Response to Literature Prompts & Theses

Response to LiteraturePrompts &Theses Silent interactive lesson

This a silent lesson. • Students watch the presentation silently. • Students take out a pen or pencil and are given a handout for notes. • Students put a heading on the handout. • Students interact with each other and the presenter by following the directions. THE LESSON WILL NOT BE EXPLAINED, STOPPED, OR REWOUND, SO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. THE LESSON BEGINS NOW.

Read the following information. Fill in your notes for this slide on your handout. A prompt is simply a question that is answered with an essay. There are four basic types of prompts for response to literature. • Character Motivation • Why does a character do what he or she does? • Character Sketch • What personality traits does a character exhibit? • Character Development • How does a character change over the period of the story? • Theme • What is truth about life revealed in the literature? What is the deeper meaning, lesson, or moral in the literature?

Just a reminder. • The word DESCRIBE in a prompt is just a disguised way of saying “what is” or “what are” • The word EXPLAIN in a prompt is just a disguised way of saying “what is” or “what are”

Indicate your status to the teacher by… Thumbs up – I am following along and feeling comfortable with the silent lesson. Wiggling thumb – I am still getting used to the silent lesson and need to pay closer attention.

Good Work! • Read the following prompt. Look at your notes and determine which type of prompt this is. • The Story, “The White Circle” by John Bell Clayton is a story of anger and revenge. Using details from the story, write an essay to explain why the main character followed through with his plan of revenge. • 1. Record your answer on your paper

Shh! Let’s Do Another. • Read the following prompt. Look at your notes and decide which one of the four types of prompt this is. • In the story “Zodiacs,” Louie is not the most likely child to be managing a baseball team. Describe the character traits which show that Louie is a leader. • 2. Record your answer on your paper

Third time’s the charm. • Read the following prompt. Look at your notes and decide which one of the four types of prompt this is. • In the story “Harrison Bergeron,” what is the real-world message the author conveys in this science-fiction tale? • 3. Record your answer on your paper

Last prompt type. • Read the following prompt. Look at your notes and decide which one of the four types of prompt this is. • In the story “The Cat and the Coffee Drinkers,” describe how the narrator develops throughout the story. • 4. Record your answer on your paper

How did you do? Here are the answers. • Character motivation prompt Question about why a character does things • Character sketch prompt Question about a character’s personality traits • Theme prompt Question about the story’s deeper meaning • Character development prompt Question about how a character changes throughout a story

Questions are good, but answers are better. Now that we have examined the types of questions which we will meet, let’s take a look at how to write answers. By the way, thesis is just a fancy word for answer to the prompt. More than one thesis are theses.

GOT ANSWERS? Read the following information. Fill in your notes for this slide on your handout. • The thesis is the answer to the prompt stated in one sentence. • An effective thesis • states a CLEAR answer • answers ALL parts of the prompt • uses words and phrases from the prompt • is always the last sentence in the introduction

How do I write a thesis? Read this prompt and three possible theses. Select the thesis you prefer and add it to your notes. Here is a prompt and three theses that could answer it. • Prompt - In the movie The Little Mermaid, Ariel leaves the only home she has ever known. Describe the aspect(s) of Ariel’s personality that help her to leave her home. • Thesis 1- The aspect of Ariel’s personality that helps her to leave home is her curiosity. • Thesis 2 – The aspects of Ariel’s personality that help her to leave home are her curiosity, passion, and bravery. • Thesis 3 – Ariel’s passion for all things human helps her to leave home.

Now it’s your turn. Name the type of prompt and write a thesis for it. Prompt – In the movie Beauty and the Beast, Beauty is held captive by Beast who wants her to fall in love with him. Explain the transformation that the Beast undergoes from the beginning to the end of the movie. ** hint Beast is initially rough, angry, and selfish. By the end, he is gentle, kind, and loving towards others. Type of prompt = Beauty/Beast Thesis =

Nice Job! • This is a character development prompt. • Here are some examples of a Beauty/Beast thesis compare yours to these. Write down the number that is closest to your thesis. • The transformation that Beast undergoes is to change from an angry person in the beginning to a caring person at the end of the movie. • Beast transforms from a person who is mad at the whole world in the beginning to a caring and lovable man at the end of the movie.

Let’s try another. Name the type of prompt and write a thesis for it. Prompt – In the fairytale “Cinderella,” a young girl lives with her stepmother after the death of her father. Why does Cinderella stay with her stepmother despite her cruelty? ** hint maybe Cinderella has no other place to go, she thinks its her duty, she loves her family Type of prompt = Cinderella Thesis =

Nice Job! • This is a character motivation prompt. • Here are some examples of a Cinderella thesis compare yours to these. Write down the number that is closest to your thesis. • Cinderella stayed with her stepmother despite her cruelty because she felt it was her duty to her father. • Cinderella stayed with her stepmother despite her cruelty out of duty and necessity.

Last Time! Name the type of prompt and write a thesis for it. Prompt – In the movie Aladdin, the main character makes many mistakes. As a result of these mistakes, what is the lesson that Aladdin learns? ** hint Aladdin lies about who he is because he doesn’t believe Jasmine will love him otherwise. However it turns out that Jasmine likes the real Aladdin not the prince who he pretends to be. Type of prompt = Aladdin Thesis =

Nice Job! • This is a theme prompt. • Here are an example of an Aladdin thesis compare yours to this one. • As a result of his mistakes, Aladdin learned that it is important to be loved for who you really are.

You’re Done! • Great job paying attention. NOW YOU CAN FINALLY TALK. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Response to Literature Prompts & Theses