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************************************************************************** Mrs. Moir's Guide To Response to Literature This is a five-paragraph essay. The Introduction (paragraph one):
(title of the story or book) (name of the author) (main character) ______________ meets the challenge of _____________________. (renamer) (conflict of the story or book)
(main character) (does what – describe the action) he/she discovers _______________________________________. (theme) The thesis statement is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. It should be able to stand alone and must include a subject and an opinion. The body paragraphs (these will be paragraphs two, three, and four): Each one of these paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence that includes transitions. The three body paragraphs (paragraphs two, three, and four) will either: o chronologically track the changes in a character (this means you need to start with the character at the beginning of the story or book, then describe the character in the middle of the story or book, and conclude with describing what the character is like at the end of the book. OR o describe an element or part of the theme and use details from the beginning of the story or book, the middle of the story or book, and the end of the story or book. *Remember that the title of a story is shown in quotation marks while the tile of a book is either underlined or written in italics. ** The author is the person who wrote the book. The second sentence of the paragraph will include concrete detail (a fact), which cites evidence from the story to support the topic sentence. It may begin o “For example…” The next two sentences (sentences three and four) will provide commentary, where students interpret the quoted citation (this means you explain the quote that was used for the concrete detail. If a quote wasn’t used, explain the fact). This means using language that forces the writer to interpret rather than merely retell. An example of this is: o “This means that…” “The character is saying…” “The author demonstrates…”
The last sentence of the paragraph (sentence five) is a concluding statement that gives a finished feeling to the paragraph. It might begin: o “As a result…” Conclusion (paragraph five) The final paragraph should cover “so what.” In this paragraph, the writer answers the question, “So now that you have said all of this, so what? There are several ways to do this: o Explain why the topic is universal in its nature – how it affects the reader. o Expand on the narrow topic to a more universal observation about life, history, literature, etc. o Motivate the reader to take a certain action or think in a certain manner (actually ask the reader to do something). **************************************************************************** Mrs. Moir’s Guide to Plot Summary This should be five-paragraphs in length. Introduction (first paragraph): The first sentence should read: § In ____________________________ by _________________________, (title of story or book)* (name of author) ________________, a ________________, meets the challenge of _____ (main character) (renamer) ___________ in _____________________ during ______________________. (conflict) (place where it takes place) (time period) This initial sentence is VERY similar to the opening of a response to literature essay but includes a little more information. The second sentence should read: § It all begins when…(list the main events, using transitions but limit this to a very brief overview of the story or book). This part may be several sentences long. The last sentence of the introduction must include the theme. It may read: § As ________________________ _______________________ he/she (main character) (does what) discovers/shows the reader that _______________________. (theme of the story or book) OR § _______________________’s ________________________________ (main character) (trait) shows/teaches ____________________________. ( theme) The last sentence of this paragraph serves as a thesis statement and should be able to stand alone. It must have a subject and an opinion. Body paragraphs (paragraphs two, three, and four): Each one of these paragraphs should have five sentences. 1. The first sentence needs to be a topic sentence that refers to events in the early part of the story or book. 2. The second story should be a concrete detail or fact from the story or book. 3. The third sentence should be a concrete detail or fact from the story or book. 4. The fourth sentence should be commentary or opinion formed as a result of the reading. 5. The fifth sentence should be a concluding statement that summarizes this part of the story. *Remember that the name of a story is in quotation marks while the name of a book is either underlined or in italics. Body paragraph two should discuss the beginning of the story or book. Body paragraph three should discuss the middle of the story or book. Body paragraph four should discuss the ending of the story or book. Conclusion (body paragraph five): The conclusion should cover the question, “so what.” In this paragraph, the writer answers the question, “So now that you have said all of this, so what?” There are several ways to do this: § Explain why the theme is very broad and can affect all readers. § Expand of the narrow theme to a more universal or broader theme. § Motivate the reader to take a certain action or think in a certain manner.
Ellen Moir |
