Vietnam and Cambodia Project

Steps a Good Writer Would Follow to Complete
Task Three of the ELA Regents Exam

Step One: Underline the key words and phrases in the task and guidelines

Step Two: Read the selections twice and mark up the texts.

Step Three: Write a Two Sentence Summary of what you've read. What do the two piece have in common

Step Four: Answer the multiple choice questions about the two readings. Thinking about the questions will help you to focus on the ideas you may wish to use in your writing. You may come back to the questions at any time.

Step Five: Re-read the task and the guidelines and begin your essay!

Show that you understand the question by restating it in your own words

Give the titles and authors of the two works mentioned in the task. Refer to the main idea.

Return to the two sentences you wrote during step three. Revise them so that you have a thesis statement.

Write a paragraph giving one or more examples of how the first work of literature relates to the main idea/

Give an example of one literary element or technique used in the first work of literature

Write a paragraph giving one or more examples of how the second piece of literature relates to the main idea.

Give an example of one literary element or technique used in the second work of literature.

Finally, restate and summarize your main idea (thesis)