1. Text response essays
Animal Farm

2. Do……. Answer the essay question
Use lots of quotes – 4 or 5 per paragraph
Integrate quotations
Have a thread that connects each paragraph so the essay makes sense
Have a contention
Do…….

3. Do not….. Don’t personalise
Don’t write an essay about history, politics, your views on anything outside of the text…
Don’t throw quotes in that are useless
Don’t write less than 5 paragraphs in total
Do not…..

4. Introductions Name the text and the author Contention
Outline your three- four arguments/reasons for your contention
Reference author intent
Include a few incidental quotes (these are like seasoning)
Introductions

5. Incidental Quotes – Talk the Talk of the text
Short quotes or single words used while the sentence is in progress
they are ‘absorbed’ by your writing and help you to ‘talk the talk’ of the text.
This sort of quote integration demonstrates familiarity with the text.
Incidental Quotes – Talk the Talk of the text

6. Example – incidental quotation

7. Main Body Paragraphs

8. Should be broad – but not too broad like a theme study essay topic sentence
A good idea to think about Author intent when writing a topic sentence
Don’t simply re-phrase the essay question
Should pose an interesting or new idea.
Topic sentences

9. I should feel like this when I read them

10. Your topic sentence should act like a big, beautiful umbrella for your thoughts.

11. For an umbrella to work, it needs to be open….

12. Examples Essay topic: Animal Farm is about the power of language.
Topic sentence:
Old Major is a very talented public speaker.
Is this a good topic sentence?
Examples

13. Examples Essay topic: Animal Farm is about the power of language.
Topic sentence:
Speeches are powerful things and this can be seen around the world through the performances of political leaders.
Is this a good topic sentence?
Examples

14. Examples Essay topic: Animal Farm is about the power of language.
Topic sentence:
George Orwell explores the power of language through the inspirational speeches given throughout the text but suggests that violence can be the strongest element in any regime.
Is this a good topic sentence?
Examples

15. Main Body – don’t forget Nicki Minaj
Expand, explain, examine
What, how, why?
MULTIPLE textual examples, lots of quotes, tight analysis… Put a microscope on the text!
Main Body – don’t forget Nicki Minaj

16. You do not want to be a casual acquaintance of the text…

17. You need to stalk George Orwell to write a good essay… READ and REREAD… If he were on facebook, he would block you you are so obsessed….

18. Essay topic: Animal Farm is about the power of language.
Topic sentence: George Orwell explores the power of language through the inspirational speeches given throughout the text but suggests that violence can be the strongest element in any regime.
Expand, explain, examine:
Many of the characters in Animal Farm have an uncanny gift for speaking in public and use these opportunities to persuade the other animals of their point of view. Old Major and Snowball both exemplify these characteristics. Orwell uses Old Major’s speech in the first chapter to establishes the importance of a powerful performance in any revolution. His “wise and benevolent”, inspiring ability to bring all his “comrades” together through the opening speech is indicative of the significance with which Orwell treats the power of words. His questioning of “the order of Nature” and the “miserable condition” that the animals are kept stirs the revolution. Identifying the woes of the animals through his speech in a way that broadens and strengthens their desire for change, he makes his message “crystal clear”. This clarity is at the heart of Orwell’s intention to uncover the dangers of the deceit that can be uncovered when those in power are challenged. Likewise, Snowball has an affinity with language and performance. Frustratingly for Napoleon, Snowball’s ability to “set forth” his opinions via strong speeches also supports Orwell’s notion that speeches can be powerful tools for those in positions of power. When “Snowball’s eloquence carrie[s] them away” and his “glowing sentences” win over the animals, Orwell not only reminds the reader of the power of persuasive speech, he establishes the significance of violent acts in this sort of environment. Snowball’s plight at the hands of Napoleon is used by Orwell as a warning that force and brutality can overpower even the most popular and dynamic speaker.
What do I do wrong here?