By Sophie Tuan
English I Honors with Andy Evans was one of the most helpful classes I took during my freshman year. Not only did his class teach me how to study for tests, it also helped me develop the technical aspects of writing. Although high school English classes are a huge leap from middle school, I am eternally grateful for this class because it taught me all the structure, grammar, and writing skills I needed to know for later years. Below is the ultimate guide to acing Mr. Evan’s freshman english class—how to best study for tests and write your essays. Best of luck!
Test Prep
- Read the book! Actually, do it.
- Look up “Top 50 Quotes from ______” and study them in order to get a gist of characters’ tone and voice. There is always quote matching on tests.
- Know the characters of the book.
- Remember key facts about the book. Usually these are provided in a slideshow when you first start reading. (Ex: Which poet inspired Of Mice and Men?)
- Study the last five sentence patterns you learned in class.
- Review your class notes (Getting Better, Literary Terms, etc).
- Remember the last 3 literary terms covered in class.
- Remember small but important details throughout the book.
Essays
- Follow the checklist Mr. Evans gives you! Try to include everything on it.
- Pre-write your essays. This allows you more time to edit, find proper quotes, and gives you a stress free class period.
*Pro Tip: Once you finish pre-writing your essay, go to Mr. Evans’ study hall to ask for a quick review of your essay. This way you can fix mistakes that otherwise would have lowered your grade.
- Properly integrate quotes; don’t just plop a quote into the middle of your essay. Make sure to include analysis and context.
- Practice writing comprehensive thesis statements with sound DOPs (divisions of proof).
- Look over the Tips and Errors list provided by Mr. Evans.
- Use spell and grammar check.
- Always circle back to the theme. Don’t get sidetracked.
* Pro Tip: Remember to fully commit to extra credit opportunities when they are presented. This is an easy way to boost your grade by a couple percent.