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MINISTERIAL EXAMINATION OF COLLEGE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION AND LITERATURE

WRITING GUIDELINES

17 December 1997

READING 1

In this essay, why does Woolf's description of the death of a moth create such an impression? What techniques and devices* does she employ in order to make her description so effective and vivid? How might aspects of the essay expand your own perceptions? Develop a thesis statement which expresses your own point of view about this essay and structure your response around your thesis.

Text :  “The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf

Reference : 

Virgina Woolf. “The Death of the Moth.” From Fields of Writing: Readings Across the Disciplines. 4th edition. St Martin's Press. New York. 1994.


READING 2

What do you think is one of Weidman's central themes in this short story? What do you think is the significance of the story? How does Weidman's use of literary techniques and devices* help bring out the main themes? Develop a thesis statement which expresses your own point of view about this short story and structure your response around your thesis.

Text :  “My Father Sits in the Dark” by Jerome Weidman

Reference : 

Jerome Weidman. “My Father Sits in the Dark.” From My Father Sits in the Dark and Other Stories by Jerome Weidman.


READING 3

If you choose this essay to analyse, explore a central idea (or ideas) and comment on the techniques and devices* the author uses to develop and clarify her idea (or ideas). Develop a thesis statement which expresses your own point of view about this essay and structure your response around your thesis.

Text :  “A Pair of Shoes” by Sharon Butala

Reference : 

Sharon Butala, “A Pair of Shoes.” From Brick: A Literary Journal. Toronto: 1995.


* 

Techniques and devices are the strategies and tools used by authors to develop their ideas. Examples of techniques are narration, description, dialogue, analogy, example, contrast, setting, comparison, persona, and character; examples of devices are imagery, symbolism, allusion, repetition, simile, and metaphor. You are probably familiar with others which may be appropriate to use in your analysis.


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