Response to Literature

State StandardsWrite responses to literature that:

• Exhibit careful reading and insight in their interpretation

• Connect the student’s own responses to the writer’s techniques and to specific textual references

• Draw supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience

• Support judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or to personal knowledge

A Good Response to Lit

IS• Accurately identifies the overall

meaning of the story• Clearly states a thesis at the

beginning of the paper• Supported by evidence from the

text• Integrates quotations and

examples smoothly• Includes commentary• Explores different aspects of an

idea (in each paragraph)• Stays focused on the story

IS NOT• Unnecessary plot summary• First person (I) or second person

(you)• An autobiographical essay• Phrases like “I think”• Weak statements (“in my

opinion”)• Assumes there is only 1 right

answer/ANY right answer• Congratulates the author or

makes evaluations• Changes the focus from the

beginning to the end of the paper

Tips for Writing a Response to Literature

• Skim the reading to get the overall meaning• Reread the selection carefully, marking key words,

phrases and concepts• Underline or make notes in the margins of quotes

or passages that seem significant• Determine what the theme or author’s message

might be• Reread the story and gather evidence that

supports your interpretation. Check the passages/notes you marked previously

• Think about the characters in the story and how they changed. Again, prove with text

ScoringHow will I be graded?

• Introduction: Include title, author, 2-3 sentence summary, author’s message/thesis

• Body paragraphs: (Generally 3) Each addresses a different aspect of the thesis/author’s message. *Each paragraph must include 1 quote from the story followed by 2 commentary sentences explaining/ connecting the quote to the theme/author’s message. Include character development

• Conclusion: Restate author’s message/theme using synonyms, offer text to self or text to text connection

Your Turn!• Read the short stories on the overhead and

identify at least 1 possible theme/author’s message for each

• Working in small groups, read the short story your teacher provides and practice using the steps from slide 4

• Participate in a shared writing acitivity with the whole class

• Write your own response to literature!