Assessment objectives common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Plot summary instead of analysis

  Students often retell the plot rather than analyzing themes or character development.

  Fix itFocus on interpreting the text and discussing its deeper meanings rather than summarizing events.

• Plot Summary

  Students often reduce their analysis to a summary of the plot.

  Fix itFocus on analyzing themes, character development, and literary techniques instead of merely recounting events.

• Over-reliance on plot summary

  Students often summarize the plot instead of analyzing the text.

  Fix itFocus on analyzing literary techniques and their effects on themes and characters.

• Confusing character and narrator

  Students often conflate the narrator's perspective with that of the characters.

  Fix itAlways distinguish between the narrator's voice and the characters' viewpoints to enhance analysis.

• Plot Summary

  Students often summarize the plot instead of analyzing themes and techniques.

  Fix itFocus on how literary methods shape meaning rather than just recounting events.

• Ignoring Context

  Failing to consider the historical or social context when analyzing a text.

  Fix itAlways connect textual evidence to its relevant context to enhance your analysis.

• Neglecting Context

  Failing to connect the text to its historical or cultural context.

  Fix itAlways consider how the context influences themes, characters, and the overall message of the text.

• Over-reliance on plot summary

  Students often summarize the plot instead of analyzing themes and techniques.

  Fix itFocus on analysis by discussing how literary devices contribute to the text's meaning.

• Over-reliance on plot summary

  Students often summarize the plot instead of analyzing themes and techniques.

  Fix itFocus on analyzing how the author uses literary devices to convey deeper meanings.

• Over-reliance on plot summary

  Students often summarize the plot instead of analyzing themes and techniques.

  Fix itFocus on how literary devices and context shape meaning rather than just recounting events.