A Guide for Students Writing Diploma Exams
Completion requirements
These are past submissions that received a score of excellence.
Requirements of Part B: Reading
Suggestions for Writing Part B: Reading
Read the selections in order. The sequential placement of passages in the Readings Booklet is intended to help you. For example, an essay may describe the context in which the poem that follows it was created. In effect, reading one selection informs your reading of another. Reading the selections in sequence will help you to understand what you must consider when answering
the questions.
Read the entire selection before attempting the questions. When you read each selection, consider the title, as well as any introductory comments, footnotes, and brief notes about the writer. This information can help you to understand the reading selection and may be required to answer one or more questions correctly. For example, the title of a selection may represent its
main idea or theme. The introductory comments for a selection, written specifically for the examination, provide information about the context of the excerpt, the plot, or the relationships between characters. Footnotes or biographical notes also add significant contextual information, clarification, or definitions that you need to understand the reading selection.
Try to understand the meaning and tone of a selection before you examine the specific details of the questions. As you answer the questions, be sure that you understand what is being asked. You may want to underline or highlight important aspects of the reading or of the questions to help you to stay focused. Questions require you to focus on a key or directing word to select the correct answer. For example, the question “What is the irony of John’s humorous comment?” focuses on irony, not humour. As well, a question that asks the meaning of a word, such as irresolute, may require you to derive the meaning of the word from the context, where clues to the meaning will be found. For example, reconsidering the context of irresolute may reveal that the character in question was uncertain about what to do about his mother’s request. This would lead you to choose the correct response undecided as the meaning of irresolute.
Pay particular attention to factors in each question that will limit the possible correct answer. When direct quotations are included in a question, use the line references provided and reread the quotation within its context in the reading. Make sure that you understand the significance of quotations in the context of both the question and the entire text. As well, when line numbers refer to a grouping of lines without specific quotations attached to them, make sure that you carefully consider the context of the entire reading before you choose your answer to the question. In each question, vocabulary is specifically chosen to guide you. Carefully consider keywords that direct the question, such as verbs and terminology, and keywords that identify
characters’ emotions and behaviours.
Review the overall development of ideas in the reading, and the content and progression of the questions. Remember, the questions are designed to lead you through the selection, and to highlight both specific and general characteristics of its content, style, tone, and structure. Do not let yourself be intimidated by selections that you think might be difficult. Students’
responses to examination questions about Shakespeare’s plays, for example, indicate that, for most students, these selections are actually not that difficult.
Try to save enough time to go back to questions that you found difficult or were uncertain about. Use all your acquired reading skills to reconsider the question, its context, and the “answer.” However, if you cannot think of a valid reason why you should change an answer, do not do so. Trust your instincts and your reading comprehension skills.
the questions.
Read the entire selection before attempting the questions. When you read each selection, consider the title, as well as any introductory comments, footnotes, and brief notes about the writer. This information can help you to understand the reading selection and may be required to answer one or more questions correctly. For example, the title of a selection may represent its
main idea or theme. The introductory comments for a selection, written specifically for the examination, provide information about the context of the excerpt, the plot, or the relationships between characters. Footnotes or biographical notes also add significant contextual information, clarification, or definitions that you need to understand the reading selection.
Try to understand the meaning and tone of a selection before you examine the specific details of the questions. As you answer the questions, be sure that you understand what is being asked. You may want to underline or highlight important aspects of the reading or of the questions to help you to stay focused. Questions require you to focus on a key or directing word to select the correct answer. For example, the question “What is the irony of John’s humorous comment?” focuses on irony, not humour. As well, a question that asks the meaning of a word, such as irresolute, may require you to derive the meaning of the word from the context, where clues to the meaning will be found. For example, reconsidering the context of irresolute may reveal that the character in question was uncertain about what to do about his mother’s request. This would lead you to choose the correct response undecided as the meaning of irresolute.
Pay particular attention to factors in each question that will limit the possible correct answer. When direct quotations are included in a question, use the line references provided and reread the quotation within its context in the reading. Make sure that you understand the significance of quotations in the context of both the question and the entire text. As well, when line numbers refer to a grouping of lines without specific quotations attached to them, make sure that you carefully consider the context of the entire reading before you choose your answer to the question. In each question, vocabulary is specifically chosen to guide you. Carefully consider keywords that direct the question, such as verbs and terminology, and keywords that identify
characters’ emotions and behaviours.
Review the overall development of ideas in the reading, and the content and progression of the questions. Remember, the questions are designed to lead you through the selection, and to highlight both specific and general characteristics of its content, style, tone, and structure. Do not let yourself be intimidated by selections that you think might be difficult. Students’
responses to examination questions about Shakespeare’s plays, for example, indicate that, for most students, these selections are actually not that difficult.
Try to save enough time to go back to questions that you found difficult or were uncertain about. Use all your acquired reading skills to reconsider the question, its context, and the “answer.” However, if you cannot think of a valid reason why you should change an answer, do not do so. Trust your instincts and your reading comprehension skills.