working within the 90-minute time limit provides valuable practice for you.
Writing Exam Instructions:
For this writing assessment, you will write a five-paragraph literary analysis in
which you address this prompt:
Write an analysis of "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes. Compare and
contrast the two main characters, Mrs. Jones and the boy. Consider what you
have learned about character descriptions, dialogue, actions, and decisions,
and what they reveal. Explain how the characters and their relationship convey
central ideas and themes. Provide sufficient, relevant evidence from the text to
support your claim and analysis.
Use the writing process you have learned during the literary analysis Writing
Project in the course.
1. Read the literary text closely, keeping the writing prompt in mind.
2. Plan your writing. What will your claim be? What evidence from the text can
you use to support your ideas?
3. Write your literary analysis.
4. Review your essay and make any revisions or edits necessary.
5. Submit your literary analysis essay.
Make sure you:
maintain a formal, academic style, using precise word choice and domain-
specific vocabulary when appropriate
• include an introduction paragraph and a conclusion paragraph
• make smooth and logical transitions between ideas, paragraphs, and
sentences, using appropriate transitional words or phrases
support your ideas with sufficient, relevant textual evidence, using
quotation marks when appropriate