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Response to LiteratureGrade 4-6

Based on a released prompt given by the state

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Objective

• Today we will write a response to literature.

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What is a Response to Literature?

*Writing that shows your understanding/ interpretation of the literature.

*Support your ideas by referring to the story and to what you already know.

Memory Prompt

R&R- Respond by Referring

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Understand the Prompt

• Directions

• Read the story / make notes as you read

• After you read write your essay/you may go back to the story

• Prompt:

• Write about your understanding of the story. Support your ideas by referring to the story and to what you already know.

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The Pecan Tree The pecan tree stood on Juanita’s land, but many of its branches hung over

the stone wall that separated her land from Pablo’s land. For years Pablo had gathered the fallen nuts. He gave them to his mother, who made them into tasty pies and breads.

One Stormy night, Pablo heard a terrible crack of lightning. It was immediately followed by booming thunder so loud that is little house shook. The next morning when he looked outside, he saw the pecan tree lying split and broken on the ground. Twisted branches lay across the top of the wall and on both sides of it. Pablo felt very sad. Juanita had lost her beautiful tree, and he and his mother would no longer enjoy the delicious gifts the tree had freely given them for so long. Outside, Pablo bent down beside the stone wall. He searched through the fallen branches and gathered all of the pecans he could find. After a while they were all collected in a bucket. Pablo lowered it onto the ground on Juanita’s side of the wall.

It was with a heavy heart that Pablo walked back to his house. A surprise met his eyes as he approached. There on the steps he saw a larger basket. As he grew nearer, he could see that it was filled to the brim with pecans!

He looked over toward the stone wall and saw Juanita walked away in her flowing, colorful skirts and her red headscarf. Glancing back, she waved and brightly smiled at him. He returned both gestures. While he had been worrying about her, she had been thinking of him. As he watched her go, Pablo thought, “ Pecan trees may come and go, but true friends are forever.”

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Analyzing the Prompt (Manual 3-73 to 3-74)

• What will you write? an essay• What/who is the topic? -Juanita and Pablo’s friendship• What will you do (verb)? -show your understanding (discuss/interpret) • What will you discuss? -the theme/ lesson of the story• How do I develop the essay? -refer to the story and your own experiences

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The Introductory ParagraphShould contain the following

Summary Statement

Plan Sentence

Thesis Statement/ Topic Sentence

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Quick Summary Statement for the Introductory Paragraph (like finding

the main idea)

• Name the title, author and genre (Adding the Blues Manual 2-35 to 2-37; 4-32 to 4-35)

• Think who or what is the writing mostly about.

• What the subject does or is

Example:

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Summary Statement

In the story “ The Pecan Tree,” a much loved pecan tree falls in a storm.

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Writing the Plan Sentence (Manual 4-18 to

4-19) Introductory Paragraph• A plan sentence focuses your ideas and

organize your essay. • The prompt asks that the essay be developed

using details from the story. • Think of two or three points from the story.

Example:

Juanita and Pablo miss the tree, but think of the other person first.

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Developing the Thesis: Introductory Paragraph (Manual 2-21 to 2-34; 4-17 to 4-18)

• What point will you make?

They learn something important about being friends.

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Put it Together for the Introductory Paragraph

• In the story “ The Pecan Tree,” a much loved pecan tree fall in a storm. Juanita and Pablo miss the tree, but think of the other person first. They learn something about being friends.

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Writing the Body

1) Block it Out / Outline RDF

Transition + RFD

Reasons/ Facts/ Details

2)Add the E’s

Examples * Evidence * Explanation * Events

* Experience * Elaboration * Expert Opinions

* Effective Illustrations * Embedded Quotes

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Outline/ “Block Out” the body of the essay using your Projected Plan (manual 4-20 to 4-27) Transition + RDF

Introduction

Body1) Reason/ Fact/ Detail (from you plan)Example: Juanita had a pecan tree that separated her land from Pablo’s land.

2) Add your e’s- They gather fallen pecans -

Pablo remembers what the tree gave him

Body 2) Reason/ Fact/ Detail (from you plan)Example: Pablo and Juanita were both worried about each other instead

of themselves. 2)Add your e’s

They leave pecan for each otherThey think about their friendship

conclusion

Conclusion

Introduction Paragraph - Summary statement * plan sentence * thesis statement

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Conclusions

• Summarize- Summarize the information

• Convince- Convince the reader of your position

• Challenge- Challenge the reader to think

• Encourage- Encourage the reader to take action

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Ideas for the Conclusion(Manual 4-55 to 4-59)

Examples: They gave their pecans without expecting anything in return. They became better friends when the pecan tree fell than when it was alive.

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Score Point 4 Essay Friendship

In the story “ The Pecan Tree,” a much loved pecan tree fall in a storm. Juanita and Pablo miss the tree, but think of the other person first. They learn something about being friends.

Juanita had a pecan tree that separated her land from Pablo’s land. Pablo gathered the nuts that had fallen for his mother. One night a storm approached and broke the pecan tree. It was a sad moment. The next morning, Pablo searched for pecans and put them in a bucket for Juanita. When Pablo came home he saw a bucket of pecans. He looked back and saw Juanita smiling at him.

Pablo and Juanita were both worried about each other instead of themselves. Pablo collected the nuts when the pecan tree fell. Instead of keeping them he gave them to her. When Juanita’s pecan tree fell she gave the nuts on her side to Pablo. They both were doing the same thing that they other was without knowing it.

They gave their pecans without expecting anything in return. They became better friends when the pecan tree fell than when it was alive.

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Revise /Edit/ PublishOrganization- rate 4,3,2,or 1(4 is the best)

• Strong thesis/ addresses the prompt/compelling /interesting

• Reasons, Facts, Details strongly support the topic

• Effective examples/ elaboration given

• Strong conclusion/ revisits the topic/ interesting

• Varied transitions/ natural sounding

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Content – rate 4,3,2,or 1

• Quality and quantity or information related to the topic and entertains/ educates the reader.

• Intriguing examples, evidence, and explanations bring prompt to life.

• Fully develops the prompt.

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Style – rate 4,3,2,1

• A variety of sentence structure (simple, compound, complex) variety in the way sentences begin.

• Rich words, content, vocabulary/ or figurative language to create mental pictures.

• Style uses specific words and sentence structures that reflect a specific purpose.

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Grammar and Mechanics- CUPS

• Very few errors in capitalization- usage- punctuation -spelling

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Encouraging Revision

• Revision Improve the paper

• Edit CUPS changes

• Proofread For errors in final copy

7-10

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Closure

1) What is a response to literature?

Writing that shows your understanding of the literature.

2) What does R&R stand for?

Respond by Referring

3) Share/ Read your Essay aloud

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Independent Practice

• Write your own response to “The Pecan Tree”

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Body1Transition + Reason/ Fact/ Detail (from you plan)

.2) Add your e’s

Body 2Transition + Reason/ Fact/ Detail (from you plan)

2)Add your e’s

Introduction Paragraph - summary statement * plan sentence * thesis statement

conclusion

Outline Format