Theme drill

Working the stimulus

Four quotes, one theme. Find it before you write anything.

The three modes

• Spot the theme — six candidates, pick one. Fast reps; good for building the reflex.
• Name it — say the theme in your own words, then mark yourself. Closer to what the exam actually asks of you.
• Plan an essay — write a thesis and a shape, then compare against three angles. Set the clock to 30:00 for a real run.

A method that works under time

• 1 · Find the noun. What single thing are all four talking about? Power. Memory. Home.
• 2 · Find the disagreement. The quotes are chosen to pull against each other. That tension is your essay, not the noun.
• 3 · Take a side, then betray it once. The strongest essays concede the best counter-argument in full and survive it.
• 4 · Pick one quote to argue with by name. Engaging a specific comment beats gesturing at all four.

Keys

• 1–6 answer · Enter next set · F mark for review

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