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MINISTERIAL EXAMINATION OF COLLEGE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION AND LITERATURE

WRITING GUIDELINES

15 December 2004


The task: Write a 750-word essay that explores a main idea in one of the three readings. Your essay should include an interpretation of the reading and discussion of the ways in which the author develops his/her ideas. Make sure that your essay does more than simply summarize the reading; make sure, as well, that you write the required number of words.



READING 1: A short story

Identify a main idea in Nowlan's short story and structure your essay around a thesis statement that expresses your interpretation of his story. Make appropriate references to the reading and be sure to comment on his use of techniques and devices.*

Text :  “Anointed with Oils” by Alden Nowlan

Reference : 

Nowlan, Alden. “Anointed with Oils.” miracle at indian river/stories by alden nowlan. Toronto: Clark, Irwin & Company Limited, 1968. 43-51.


READING 2: An essay

Identify a main idea in Danten's text and structure your essay around a thesis statement that expresses your interpretation of his argument. Make appropriate references to his text, comment on his use of techniques and devices,* and justify your own position on the issue(s) he raises.

Text :  “Slaves of Our Affection” by Charles Danten

Reference : 

Danten, Charles. “Slaves of Our Affection.” The Montreal Gazette 13 July 2002: B5.


READING 3: An essay

Identify a main idea in Cofer's autobiographical text and structure your essay around a thesis statement that expresses your interpretation of her experience. Make appropriate references to her essay, and comment on her use of techniques and devices.*

Text :  “I Fell in Love, or My Hormones Awakened” by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Reference : 

Cofer, Judith Ortiz. “I Fell in Love, or My Hormones Awakened.” Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry and Drama. 4th ed. Ed. Sylvan Barnet et al. New York: HarperCollins, 1996. 740-743.


* 

Techniques and devices may include the following: allusion, analogy, argumentation, cause and effect, characterization, comparison, contrast, description, dialogue, diction, enumeration, example, imagery, irony, level of language, metaphor, narration, narrative point of view, repetition, rhetorical questions, setting, symbolism, and tone. You may be familiar with others as well.


© Gouvernement du Québec, 2009