Lesson

Part A: Written Response, worth 50% of the total diploma examination mark, consists of two thematically related writing assignments:

  • Personal Response to Texts Assignment
  • Critical/Analytical Response to Literary Texts Assignment

Part A contains three reading selections from fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry, and visual texts that provide a thematic focus and writing prompt for both assignments.

  • Personal Response to Texts Assignment requires that students respond to texts and a question to explore the ideas and impressions that students may also explore in the Critical/Analytical Response to Literary Texts Assignment.
    Value: 20% of the total examination mark (Parts A and B combined)
    Words: 600 - 1200
    Scoring: Scores contribute to the total examination mark in the following proportions:
    • 10% - Ideas and Impressions
    • 10% - Presentation
  • Critical/Analytical Response to Literary Texts Assignment requires that students compose a response to a thematic topic that they support by referring to literature that they have studied in English Language Arts 30–1.
    Value: 30% of the total examination mark (Parts A and B combined)
    Words: 800 - 1600
    Scoring: Scores contribute to the total examination mark in the following proportions:
    • 7.5% - Thought and Understanding
    • 7.5% - Supporting Evidence
    • 5% - Form and Structure
    • 5% - Matters of Choice
    • 5% - Matters of Correctness
  • Read the Word document which outlines what to expect on Part A of your final exam.
  • Study the two RUBRICS that will be used to mark "Part A" of your final exam.


To prepare to write Part A:  Written Response do the following:

REVIEW

  • literary essay writing NOTES
  • visual reflection NOTES
  • diploma preparation tutorials
  • former diploma exams

PRACTICE

  • write former Part A questions
  • former exams, samples, thesis examples - first link in "DIPLOMA EXAM PREPARATION" unit entitled "previous and sample exams"

GATHER and MEMORIZE

  • specific details
  • brief quotations from the three pieces of literature that you will potentially use to write about on your diploma exam >> not necessary, however. If you do opt to memorize quotations, ensure that they are central to the theme of the text, so that what you are taking the time to memorize is widely applicable to a variety of different topics.