Quick notes on ‘What I will.’ The poem suggests resistance to what other people (society) want her to do: participate in the Middle East conflict (symbolized as the ‘war drum). She makes her own decisions and refuses to dance to the beat of others’ drums. This is where the extended metaphor (similar to Mila’s) comes in. Hammad suggests that people should make their own decisions and be their own people.

Essay writing. Year 10 extension. T.A.K.O. & S.E.X.Y Essay writing. Year 10 extension.

Step One - the writing purpose What is a response to text essay? “A response to text essay is an essay where you write about a particular aspect of a text that you have studied and show your knowledge and understanding of this aspect and why it is important or interesting.”

A good response to text essay has: a clear introduction that lets the reader know what text you are writing about and how you are going to address the topic/question in your essay. focuses on the one aspect that the question/topic is asking you to write about makes three points about this aspect contains specific details, quotes or references from the text to support each point makes clear statements explaining how each point/example links back to the topic and addresses the question

T.A.K.O. (Take out) T.A.K.O. – This acronym instructs you to provide this information in the introduction: Title (MUST be underlined), Author, Key words from question, Outline of points/ideas If you can think of a better (easier to remember) mnemonic for yourself then use it.

Step Two - TAKO Example of a response to text essay introduction “In Krystyna’s Story by Halina Ogonowska-Coates, an important character is Krystyna. Krystyna is important because she develops the themes in the book of courage and determination.”

Highlight the TAKO information you notice is given in this paragraph “An interesting character in Gary Paulsen’s novel, Hatchet, is Brian. Brian is interesting because of the ways in which he changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. By the end of the book he has changed from an average city boy with no outdoors skills into someone who has learned how to survive in the woods.”

S.E.X.Y … what does each letter stand for? This is a mnemonic for the parts that make up a good paragraph in a response to text essay. S: the Statement at the start of the paragraph that says what point/idea this paragraph is making, focusing on. THIS IS THE TOPIC SENTENCE! E: the Explanation that explains how this statement is relevant to the text and/or question. X: the eXample(s) from the text that support(s) your statement and develop(s) your point. Y: explain whY this example/point is relevant to the question/topic.

Underline SEXY in different colours to show its use in this example paragraph. One reason why Brian is important is because he shows us the key idea of perseverance. Brian had to learn many new things that took him many attempts to get right. An example of when he had to show perseverance was when he tried to start a fire and it took him many attempts to get it to work. To begin with he didn’t know what to do but when he realised a rock he found produced sparks when it was struck he tried and tried again until he got a fire going. This was important because if Brian had not persevered in trying to light a fire then he would not have been able to keep warm at night or to cook the meat he needed to eat to survive.

Good statements- topic sentences. TAKO Good statements- topic sentences. Another reason the extended metaphor of movement is important is because it clearly shows how people change… The personification used in this short story helps us understand the theme of shame. Another way that Joe’s diary is important is that is shows the reader the theme of determination.

Conclusions. Conclude the essay by writing about why you care about the topic (even if you don’t you have to pretend you do! ) Use this sentence as a starter in your conclusion if you are stuck. “An examination of these …(name what your essay has examined) is important because ….(state why you think it is important). The conclusion refers to key words used in the body of the essay. In my example essay, key words were ‘rhythm’ and ‘rhyme’, so the conclusion sentences remind the reader of the discussion that you presented. DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION INTO THE CONCLUSION.

Getting started – a 5 paragraph response to text essay Introduction – Paragraph 1 Using ………. say what your essay is about. You should use some of the wording used in the question, and outline three points/techniques/ideas (in your planning, identify the examples of each of these that you will use). TAKO

Paragraph 2 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic. Take the first of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes). There should be 3 to 5 sentences. This could be on your first text if you are looking at one more than one.

Paragraph 3 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic. Take the second of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes). There should be 3 to 5 sentences. This could be on your second text if you are looking at more than one text.

Paragraph 4 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic. Take the third of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes). There should be 3 to 5 sentences. This could be on your third text, OR showing differences between texts one and two.

Conclusion - Paragraph 5 How is the conclusion written? Look back at the question, read your first paragraph again and refer to the same three ideas – NOTHING NEW! State again the question or topic, wording it differently, but similar in content to the introduction.

More than one text? You could look at an interesting theme or idea over three texts, and give a paragraph to each text. You could look at an interesting idea over two texts. You could talk about each text in paragraphs 1 and 2, and talk about how they are different in paragraph 3. You could choose one text and look at it in depth.

Texts: Karlo Mila ‘On Joining Pasifika’ and Amy Tan ‘Fish Cheeks.’ Describe an important idea in the text. Explain why the idea was interesting. ALWAYS REFER TO POETIC LANGUAGE AND THEME. . Important idea: You can’t escape who are- culture is an integral part of identity. Texts: Karlo Mila ‘On Joining Pasifika’ and Amy Tan ‘Fish Cheeks.’ S: Pasifika rhythm was always inside Mila. S: Foods Tan was ashamed of were her favourite foods. Comparison. E: In this poem…. X: ‘siva/in to our truest selves.’ Mila uses extended metaphor of movement/identity. E: This quote means that her culture identity is who she is. Even after a long absence, she ‘reclaims’ the ‘earlier beat.’ Y: This is important because it shows us as teenagers that we should embrace our culture/ Language features: negative connotations of words, personification to make food seem unappetizing. Irony that her favourite foods were described so negatively. Older narrator realized what her mum and dad were trying to do. Similarities- both narrators are getting to know their identity. Differences- Mila was proud of who she was and embraced her identity. Tan was ashamed.

Essay Titles – 250 words Explain an important idea in the text(s) and why this idea is important for the text(s). Describe at least one language feature that helped you understand a key idea in the text(s). Explain why the language feature helped you understand this key idea. Describe at least one important conflict in the text(s). Explain why the conflict(s) helped you understand an important idea.

Planning. Once you have picked your essay topic, come up with three points that you could relate to your question. For each point, fill in the SEXY chart. Linking. Your 3 paragraphs must link. This means that the reader understands the connections. You can use connectives like ‘A similar idea is…’ ‘Another text that uses a simile is…’ ‘A similar extended metaphor is developed in…’