Refresher: How to write a text response essay Text response essays Refresher: How to write a text response essay

A few rules Use formal language! Romeo is totes annoying and needs to grow up – this is informal language Romeo’s irritating demeanour at this point in the text demonstrates his lack of maturity – this is formal language Write in present tense: Romeo is foolish when he kills Tybalt. Rather than Romeo was foolish when he killed Tybalt.

I’ve read the book – I promise! Please don’t tell me what happens in the text. I already know. Your task is to present an analysis of the text’s meaning, not a summary of the plot. Your essay needs to include analysis (your ideas about what something means) and reference (evidence of this in the text).

Embedding references You can combine the two elements of your essay (analysis and reference) into a single sentence by embedding your references (quotes). E.g. Analysis – Juliet rejects societies expectations that dictate she must obey her father and marry a person because they are a suitable match. Reference – ‘You shall not make me there a happy bride’ A possible integrated sentence could be: When Juliet asserts she ‘shall not [be made] `a happy bride’, she rejects societies expectations that dictate she must obey her father and marry a person because they are a suitable match.

Now you try… Combine the following analysis and reference into an integrated sentence. Analysis – Shakespeare implies that the fate of Romeo and Juliet is predetermined Reference – ‘Two star-crossed lovers take their life’ Note: If you need to make a change to a quote so that it makes sense in the sentence, you need to use … for anything removed, and square brackets [ ] for anything added.

Introduction An introduction should be a preview of what is to come. This is why planning is so important, because you can't write about what is to come in your essay if even you don't know what you'll be writing. - You start by mentioning the essay question (this is like a topic sentence for the entire essay). E.g. The prince states that "all are punished" at the end of Romeo and Juliet, but is everyone punished fairly? Alternatively, a broad statement about people being punished in society. - Next you need to preview what your main arguments (paragraphs) are, so that your reader knows a little bit about what you will be arguing. E.g. Many characters in Romeo and Juliet did terrible, immoral things and deserved that bad things that happened to them. Their punishments fit their various crimes. blah, blah, blah... Other characters were treated unfairly as they only meant the best and never wanted ...(various bad things)... to happen. They did not deserve their punishments. blah, blah, blah.... - The last thing you need to mention is your contention. You need to say this clearly so that there is no way that anyone reading your essay could misunderstand you. BUT, we don't EVER want to use the word 'I'. E.g. The prince's statement that all are punished was made in anger and does not mean that all were punished fairly. Many people did not deserve what happened to them, though there are definitely some who did deserve their punishment.

Body paragraphs There should be three body paragraphs. This is the main part of your essay and is your chance to present lots of evidence to prove your contention. You must explain all these pieces of evidence. You cannot mention something that happened in the story without explaining HOW it helps prove your point.

Topic Sentence This should tell your reader what will be in this paragraph, what it is all about. If your paragraph is going to be about the people who deserved what they got, say this in your first sentence, your topic sentence. E.g. Not everyone was fairly punished but many of them got exactly what they deserved. (You can see what I will talk about it my paragraph based on this). Avoid mentioning specific examples from the text in your topic sentence

Evidence and Explanation These two should form the bulk of your paragraph and be repeated many times. They should be linked in together. Remember that evidence can be quotes or references to things that happened in the story. The explanation is there to describe to your reader HOW the evidence helps prove your contention. Example with no explanation: Tybalt was a hotheaded and violent man who started many fights. He fought with Benvolio and his friends, he tried to start a fight with Romeo and fought Mercutio, whom he killed..... *I know all this, I read the story. What you need to add is HOW this shows that Tybalt deserved what he got. Spell it out clearly, even if it seems obvious.

Your turn Tybalt is presented as a hotheaded and violent man who starts many fights. His fight with the Montegues in the streets of Verona is the climax of the play, and results in the death of Mercutio. Add explanation to this example.

Link This finishes off your paragraph and links your ideas together. Remind your reader of what your contention is- link back to your contention. E.g. All these people deserved exactly what they got for the bad things they did throughout Romeo and Juliet. *Simple. It's repetitive but in a good way that helps your reader stay on track and really hammer in your point of view. Now you do the same thing with your next paragraph, working through the great points you came up with in your brainstorming and planning. If you planned really well, you should know exactly what you will want to say and you can concentrate on saying it in a nice, formal way. *Remember not to write "I" as in "I think..." "I believe..." or say stuff like "my opinion is..." I know it's your opinion because it's your essay!

Conclusion The purpose of a conclusion is to remind the reader of all the great points you made in your paragraphs. It's like the closing statement made by a lawyer in a court case. Recap, in a shortened version, and then sum up your argument by reminding me one last time of your contention. E.g. Each and every character in Romeo and Juliet was effected somehow by what happened. They were all involved in the events somehow. Though some people did things for the good reasons and others because of hate or weakness. Tybalt was... Montague hated... Whereas Friar Lawrence only wanted... .... .... The punishments were not always fair. Some people such as ... deserved what they got. Other like ... didn't deserve their punishment at all. "All are punished" but this justice certainly wasn't fair.

Why is an essay not a hamburger? This is a simplistic visual which is great when you are learning to write essays, but at VCE is too simplistic. Introductions and conclusions are not the same. TEEL is a good guide for the things that should be present in an essay paragraph, but don’t be limited by it.

Introductions and Conclusions Introduction – introduce the text and the topic, state your contention, and give your main ideas/reasons for this contention. Conclusion – summarise your key arguments and restate your contention – what insights have you gained through the writing of the essay?

The body of the essay: beyond “TEEL” Split your ideas into 3 main ideas, and write one paragraph on each. Your paragraphs should include: A clear topic sentence that states that idea in relation to the essay topic What you think Why you think this Where there is evidence in the text Refer to specific examples and use quotes

Useful words Ultimately Conversely Furthermore Moreover Additionally Overall Essentially

Practise! Essay writing requires a number of skills. The good news is, if you practise these your writing will improve!