Year of Wonders
Reading and Responding
How can I effectively address all of the
criteria...?
Essay Topics-Understand the
Requirements
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Discuss
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Debate, explain or
question a topic-give
evidence, reasons
and explantions for
and against
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Do You agree?
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Present your own
interpretation-give
evidence, reasons
and explanations for
and against
Essay Topics
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How?
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Explain, describe or
outline ways in which
the text illustrates
the topic by drawing
on textual evidence
and metalanguage
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Why?
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Explain reasons to
support the ideas
represented in the
topic
Essay Structure
Introduction: Main Contention-a clear
sentence stating your contention,
 Background-the context, an outline of the
main points/reasons
 Introduce the author
 Key words and concepts-use key words,
explain main idea/s, definitions
 Discuss structures, features and conventions
of the text
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Introduction:Sentence Samples
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“Year of Wonders” is a complex exploration
of…
Geraldine Brooks warns the reader that…
At the beginning of Year of Wonders, it is
established that….
Year of Wonders is a response to…..
Year of Wonders explores….
There are two/three significant messages
that Brooks presents in Year of Wonders.
Geraldine Brooks depicts…..
Introduction:Sentence Samples
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Geraldine Brooks presents…
Brooks’ historical novel Year of Wonders….
Year of Wonders explores themes such
as….
Year of Wonders depicts a community….
Year of Wonders presents a message …..
It is accurate to argue that Year of
Wonders….
Year of Wonders raises the idea of……
Essay Structure
Main Body: Paragraphs
 A clear topic sentence that responds to
the question -the main point presented in
the paragraph (one paragraph for each
main point) Try to use a key term or
phrase from the topic/contention-this will
give the paragraph a focus
 Explain your idea in relation to the topic
 Evidence-Quotes, brief description of key
events
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Paragraphs
Interpretation of the evidence
 Connecting sentence-link to the next
point/paragraph or sum up the key idea of
the paragraph
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Paragraphs:Sample Sentences
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In Year of Wonders, symbols are used to….
A complication occurs when…
The reader is presented with…..
Geraldine Brooks’ point of view emerges
when…..
Brooks’ point of view is presented by….
Geraldine Brooks draws a parallel
to…..when……
As the narrative progresses……
Paragraphs-Sample Sentences
Brooks presents …. in a positive light
when she…..
 Brooks views ……in a negative light
when she…
 The sequence of events beginning
with…and concluding with…..indicates
that….
 The theme of... is explicitly
described/presented through…..
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Conclusion
Restate the contention-but avoid
repetition of exact wording
 Summary of main points
 Link to the topic and the contention
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Do Not introduce new ideas or
information
Conclusion: Sentence Samples
On the whole…
 Overall, it is obvious….
 The portrayal of…is….in Year of Wonders
 Brooks presents….
 Brooks supports…by…….
 In some ways Brooks…..
 Year of Wonders…
 Brooks alerts the reader to….
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Character Vocabulary
When writing about characters, the
following will be helpful:
 Accepting-complacent, docile , lenient ,
submissive
 Aggressive-assertive , belligerent ,
forthright, militant
 Charming-agreeable , appealing ,
courteous , manipulative
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Characters
Cowardly-faint-hearted, fearful, spiritless,
timid
 Domineering-opinionated, officious,
truculent
 Ignorant-unaware, uneducated,unenlightened
 Intelligent-articulate, astute, perceptive
 Merciless-cruel, inhumane,
ruthless,unforgiving
 Religious-devout, pious,faithful,spiritual
Not all of these words can be used
interchangeably
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Paragraph:Sample sentences for
characters
X exploits….
 The actions of X indicate….
 The responses of X assert…..
 We learn that X is….. through…..
 X’s reaction highlights……
 X’s total support for…..supports the idea
that….
 X’s disregard for…..causes a ……
 X observes…
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Paragraph:Sample sentences
for characters
X supports the view that…….
 X is central to the concept……
 X is the central character in…who
narrates the story
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Quotes
Integrate or incorporate quotes.
 Examples:
 Year of Wonders is set in ‘plague town’ of
Eyam in 1666.
 Milston bemoans to Anna that, ’these
times, they do make monsters of us all’.
 Michael says ,’ None of us is a master of
himself as we should be in these times’
when explaining to Anna about his anger
against Jane Martin.
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