NYS ELA study plan

Annotate two short literary passages per session, marking character motivation, conflict, and shift points in the margin

Distinguish literal meaning from figurative language by labeling at least ten examples of metaphor, simile, and personification in a single sitting

Summarize each annotated passage in two sentences that name the central idea and one supporting detail

Build a personal glossary of literary terms you cannot yet define from memory and review it at week's end

Identify an author's central claim in three informational texts and quote the sentence that states it

Trace how an author builds an argument by numbering the sequence of reasons and evidence in two op-ed-length texts

Evaluate the strength of cited evidence by judging whether each piece is relevant, sufficient, and credible

Compare two texts on the same topic and state one point of agreement and one point of divergence in writing

Answer timed multiple-choice sets on literary and informational passages, capping each set at the exam's per-question pace

Write a defensible thesis for three different prompts in under five minutes each

Select and embed two pieces of textual evidence per thesis without letting quotation overwhelm your own analysis

Explain how each quoted detail supports the thesis in a follow-up sentence rather than letting the quote stand alone

Outline a full text-based essay in ten minutes using a claim, two body points, and a counterpoint

Draft an introduction that names the text, author, and thesis without padding or plot summary

Connect evidence to claim with explicit reasoning sentences rather than implied links

Write a conclusion that extends the argument instead of restating the introduction

Correct run-ons, fragments, and comma splices in a self-edited draft without outside help

Apply consistent subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement across a 500-word draft

Punctuate complex and compound sentences correctly, including introductory clauses and nonessential elements

Vary sentence length and structure deliberately to improve flow in a revised paragraph

Read two paired passages and write a synthesis paragraph that uses evidence from both

Maintain formal academic register by eliminating slang, contractions, and second-person address from a draft

Revise a prior essay to sharpen word choice, replacing vague verbs and generic adjectives with precise ones

Cut at least ten percent of a draft's length without losing any claim or evidence

Complete a full-length timed practice exam under real conditions with no pauses or notes

Classify every missed question by error type: misread passage, weak evidence, careless reading, or time pressure

Rewrite the essay portion of the practice exam after reviewing your errors and compare the two versions

Drill your two weakest question types until your accuracy on them improves measurably

Review your cumulative error log and re-answer every previously missed question type

Write two timed essays on unfamiliar prompts to confirm your pacing holds under pressure

Rehearse a five-minute pre-writing routine for claim generation and evidence selection

Confirm exam-day logistics, timing checkpoints, and a plan for handling an unfamiliar passage