Writing the Personal/Visual Response Help for Students Preparing for the English 30 Exam

Step 1: Attack the Question Carefully read and re-read the exam question, and identify key words or instructions by circling and underlining. Use a dictionary (and thesaurus) to define key terms.

Step 1: Attack the Question EXAMPLE: (30-2) What ideas and impressions does the photograph suggest to you? Consider the context, and develop your response by referring to the photograph.

Step 1: Attack the Question EXAMPLE: (30-1) What does the photograph suggest about an individual’s response to a threatening force? Support your idea(s) with reference to the text and to your own previous knowledge and/or experience. What are threatening forces? - What are typical responses to such threats? - What are unique responses? What are my own experiences? Knowledge? -

Step 2: The 5ws Use the 5Ws to brainstorm ideas. Example: - What? - Who? - When? - Where? - Why?

Step 3: Develop a Controlling Idea What is the crux of the idea or impression you hope to communicate? What is the essential point of your piece? Example: In this narrative I want to communicate that man is fascinated by that which is abominable, and threatening forces provide certain individuals the opportunity to capitalize on the pain and suffering of others.

Step 4: Create a Plan How will you “say” this? Will you use a creative form like a memoir, story, letter or news article? Will you write a personal or analytical essay? With what VOICE will you write? Example: I am writing from the vantage point of a news photographer on assignment in Saigon. He has recorded a scene of terror and will be submitting the photograph to his editor from The Times. Ironically the photograph will be used to “sell more papers”, suggesting that some people capitalize on the suffering of others--suffering that comes in the wake of a threatening force. Rather than be moved to help the endangered citizens, the reporter’s actions will demonstrate some people are attracted to such danger because of an appetite for making money.

Step 5: Integration of Details What specific details will you incorporate from the text(s) into your response? Example: - five figures - stench of smoke in background - brother & sister holding hands - streets filled with rain (like tears or blood) - expressions of running people (fear, shock, desperation)

Initial Planning Your initial planning will assist markers in identifying the text or texts to which you are responding. Briefly identify what idea you intend to exlore. I am writing from the vantage point of a news photographer on assignment in Saigon. He has recorded a scene of terror and will be submitting the photograph to his editor from The Times home in America. Ironically the photograph will be used to “sell more papers”, suggesting that some people capitalize on the suffering of others--suffering that comes in the wake of a threatening force such as war. Rather than be moved to help the endangered citizens, the reporter’s actions will demonstrate some people are attracted to such danger because of an appetite for making money. I am trying to suggest the ironic detachment of the reporter, who can shut off his conscience because of greed. The rotting smell in his kitchen is really the smell of his own personal sense of ethics.