Writing a

Response to Literature Essay

Purpose:

• To

explain and persuade

the reader • Analyze an authors point of view • Use text as evidence when proving a thesis

Requirements:

What should it look like?

• Introduction: • Thesis statement according to the prompt • Title and author • Brief plot summary

Requirements:

What should it look like?

• Body: • Justify your interpretation of the author's message by giving examples and evidence from the text • Give your insights into the characters and the meaning of the story

Requirements:

What should it look like?

• Conclusion: • Summarize the author's message and what you learned from the story

Major Hints!

• Include topic sentences (TS) for each main body paragraph.

• Find concrete details (CD) that directly support your thesis, including direct quotes (“ ”) from the story.

Major Hints!

• Include some commentary (CM) sentences that explains each concrete detail and supports your thesis.

• Don’t forget your concluding sentences (CS) that gives each paragraph a finished fell.

Big Hint!!!

• The Response to Literature essay is

analytical

–not personal!

Basic Elements for Analysis (what to look for when analyzing) • Setting—in terms of how it impacts character and events • Plot—in terms of cause and effect • Character—traits, actions, motivation • Theme—what do the characters and events in the story tell the reader that is important to learn about life.