Othello - Act I Quiz/Test

This is a ten- or twelve-question multi-part quiz or test on the first act of my favorite Shakespeare play, Othello. Each question is valued at five points: One point for identifying a character or feature at the literal level, and then remaining points are awarded for short-answer items.

The test was designed for IB-level study. Parts of most questions require critical thinking skills and interpretive analysis. Aside from an obvious comprehension check, I use these tests to force students to respond precisely and concisely to very specific questions about literature. There is limited space for short-answer parts, and I use this constraint as an opportunity to teach students to (a) never restate the question, (b) think before they write, (c) get straight to the point, and (d) express their ideas with maximum clarity. It usually works, but students should have some practice beforehand with these concepts or techniques. I have found that 25 minutes is sufficient time for students to adequately do what they need to do while also managing time effectively.