CSET Single Subject English Test Preparation

This test is best taken over two sessions. Since subtests I and III are entitled Composition and Rhetoric and Literature and Textual Analysis combine them on one test date; this will enable you to use the multiple choice questions to stimulate your thinking for the constructed responses.

Take subtests II and IV either before or after subtests I and III. Base your decision on your expertise such that you tackle your stronger pair first. Use the subject matter requirements to help you decide on your strengths.

Study the test format http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_english_geninfo.pdf.
Print out the subject matter requirements to master all the topics mentioned: http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_english_SMR.pdf.

Examine all the practice questions and each answer choice from the sample test http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_testguide_Engopener.asp on the CSET website www.cset.nesinc.com.

The tests are based on the content standards for English Language Arts www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/index.asp and invaluable are the Reading/Language Arts frameworks: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/cf/index.asp Grades 7-12. This is the content you will need to master as an English teacher.

Search National Council of Teachers of English site www.ncte.org for topics.

Make sure to read relevant sections of the CSET Tips page as it contains invaluable strategies to help you do well on test day.

Subtest I

Literature notes free from Cliffs notes on books, novels, short stories, drama, plays, Shakespeare, poetry: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Literature.id-305321.html?&categoryCd=LITNOTE_DRAMA&sort=TITLE&sortDirection=ASC

Literary criticism: http://www.literatureclassics.com/ancientpaths/litcrit.html
http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/

Poetry: http://sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/readpoem.html

Archetypal Literary Criticism: Theory and Practice
www.csudh.edu/hux/syllabi/573/one_1.html

Postmodernism http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html

(Courtesy of Dr. Mary Klages, English Department, University of Colorado, Boulder)

Subtest II

Contemporary Linguistics by O’Grady et al. 5th Ed. Click on Chapter Summaries:
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/linguistics/default.asp?s=&n=&i=&v=&o=&ns=0&uid=0&rau=0

Glossary of Linguistic Terms: http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/%7Epxc/nlpa/nlpgloss.html#grammar1

For English Learners: English-Language Arts ELD-ELA Standards. www.wested.org/online_pubs/ELD/CARR_complete.pdf page 46 for Grades 6-8 and page 69 for Grades 9-12

English Language Learners: http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/issues/summer08/goldenberg.pdf

More for English as a Second Language (ESL) go to:
www.ablongman.com/peregoy4e  

Reading, Writing, Learning in ESL :http://esl.about.com

Subtest III

Understanding Sentence Structures: http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/basicstructures.htm

Handbook of Rhetorical devices: www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm

(From Robert Harris, VirtualSalt, November 17, 1997 and October 17, 2000)

Grammar: style, usage, punctuation http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/punct.html

Literary terms: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Terms/

For a glossary of Literary Terms relevant for high school see the frameworks and www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm

GRE vocabulary is a useful source for other terms and keywords.

Subtest IV

Note the exact content of the questions. Review the Language Arts frameworks looking particularly for references to speech, drama, media, and creative performance. Look also at the Performing Arts frameworks for Theater:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/thmain.asp

Theater History www.theatrehistory.com

Journalism Resources: http://www.webenglishteacher.com/journ.html

SAT II and AP prep guides are very useful.

Preparation courses and materials are available from Orange County Department of Education: http://ite.ocde.us/test_prep.htm

Review AP test preparation and your college course materials. Schools textbooks are useful, too. Please explore the collection in the Student Resource Center, 2010 Education and contact gse-test-prep@uci.edu if additional information is needed.