Great Expectations

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Test Questions:Section I: True/False & Multiple Choice (1 pt. each)5 minutes total (1 minutes each)Directions: For the true/false questions, determine whether the statement is completely true or not; mark your answer accordingly. For the multiple choice questions, choose which one answer best suits the question; mark your answer accordingly. All of the questions pertain to Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.1. Mrs. Joe Gargery is Pip’s _____________ .a. auntb. mother’s best friendc. sisterd. next-door neighborAnswer: C (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the knowledge level). 2. Pip’s love for Estella can be seen as true because:a. She is his sister.b. She is beautiful on the inside only.c. She is beautiful and thinks Pip is a perfect match for her.d. She is cold to him but like nothing he has ever met.Answer: D (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the knowledge level).3. Pip’s literary double in Great Expectations is (literary double=a character in the text that mirrors the inner desires of another character):a. Orlickb. Joe Gargeryc. Mr. Pumblechookd. Miss HavishamAnswer: A (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the comprehension level).4. True or false: Pip returns to the marsh with something else besides food for his convict.Answer: True (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the knowledge level).5. True or false: Miss Havisham is Pip’s benefactor throughout the whole novel, providing him with the chance to make it big in London.Answer: False (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the knowledge level).Part II: Short Answer (5 pts. each)15 minutes (7-8 minutes each)Directions: Answer these questions in three to four solid sentences (one paragraph) that address what the question is specifically asking for. Be sure to use paraphrased textual evidence to support your answers when necessary.1. Out of the four main adult influences in Pip’s life, Miss Havisham, Joe Gargery, Miss Joe Gargery, or Magwitch, who do you feel is the most important and influential in building Pip’s character?Answer: Varies, although it would be hard to argue that Miss Joe Gargery is the most influential and important. (As long as this is supported and shows a genuine regard for knowing how one of the four characters has influenced Pip, then this should be an easy five points. This tests objective #4; it is at the analysis level).2. Towards the end of the novel, we find out two very important pieces of information concerning Miss Havisham. List one of the two pieces of information and what its significance is to Pip or Great Expectations as a whole.Answer: Dickens reveals that Miss Havisham is not Pip’s benefactor, which means Pip has no idea who has been giving him money; or, Miss Havisham has purposely used Pip as a love puppet to Estella because Miss Havisham had her heart broken and wanted Estella to be mean and break someone else’s heart. (This question addresses objective #4; it tests the application stage).Part II: Essay (10 pts. each)30 Minutes total (15 minutes each)Directions: Answer BOTH of the following two prompts with concern for proper writing mechanics, including spelling and grammar. Be sure to paraphrase relevant passages or episodes in the book as textual evidence.Prompt #1: Pip-on-TrialWhen you look at Pip’s life, it could be seen as very difficult and hard to come to terms with (in that he does not know his mother or father, or who is supporting him) or very fortunate (in that he is given a chance by Miss Havisham, supported by mysterious money, and makes good connections).So, which side do you fall on? Write a letter to the Commonwealth of London from the position of Pip’s lawyer. In this letter, keep in mind your audience (judge and/or jury) and be sure to make an argument in which you defend Pip’s fortunate or unfortunate life.(Answers will vary; see rubric for scoring. This tests objectives #1,2, & 4; it reaches the synthesis level by taking in the text read in class, the forms of writing studied, and the intended audience the writing is for). Prompt #2: Your Great ExpectationsPip endures and overcomes a series of events that show great character and personal progress. Think about your own life. How have your "great expectations" changed over time?Discuss two moments in your life when your life has mirrored an event in Great Expectations. These events can be of large magnitude (when you decided your future occupation, when you had to cope with the loss of a loved one) or small magnitude (when you won/inherited a lump sum of money, when you were involved in a fight/argument). Use a personal narrative style, with all the proper writing mechanics and characteristics of a personal narrative, to write an essay that you wish to have read at an awards ceremony for when you receive “Woman/Man of the Year.”(Answers will vary; see rubric for scoring. This test objectives #1, 2, and 4; it reaches the synthesis level by involving class discussion, personal reflection, and textual evidence in an integrated fashion).Number of points rationale:The true/false and multiple-choice questions are supposed to test reading comprehension. Thus, since simply understanding a text is only one facet of reading a book, they are worth only one point each. The short answer questions are intended to integrate important episodes in the novel with personal reflection. One point is given for correctly identifying the passage; two more points are awarded for explaining its significance. The final two points are awarded for the support that is listed and the amount of critical reflection that is given towards the topic in context to Great Expectations as a whole. The essay questions are worth ten points each because this is the ultimate goal of an English class: to be able to synthesize what one learns with their everyday life. Thus, five points are awarded for relating the proper text references/sections to the personal experience that is to be included in the essay. The second five points are awarded based on how evident the style of the writing is (objective 2) and to what extent the student addresses the appropriate audience (objective 1).Rubric for prompt #1: Pip-on-Trial10 – - Shows genuine knowledge and comprehension of text- Displays ability to address appropriate audience through language- Integrates essential features of appropriate writing style- Illustrates a highly personalized, stylized response to text and prompt5 – - Shows some knowledge of text but does not comprehend completely- Displays ability to address appropriate audience through language inconsistently- Integrates some features of appropriate writing style but lacks certain identifying features- Illustrates a fairly personalized, stylized response to prompt but leaves room for more development1 – - Shows no knowledge or comprehension of text- Displays no ability to address appropriate audience; uses wrong language that is appropriate to audience- No integration of essential features of appropriate writing style- Illustrates no personalized, stylized response to text and prompt; essay reads on a surface and impersonal level onlyRubric for prompt #2: Your Great Expectations10 –- Is clearly organized and discusses two clear memories in relation to the text- Illustrates proper mechanics and all elements of a personal essay- Addresses appropriate audience for topic5 – - Is organized but left out two clear memories; or, has two clear memories but is not organized in a logical fashion- Illustrates most proper mechanics and elements of a personal essay but lacks one or two significant characteristics- Addresses audience to a degree but revision could focus language on this particular audience better1 – - Unorganized and lacks two obvious memories; author needs serious reconsideration about direction of this essay- Illustrates no mechanics or elements of proper writing or of a personal essay- Addresses an audience that is vague or inconsistent; language does not specify who is being addressed

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