Multiple Choice Strategies

Strategy #1  Eliminate Bad Answers

Every question will have five options, and usually one or two of them are clearly wrong.  Cross those off so you can concentrate on discerning between the "maybes" and the "YES" answer.

Strategy 1.1  Jettison the "Misfits"

If one answer is unlike the rest, it is most likely wrong.  Remember the Do Now example:

a) good-looking
b) unsightly
c) handsome
d) attractive

Answer B is too unlike the others; get rid of it.

Strategy 1.2  Never Compromise

Sometimes we make compromises in life.  For example, you might choose your date for his good looks, ignoring his daft brain, or vice versa.  NEVER compromise on the AP exam.  If an answer is not totally right, then cross it out.  When presented with a paired answer (x and y) and X is spot-on, but you know Y is wrong, do not be seduced by X!  Cross it out!

Example:  Ice cream is

a) sweet and sour
b) hot and delicious
c) creamy and indecent
d) cold and furry
e) fatty and fun

A, B, and D need to go right away, because they each contain a clearly wrong answer.  Next, consider the four remaining adjectives:  creamy, indecent, fatty and fun.  Which one is least correct?  Indecent is the biggest stretch here, so C is a Maybe, but E is the Yes.

Strategy #2  Restrain Your Brain:  Be Very Literal

Literature tends to encourage "big picture" thinking.  We read a story and are inspired to extrapolate new philosophies on life.  As you will see, the essay section allows more room for this type of thinking.  The MC section is NOT for "big thoughts."  They are looking to know the exact meaning of the text, and there is always a correct answer.

Very often, the question will ask about a specific line or word.  Hone in on this limited piece of text, and choose the answer that best corresponds with that portion of the text specifically.  For example, we worked in class on a question that asked if the poem "My Picture" contains a compliment to the beloved.  If we are thinking about the whole poem, we know that the speaker has a complicated and not entirely complimentary attitude toward his beloved.  But, restrain your brain!  The question is asking you a simpler question:  Is there a compliment anywhere in the poem?  Yes!

This question is a good example of how learning to "restrain your brain" and zoom in on the relevant details will save you time in the long run.

Strategy #3  Fuzzy vs Focused Answers

When you have two or more answers that are both correct, choose the more specific answer.  Let's go back to our first question-less example:

a) good-looking
b) unsightly
c) handsome
d) attractive

We used Strategy 1.1 to eliminate B.  Now, we can use Strategy 3 to find the correct answer.  Because the remaining answers are synonyms, they could all be correct.  When you arrive at a situation like this, always choose the most specific answer.  In this case, good-looking and attractive are broader, "fuzzier" words.  Handsome is a more precise type of attractiveness.  So, using test-taking logic, we know the answer is C without even knowing the question.

Stay tuned...more strategies to come!

TP-CASTT

TP-CASTT is a method of analyzing a poem.  By doing these steps in order, you can begin to comprehend complex poems from any era and in any style.

Title - If the poet provides a title, make predictions based on the title.  Why might the poet have chosen that title?  What are the literal and connotative meanings of the title?  What can we expect about the topic or tone based on the title?

Paraphrase - Line by line, carefully paraphrase the poem.  If there is a line you cannot comprehend, skip it.  It is very likely you can still get the gist of the poem. It is important to go line-by-line - finishing a stanza in a chunk may cause you to miss important shifts.

Choices - Every choice a poet makes is intentional.  Ask yourself:  Why did she choose this meter?  This rhyme scheme?  This form?  That imagery?  Hone in on important words or symbols and ask, why did he choose this image, or this symbol?

Attitude - Using specific adjectives, describe the mood of the poem. (Melodramatic?  Melancholy? Exuberant?  Reflective?)  Challenge yourself to choose precise adjectives.  Avoid overly general words such as happy or sad.

Shifts - A majority of poems written before 1800 will include a "twist," as well as many written after that.  Be cognizant of changes in tone or meaning.  These shifts often (not always!) lead you to the poem's theme.

Title Again - Revisit your predictions.  Which have come true?  Which do you need to jettison now that you have a stronger understanding of the poem?

Theme - Finally, if you had to express the "message" of the poem in one sentence, what would it be?  Always be prepared to defend this with specific textual evidence.