.
DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Assay
Essay
Literary analysis
Reporter questions
Literary elements
Setting
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Character
Plot
Agon
Protagonist
Antagonist
Theme
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Motif
Literary devices
Imagery
Metaphor
Irony
SECTION THREE, READING SKILLS:
Complete Exercise 5 in Units 1 and 2 of your vocabulary book. We’ll review your answers and talk
about strategy after the break. Feel free to complete additional drills from the exercise 5 section of
other units in your book as well. Let me know if you need help checking your answers.
SECTION FOUR, WRITING SKILLS:
Each of the four prompts below provides information (and sometimes questions) that will help you
put together a paragraph. But to do a good job, you'll have to combine your knowledge of the
stories, with your writing skill. Your paragraphs must have the same qualities as the sentences we
work on in the sentence drill. In other words, they must provide all of the who, what, where, when,
why and how information a reader needs to understand what is being said. Use a clean sheet of
paper for your answers. Put a good heading on your paper, and write neatly.
1. At the end of “Through the Tunnel,” Jerry doesn't mind going home with his mom.
Compared to the other stories, it might seem like he hasn't grown that much. But he has he faced a challenge by himself and he learned that he could meet challenges, and he
learned something about how to do it. Write a paragraph that uses examples from the story
to explain how Jerry has "come of age."
2. Unlike Jerry, Peter (in the story “Run”) must create a new home instead of going back to his
old one. Even though his future is uncertain, the story shows us that Peter has faced and
passed through a significant challenge (even though a big part of the challenge was making
the decision to leave). Write a paragraph that uses examples from the story to explain how
Peter has gone through something significant enough for him to "come of age."
3. Like Jerry and Peter, True Son (in the book The Light in the Forest) faces a decision that puts
him on a path that is separate from those he loves. For True Son, this choice comes toward
the end, after he has rejoined the Indians. Why does he decide to warn the whites even
though it will spoil their ambush? How does this decision demonstrate that he is no longer
dependent on either his Indian family or his white family? How has he come of age?
4. Like Jerry, Percy learns that he can meet significant challenges on his own (for example,
when he takes on Ares). Like Peter and True Son, Percy learns that he has to make a break
from his old life (failing school, living with Smelly Gabe, pretending monsters aren’t real,
etc.), and he learns that making that break will require sacrifice. Write a paragraph that
uses examples from The Lightning Thief to explain why these two lessons are critical to the
way Percy “comes of age.”