ELA II–IV (Grades 10–12) Exam Survival Guide

ELA II (World Literature, Grade 10)

• Must-do: Analyze cultural themes, compare world lit, identify figurative language.
• Traps: Misinterpreting cultural context; weak thesis.
• Checks: Compare author purpose across two cultures.
• You will make: World Lit Theme Chart, Comparative Essay Planner.

ELA III (American Literature, Grade 11)

• Must-do: Early American texts → modern voices; evaluate rhetoric (MLK, JFK).
• Traps: Mixing persuasion vs argument.
• Checks: Find rhetorical device in excerpt.
• You will make: American Lit Timeline, Speech Rhetoric Analysis Cards.

ELA IV (British & Contemporary, Grade 12)

• Must-do: Shakespeare analysis, Romantic poetry, modern global texts.
• Traps: Confusing Shakespearean language; misidentifying satire/irony.
• Checks: Summarize Hamlet’s soliloquy in plain English.
• You will make: Shakespeare Translation Booklet, Modern Lit Reflection Journal.