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Response to Literature. How to develop your critical thinking and response to fiction works. How to read fiction:. Look at the title Know about author Trace the plot development Think about author’s purpose
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Response to Literature How to develop your critical thinking and response to fiction works
How to read fiction: • Look at the title • Know about author • Trace the plot development • Think about author’s purpose • Ask “What is the author’s free advice that I can apply in my own life? What can I learn by watching the character handle the conflict?”
Response to Literature • Not a summary • Shows your understanding of the story and your insight • Involves critical thinking • Involves providing support from the story for your insight
Next type of essay to write • Response to Literature Essay • A “Prompt” or question will be asked • The writer has to develop a strong thesis or answer to the prompt. • The thesis must be supported with evidence: facts from story, quotes, and adequate explanation
Strategies to develop a response and insight: • “Somebody wanted, but…so…” for summarizing the entire plot in a few sentences • “Most Important Word” to brainstorm theme or character traits • Understand how to trace the plot of a story and do so while listening to story • Know how to study literature
Most Important Word 1. It is a strategy of identifying theme. 2. Begin with a brainstorming tree using the title as the center circle. 3. Brainstorm “concept” nouns. These are things that cannot be seen or touched!
Most Important Word (cont) • These concept nouns are themes for the story: *adventure *love *friendship *honesty *integrity *courage *risk *sacrifice *acceptance *discovery *survival *satisfaction *resourcefulness *consequences
Summarization • Somebody (main character) • Wanted (conflict introduced) • But (conflict complicated) • So (start of how character must overcome conflict) Helps writers to quickly give a preview of plot. Don’t give away the climax or ending!
Introduction paragraph • Title • Author • Summary statement • Thesis = Main focus for entire essay; what the writer will discuss and prove with support! The answer to the “prompt” asked.
Body Paragraphs: 2, 3, 4 • Begin each with a strong topic sentence. • Answer the prompt in your topic sentence. • Provide proof from the story in the form of facts, examples, and quotes to support your topic sentence. • Clearly explain and connect proof to topic sentence.
Conclusion: Be SMART! • Restate your thesis in a thoughtful way. • Show insight: • What is the reader supposed to understand as a result of watching the main character resolve the conflict? • What was the author’s purpose to his audience? • How can a reader apply the lessons learned to his or her own life? This is the most important paragraph and often is a determiner between A and B grades! Think it through! Be SMART!
Insight: An analogy • You = patient • Author = doctor • Insight = medicine or advice What advice can a reader apply to his or her own life?