Structure & Style — Drills · Grade 11 English
Chapter: Close Reading & Literary AnalysisWhat these drills covers
By the end of Structure & Style you should be able to:
- I can analyze how an author's structural choices — where a text begins, ends, and how it is ordered — shape its meaning and aesthetic impact.
- I can explain how stylistic choices such as symbolism, motif, tone, and syntax create effect in American writing.
2 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.
Vocabulary used: structure, symbolism, motif, tone, figurative language, syntax.
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
Separate plot events from the order in which a writer presents them. A flashback can make readers reassess an action; a delayed explanation can create uncertainty. Show an actual application before considering the method recalled.
Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.
Response criteria
- Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
- Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
- Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
Past tense alone is not a flashback. Identify a departure from the story’s main sequence and explain what that earlier scene changes for a reader.
Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.
Response criteria
- Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
- Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
- Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.