You will take Exam 1 at your local
NVCC Testing Center or through a
proctor if you are out of
the area. If you need a
proctor,
allow a few days to process the request through ELI.
Exam 1 will ask you to analyze the characters of Agamemnon and Achilles in Book 1 of the Iliad. One is a king, the other a hero; both are violent-tempered men; one is the son of a goddess, the other descends from the gods a few generations back. Both are doomed.
Prepare for this exam by reading Book 1 of the Iliad carefully, taking notes on the characters and roles of Agamemnon and Achilles. You should also read through the plot summaries of the Iliad and the Troy Cycle in the
course textbook, The Trojan War. You will find it very helpful to go to Bulfinch's Mythology and read about the families and lives of Agamemnon and Achilles. You can print out what you find there and bring it to the exam.
Now, make sure you have some interesting point to make about these two ancient heroes. This point should be an answer if a reader of your essay asks, "so what?" Support your point with plenty of specific examples from the Iliad and from any other sources you wish to use.
Write a developed essay of about 500 words on this topic.
| Here is a page you might find helpful as you prepare for your exam: How to Write a Literary Comparison: It was prepared by a colleague of mine, Dr. Agatha Taormina for her Science Fiction class. |
Exam 1 Grading Criteria:
| Presents a balanced discussion of Achilles and Agamemnon in Book 1 of the Iliad |
| Has a point, a "so what" |
| Supports that point with clear examples from the Iliad and any other sources you care to use |
| Is well-developed (about 500 words) |
| Is written in clear, correct, English |
| Exam 1 is worth up to 100 points. |
|
After you complete Exam
1, go on to Unit 2 |
