Response to Literature
CAHSEE 2012
AGENDA
1. CAHSEE BOOKS
2. PURPOSE OF RESPONSE TO
LITERATURE
SCORING RUBRIC (In CAHSEE booklet)
3. EXAMPLE R TO L ESSAY- LET’S
ANNOTATE!
4. INTEGRATING QUOTES
5 GROUP ESSAY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• 1. SPIRIT DAY ON FRIDAY! WEAR YOUR
GROUP COLOR AND EARN 5 EXTRA CREDIT
POINTS ON YOUR OWN QUIZ.
• 2. LITERARY TERMS QUIZ ON FRIDAY! Best
overall average wins 5 extra team points!
• 3. TUTORING: I am available at lunch and
after school today, tomorrow and Friday.
CAHSEE books
LET’S START WITH THE BASICS
• WHAT IS A RESPONSE TO LITERATURE
ESSAY?
• A response to literature is just that; it is
your response to a story or poem.
• Things a R to L may ask you to do:
• Analyze a character
• Theme
• Use of figurative language
WHAT
ARE
THEY
LOOKING
FOR?
1. Demonstrate that you understand significant ideas of literary works.
What are the main ideas? What is the author saying? Why is what the author is
saying important?
2. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed
references to the text or to other works. How do you know what the author’s
ideas are? Can you quote from the text to prove what you say?
3. Demonstrate awareness of the author’s use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created. Did the author use figurative language? Give
an example. Did the author use symbolism? How did he use symbolism? Did
the author use words that helped you see, smell, taste, hear, or feel the
setting or scene? Did the author use words that made you angry or sad or
excited or scared?
4. Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and
complexities within the text. This one sounds complicated, doesn’t it. Don’t
Worry! You did this with Lord of the Flies. The best writers usually say something
that make you think, makes you question, makes you wonder. Just go with it.
Ask the questions. Try to figure it out. Don’t look for a right answer. There may
not be a right answer.
LET’S GO OVER HOW THEY
SCORE YOUR ESSAY!
• CAHSEE BOOKS! Page 116
MINGLE
• TELL ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO
FACE A FEAR.
WHERE TO START: 6 steps to
attack the writing prompt! BAM!
• Step 1- annotate
• In the story “The Hiking Trip,” the reader learns
about the main character, Jeff. Jeff’s personality
and emotions are revealed through the actions and
dialog presented in the story.
• Write an essay in which you describe the
personality and emotions of Jeff, the main
character. How do his personal characteristics add
to the events in the story? How does the author
reveal this information about Jeff in the story? Use
details and examples from the story to support your
ideas.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER STEPS?
USE SOME OF THE PROMPT IN YOUR INTRODUCTION!
•
•
•
In the story “The Hiking Trip,” the reader learns about the main character, Jeff.
Jeff’s personality and emotions are revealed through the actions and dialog
presented in the story.
Write an essay in which you describe the personality and emotions of Jeff, the
main character. How do his personal characteristics add to the events in the
story? How does the author reveal this information about Jeff in the story? Use
details and examples from the story to support your ideas.
The short story, “The Hiking Trip,” by ____________ reveals the main character’s
personality and emotion through his actions and dialogue. On a hiking trip,
things take a turn for the worse when Jeff’s brother is bitten by a snake. With
the increase of pain his brother is facing, it is clear he needs immediate
attention. Jeff and his father head out seeking help; however, Jeff has to
complete this mission alone as his dad cannot make it up the rough terrain.
As the only person with the ability to get help for his brother, Jeff is faced with
the challenge of making it back to the road by himself in order to provide his
brother with the medical attention he needs. Looking beyond Jeff’s fear, the
reader learns that he is courageous, loving, and determined.
Essay
Organization
Intro: Hook, Background, X,Y,Z Thesis
Body 1: Evidence for X, include topic
sentence and transitions
Body 2: Evidence for Y, include topic
sentence and transitions
Body 3: Evidence for Z, include topic
sentence and transitions
Conclusion
•
The short story, “The Hiking Trip,” by _________reveals the main character’s personality and
emotion through his actions and dialogue. On a hiking trip, things take a turn for the worse when
Jeff’s brother is bitten by a snake. With the increase of pain his brother is facing, it is clear he needs
immediate attention. Jeff and his father head out seeking help; however, Jeff has to complete this
mission alone as his dad cannot make it up the rough terrain. As the only person with the ability to
get help for his brother, Jeff is faced with the challenge of making it back to the road by himself in
order to provide his brother with the medical attention he needs. Looking beyond Jeff’s fear, the
reader learns that he is courageous, loving, and determined.
First, the author gradually reveals Jeff’s bravery through his actions. At first Jeff is afraid to
hike down the canyon alone. Despite his self doubt, he is able to push through his fear and meet the
challenge at hand."You're a hero, son.“ TO BE CONTINUED
In addition, Jeff’s actions show that he is loving. At the beginning of the story, Jeff is too
frightened to find help for his brother. In fact, he even says, “I don’t even want to have courage!”
This shows how reluctant Jeff is to look beyond his own weaknesses in order to do what needs to be
done. It is when his dad says, “Then have enough love for your brother to think this through!” that
Jeff finds the motivation to take action. It is at this point that Jeff realizes that he has to do it to save
his brother’s life. This shows how his love for his brother has substituted for the courage that he didn’t
want to have.
Furthermore, Jeff demonstrates determination. After overcoming his initial fear, Jeff finds the
determination to pass his dad in his effort to save his brother. As Jeff’s dad “grew smaller and smaller
in the distance,” Jeff perseveres to make the final steps on his own. Although he is breathless and
alone, Jeff thinks, “Can’t stop. Mark’s in big trouble. Gotta keep going.” This example demonstrates
how, despite how challenging it is, he must keep going. If Jeff had not made the decision to hike
down the canyon alone the outcome of the story may be entirely different. Jeff’s perseverance
played an enormous role in this story. Without it, he may have never tried or been able to save
Mark.
Ultimately, Jeff was able to push himself beyond what he thought was possible. His character
traits caused him to do what was right and were the deciding point of his actions and later the
outcome of the story. He had pushed himself to the limits trying to get help for Mark. His love for
Mark had given him the will, the determination, and the courage to get over his fear and climb the
mountain for help. Jeff faced his fear. In the end, the story shows how someone can overcome his
fears in order to help others in need.
SAMPLE ESSAY
• “THE HIKING TRIP”
• WITH YOUR GROUP, READ THE SAMPLE
ESSAY. WHAT DO YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE?
Characterize Jeff
• Jeff’s
• personality/emotions Evidence from the story
• Courageous At the beginning, he didn't think
he was courageous.
• Didn't want to be. Went on alone.
"You're a hero, son."
• Loving Did it for his brother
• “Mark’s in big trouble. Gotta keep going.”
• Determined Kept going
• “His chest was burning.”