Working an Unseen Text Against the Clock · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Sixty minutes with a stranger poem

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 17-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. How many points should you develop in the essay?

    • Everything you noticed
    • Three strongest points
    • None, to save ink

  2. How should you split sixty minutes on an unseen-text essay?

    • 10 read, 10 plan, 30 write, 10 check
    • Sixty minutes writing, zero planning
    • Fifty annotating, ten panicking

  3. You should write your opening claim only when the reading feels finished.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which use of quotation works best under time pressure?

    • Short quotes with comment
    • Whole stanzas with no comment
    • Quotes saved for homework

  5. What should your first read of the poem produce?

    • A fair copy of the poem
    • A nap
    • Circles, voice, notes

  6. The last job is checking that every claim has evidence and every quote has a comment.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. An essay covers the whole poem but argues nothing. What went wrong?

    • The handwriting was too neat
    • The poem was too short
    • No spine, only coverage

  8. Fifteen minutes remain and you have annotated eight points. What is the best move?

    • Write on all eight, briefly
    • Develop your best three
    • Start annotating a ninth point
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_9yk_tpun2R-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Sixty minutes with a stranger poem W1-mt_9yk_tpun2R-s1

  1. Three strongest points · Depth on three points beats thin coverage of ten.
  2. 10 read, 10 plan, 30 write, 10 check · Set the split before you open the paper, then hold to it.
  3. False · A working claim comes early to focus the rest of your reading.
  4. Short quotes with comment · Short quotes plus your comment prove more per minute.
  5. Circles, voice, notes · Pen moving early hunts patterns instead of perfect answers.
  6. True · That check catches unsupported claims before time runs out.
  7. No spine, only coverage · A clear line of argument plus tight evidence beats coverage with no spine.
  8. Develop your best three · Three developed points outscore eight thin ones.
Worksheet · LightMySky