YEAR 7 TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY Text Response Essay

YEAR 7 TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY

Text Response Essay A Text Response is when you respond to a text. The most popular texts are novels and films; however plays, poetry and short stories are also common. Your response should be in the form of an essay, in which you discuss themes, ideas and characters. There is clear structure you must follow when writing the essay.

Topics ◦ When you write a text response essay you are analysing the text, the author’s use of themes, characters and ideas. ◦ You are provided with a topic, also known as a question that you must not only directly respond to but also discuss. ◦ As a text is often open to many interpretations, students have the ability to offer insightful point of views.

Narrow thinking vs. Broad thinking It is essential that all students rise above just using the most obvious examples/evidence. The idea of the question, is that it invites students to think not just of one example but of many. Good responses employ more interesting examples of what the major characters do along with references to the actions of minor characters. Weaker responses will just stick to the instances of what the main characters do that most immediately come to mind.

Making a hamburger – essay writing ◦ We have learned a few different ways to structure an essay. We pictured writing an essay as filling a cup. Another way we can picture essay writing is as a hamburger: Why do you think we use visuals like this in English classes?

ESSAY WRITINGTEXT RESPONSE

Your Turn – Practice Essay Topic What does John Marsden teach us about courage? Plan a 3 paragraph response to this topic using TEEL Begin with a brainstorm: ◦ What does courage mean? ◦ Who shows courage in the novel? ◦ Is it possible to be scared and courageous?

Introduction (the top bun) ◦ Make sure you clearly introduce the content of your essay to your readers. ◦ All introductions MUST contain the following: ◦ ◦ ◦ Clearly summarise the novel you are discussing Note the name of the author The context of the text (historical/ modern) Clearly outline the essay topic and your discussion (your main contention) Clearly outline the topic of each of your paragraphs

The Introduction Checklist ◦ Author ◦ Title ◦ Adjective for title ◦ Context ◦ Synopsis ◦ Contention (Your main idea for the essay Topic) ◦ 3 -4 main arguments/topic sentences eg. Author’s Adjective Title, explores Context, synopsis. Contention, is demonstrated by, paragraph topic 1, 2 and 3.

Body Paragraphs ◦ You should have 3 body paragraphs in a text response essay ◦ Each paragraph must explore a new idea ◦ Each paragraph must adhere to structure (TEEL) ◦ Use direct quotes for evidence (aim for 1 -2 quotes per paragraph)

T. E. E. L ◦ Topic One sentence outlining what the paragraph is about ◦ Elaboration Explore the topic further, with details. You will do this several times in the paragraph ◦ Evidence A direct quote from the novel to support your elaboration ◦ Explanation Explain how your evidence prove your point. ◦ Link A sentence to conclude the paragraph by: ◦ linking to the next paragraph (this creates a flow on effect) ◦ linking back to the topic sentence (proving how the paragraph has explored the topic sentence ◦ linking to the essay topic (proving the significance of the paragraph)

What is ‘evidence’ ◦ The purpose of the text response essay is to discuss and analyse the text offering your insightful interpretation. However, you must prove that your ideas are supported by what actually occurs in the text whether it be an event or a character’s thoughts or feelings. ◦ You must remember that the essay is a discussion – never a recount. Assume the reader has read the text – DO NOT PROVIDE A PLOT SUMMARY OF THE TEXT!

Quotes ◦ Make sure you integrate your quotes ◦ Quotes should be short. Paraphrasing can make quotes slide in to your own writing style, while maintaining the authenticity of the author. ◦ The ideal place for a quote is in the middle of your sentence (though this is not always possible) ◦ If your quote is more that 4 word in length you must include the page number after the quote. Example (p. 210)

HOW TO USE QUOTES IN YOUR WRITING Paraphrasing

What does it mean to paraphrase? ◦ a restatement of a passage in a text that gives the meaning in another form, enhances clarity. ◦ the act or process of restating or rewording.

How to Paraphrase Make sure you integrate your quotes Quotes should be short. Paraphrasing can make quotes slide in to your own writing style, while maintaining the authenticity of the author. The ideal place for a quote is in the middle of your sentence (though this is not always possible)

Helpful Hints: Quotes ◦ Once you find sections of the book which support your topic, write out the sentences you believe offer the strongest evidence ◦ Now select the most important section of that sentence, the rest can be paraphrased. ◦ Paraphrasing is indirectly using another author’s words. You may condense or rearrange the sentence to make it fit more appropriately into your own writing

Conclusion ◦ Your conclusion needs to summarise the content of your essay, namely the author, title, and essay topic ◦ Recap any of the insightful topics you have covered, to ensure your reader finishes the essay with these in mind ◦ Make your last sentence relate directly to your reader. Tell them what they should think, feel or do as a result of reading your essay – this proves the significance of your essay

Helpful Hints: Editing/Drafting ◦ Read your work out loud – it is very easy to discover mistakes in sentence structure and punctuation this way ◦ Make sure someone else reads your work before you submit it. Sometimes you are too close to the work yourself to see silly errors

Helpful Hints: ◦ As well as editing the faults out of your own work, it is also important to recognise the positive qualities ◦ Highlight things that you like about your essay – sentences, vocabulary words, and quotes.