Responding to Text Writing a Response Essay

Step 1: Pre-read Look at the title, predict what the poem or story is about. Read any italicized introductory material and think about how it might relate. Read captions, look at any illustrations. Think of something you already know about the main idea of the work, or even something related in any way.

Step 2: Read Visualize what you are reading. Ask questions in the margin of text. Make judgments about characters or events in the margin; what can you guess is true but not said? Underline images that grab you as you read. Notice literary devices. Monitor your understanding; slow down or speed up your reading if you have to. Re-read parts you are fuzzy on. Use graphics to help you understand something complicated. (Maybe a family tree or timeline or map helps!)

Step 3: THINK. Try summarizing the main idea of the story or poem into one sentence. Ask how bits of the poem or story might relate to real-life issues or situations. Think about other texts, experiences, or situations you know about which might relate to the text. Brainstorm some ideas you had about the story or poem as you read...consult your margin notes. Come up with some critical observations you made as you read. Organize your ideas into categories…do they all have to do with a character? The plot? Theme?

Step 4: Pick an Approach Survey all your thoughts and choose one. Avoid trying to include all your ideas about the text. Focus on one aspect of the text to respond to, and create a thesis statement. Example: "In The Birthmark Nathanial Hawthorne writes about a character who goes overboard in his search for perfection but is portrayed with sympathy to the reader." Polish up the thesis statement.

Step 5: Create the Outline Think carefully about your body paragraphs. Make sure they all are focused on your interpretation. Indicate what support and explanation you will include in each paragraph. Be able to include a quote from the text in each paragraph (for this paper assignment). Allow for counterarguments (While it’s true Aylmer winds up killing his bride, he only does so because...) and decide the best place for them. Consider the order of your paragraphs. Make sure you have properly interpreted the quotes you used and didn’t misread a line.

Step 6: Proofread Be sure you can guarantee accuracy. All quotes from the text must be word for word, all paraphrases in YOUR words. Pay attention to how you've incorporated quotes into your sentences and paragraphs…are they part of the sentences? Double check your parenthetical citations. Double check your bibliographic entry at the end. Check your tone and diction.

THINK for yourself! Your ideas about a poem or story are something only you can offer! If you have lines from the poem or story to back up your idea, it can’t be wrong!