Lecture Notes: English Regents Exam Overview

Introduction

• Speaker: Kathleen (Mrs. McTutor on YouTube)
• Topic: English Regents Exam Review
• Focus: Overview of all three parts of the Regents exam

Part 1: Reading Comprehension

• Structure:
  • 3 Passages:
    1. Literary passage (short story/memoir excerpt)
    2. Poem
    3. Informational text (often science-related)
  • Multiple-choice questions for each passage
• Advice:
  • Highlight and annotate important information
  • Use the process of elimination for multiple-choice questions
  • If unsure of an answer, use a "letter of the day" strategy

Part 2: Argument Essay ("The Big Kahuna")

• Structure:
  • Read topic and 4 texts
  • Understand both sides of the argument
  • Highlight with colors (pro: green, con: orange)
  • 5-Paragraph Essay Structure:
    1. Introduction
    2. Body Paragraph 1 (First main reason)
    3. Body Paragraph 2 (Second main reason)
    4. Counterclaim and Rebuttal
    5. Conclusion
• Requirements:
  • Include information from at least 3 texts
  • Use in-text citations (e.g., Text 2, lines 32-33)

Example Argument Essay:

• Topic: School uniforms
  • Intro: Thesis statement arguing for uniforms
  • Body 1: Economical benefits (study examples)
  • Body 2: Academic benefits (study examples)
  • Counterclaim: Expressing individuality rebutted by uniform benefits
  • Conclusion: Restates thesis

Part 3: Text Analysis

• Task:
  • Read passage
  • Identify central idea
  • Analyze one literary element used
• Advice:
  • Annotate while reading
  • Identify central idea and literary element
  • Write a 2-3 paragraph essay (suggest 3 paragraphs)
    • Introduction: Literature tag, central idea, literary element
    • Body: Connect character/literary element with the central idea
    • Conclusion: Restate central idea and literary element

Example Text Analysis:

• Video: Maya Angelou's "Be the Rainbow in Someone Else's Cloud"
  • Central idea: Kindness and helping others
  • Literary element: Metaphors (clouds and rainbows)
• Story: "This Son of Mine" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
  • Central idea: Pursuing personal dreams
  • Literary element: Internal conflict

Conclusion

• Regents exam consists of these three parts
• Additional resources and videos available on the speaker's channel