NOTE: The B exam is a "take-home" exam. It is not written in the testing center. You will submit this exam using the B Exam submission link in Blackboard.

NOTE: You may not submit the B exam until you have submitted the C exam.

• First, choose one set of articles in the B Exam Reading Selections. (Note: Set 4 has three articles. You are expected to deal with all three articles if you choose Set 4.)

• Read the two articles carefully. Then, using the referential-interpretive purpose, write a comparison-contrast analysis of at least 1000 words and no more than 1250 words. Your essay should analyze the writers' use of rhetorical purposes and patterns to achieve meaning.
  
  
• Determine the writers' main idea/claim/meaning, then identify and analyze at least one rhetorical purpose and two patterns used by each writer in his/her work to accomplish that idea, claim, or meaning. In other words, use analysis as you did on Assignment 6 to compare and contrast how the writers have written their works. Identify one main idea that applies to both articles. Then show how the two writers have used similar or different writing approaches to arrive at basically the same point.

• Include an underlined thesis statement that indicates your analytical intent and identifies the purpose(s) and patterns you intend to analyze.

• Do not use first-person or second-person pronouns to write your essay. (You may use these pronouns only if they appear in a direct quote you use.)

• Limit your use of direct quotes to no more than 10% of the total word count.

• Indent all paragraphs at least five spaces.

• Analyze each purpose and pattern in its own separate paragraph.

• Double space your submission. Please do not use the Enter or Return key to create double spacing.
  
  
• Also, evaluate the writing styles exhibited in the works, using such criteria as effective use of sentence structure, diction, vitality of language used, logical consistency of structure and content, and consistency of point of view. In other words, judge how well the writers have written their works. Is one work better than the other? Which work better conveys the main idea or meaning?

• Your essay must be a direct comparison-contrast of the chosen works. Do not treat the works separately. For example, you will discuss the primary purpose for both articles at the same time and probably in the same paragraph. You will discuss the primary pattern(s) for both articles at the same time and probably in the same paragraph. And so forth. This structure is called point-by-point comparison, or alternation of details. Go to the Paragraphs section of the Online Grammar Handbook and read about Comparison-Contrast paragraph types. There you will find a discussion of the type of structure to use in this exam.

• In this analysis, you want to focus on three key points for comparison and contrast in the two articles: purposes used, patterns used, which has better accomplishment of purpose.

• The same Basic Guidelines as provided for Assignment 6 apply here, unless otherwise noted above or in this list of conditions. To review Assignment 6 requirements, follow this link:
  Assignment 6 Lecture

• You must have a successful C exam to qualify to gain credit for the B exam.

• If you have three or more late assignment submissions, you are not eligible to write the B exam.

• Exams cannot be revised to make them acceptable. Any unacceptable exam must be rewritten using a different topic. Time permitting, you have two opportunities to write an acceptable exam at any grade level.