Short Answer Section: 5 questions (5 points each)
One point is earned by naming the author and title of the work (if not given in the question). Only literary works discussed in class will appear in the short answer section but you may mention other works if that makes sense for the question. The remaining points are given for a brief discussion of the significance of the item or quotation in the question.
This sample is from twentieth-century American literature but it contains good illustrations of strengths and weaknesses in answers for the short answer portion of the text.
Sample Short Answer Question: Discuss briefly the significance of the broken unicorn.
One-point answer (too brief; doesn’t discuss significance; not a complete sentence; author not identified):
a figurine that breaks in The Glass Menagerie
Two-point answer (brief identification but nothing on significance):
Williams, The Glass Menagerie. This is Laura's favorite figurine in her collection of glass animals.
Three-point answer (good on significance of item but nothing precise on how the item relates to main characters or plot or period/genre of literature. The key word "broken" has not been explained. Also there is awkward wording in this answer and the play is called a "story.")
The unicorn in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie symbolizes the unique virgin, fragile, and beautiful aspects of the young person in the story. It represents the unreal fantasy in real life circumstances.
Four-point answer (too much plot summary and not precise enough on thematic significance):
Five-point answer (gets right to the point about the significance of the unicorn):
The unicorn is Laura's favorite glass piece in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. It represents her uniqueness and virginity. However, while she and Jim are dancing, the unicorn falls and loses its horn, making it just one of the other horses. This represents Laura's feeling that she is now like everyone else; she is dancing despite her handicap.
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