This take-home final exam is worth twenty-five points. It is due by the end of the final exam period on December 12 from 9:00-10:50 am. The late paper policy as described by the syllabus applies to the final exam. Turn the exam in by emailing it to me before it is due or by attending and writing the exam in person on December 12th. When you email the exam, include “English 2250” and your name in the subject line.

Using the attached examples, write a brief essay in which you read the short story as a textbook on fiction writing and read the poem as a textbook on writing poetry. Quote the story or poem to support your assertions about it. Focus on craft, not theme. You may use David Starkey’s Creative Writing and any notes you’ve taken as resources while writing the exam. You essay should be between two and five double-spaced pages.

After you write your essay, draft a prose poem that uses techniques you’ve identified from both fiction and poetry writing. The prose poem has no length requirement, but should meet the requirements of its form. Feel free to review those requirements as they are found in our textbook.

Answer at least the following questions as your write about this story:

• What did you learn about characterization from the story?
• Describe power shifts that lead toward the crisis moment.
• Which fiction writing technique was best exemplified in the story? Why?
• How might you apply a technique exemplified by the story in your own work?
• What technique does the story inspire you to avoid? Why?

Answer at least the following questions as you write about this poem:

• How are images in the poem created?
• What does figurative language add to the poem?
• Which poetry writing technique was best exemplified in the poem? Why?
• How might you apply a technique exemplified by the poem in your own work?
• What technique does the poem inspire you to avoid? Why?

Don’t forget to draft your prose poem.

If you have questions about this exam, please email me.