Comprehensive Examination in English: Session II
Part A

for Interdisciplinary Teaching
Michelle Stappler, Regents High School Examination

This session of the Regents covers T'ang and Song Poetry of China. It can be used in classes of English, and Social Studies. Its format is structured to meet the New Standards in English required by the State Education Department.

DIRECTIONS:
Read the poems on the following pages. Answer the multiple choice and then write the essay described in Your Task. You may take notes as you read and use scrap paper to plan your response.

TASK:
After you have read the poems and answered multiple choice questions write a unified essay about the influence of the exams on the lives of the Chinese people as revealed in the poems. In your essay, use the ideas from both poems and establish a controlling idea about the influence of the exams on the lives of the Chinese. Using evidence from each poem, develop your controlling idea and show how the author uses specific literary elements or techniques to convey that idea.

GUIDELINE:
Be sure to

• Use ideas from both poems to establish a controlling idea about the influence of the examinations on the lives of the Chinese people.
• Use specific and relevant evidence from each poem to develop your controlling idea
• Show how each poet uses specific literary elements (for example: theme, characterization, structure, point of view) or techniques (for example symbolism, irony, figurative language) to convey the controlling idea
• Organize your ideas in a logical and coherent manner
• Use language that communicates ideas effectively
• Follow the conventions of standard written English