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MINISTERIAL EXAMINATION OF COLLEGE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION AND LITERATURE

WRITING GUIDELINES

19 May 1999

READING 1

What do you think is one of the main ideas in this short story? How does the author develop this main idea through her use of literary techniques and devices?* Structure your essay around a thesis statement which expresses your point of view about this story.

Text :  “Flight” by Doris Lessing

Reference : 

Lessing, Doris. “Flight.” In Fiction's Many Worlds, edited by Charles E. May, 684-687. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1993.


READING 2

What do you think is a main idea of Berry's essay? What techniques and devices* does Berry use to support his position? Structure your response around a thesis statement which expresses your point of view about Berry's approach to his topic.

Text :  “The Good Scythe” by Wendell Berry

Reference : 

Berry, Wendell. “A Good Scythe.” In Literature and the Environment, edited by L. Anderson et al, 389-392. Don Mills, Ontario: Longman, 1993.


READING 3

What do you think is a main idea of Connelly's essay? How does she use techniques and devices* to clarify and develop this idea? Structure your essay around a thesis statement which expresses your point of view about Connelly's account of her experiences.

Text :  “Touch the Dragon” by Karen Connelly

Reference : 

Connelly, Karen. “Touch the Dragon.” In Reader's Choice: Essays for Thinking, Reading, and Writing, 2nd ed., edited by K. Flachmann et al, 120-124. Scarborough, Ontario: Prentice Hall Canada Inc., 1993.



* 

Techniques such as narration, description, dialogue, analogy, example, contrast, setting, comparison, persona and character are used frequently, often in combination. Devices such as imagery, simile, metaphor, repetition, and level of language are commonly used to achieve desired effects. You are probably familiar with others as well.


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