Level Red
NAME
Chapter 9 Writer’s Workshop (pp. 189–195)
Personal Response to Literature
Read one writer’s personal response to literature below. Talk to a partner about how well the response
matches the key features listed in the workshop.
Writing Model
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, is one of the saddest
but most interesting stories I’ve read. The novel is about a ten-year-
Title of work and author’s
name
Writer’s feelings
old boy, Billy Colman, who lives in the Ozark Mountains in Oklahoma
during the early 1900s. His family is poor, and Billy works hard
to buy and train two hunting dogs so they can hunt raccoons for
money. Billy develops a strong bond with his dogs, Old Dan and Little
Introduction that includes
brief summary
Anne. His family, especially his grandfather, supports Billy with his
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Grammar for Writing.
training and hunting. His grandfather encourages him to compete
in a hunting contest. Billy and his dogs win, but soon after tragedy
strikes. While the novel is sad, I admire the characters’ determination
Clear thesis
and the support they show each other throughout the book.
The characters, especially Billy and his two dogs, show incredible
First key point
determination. For example, Billy really wanted two dogs, but his
family couldn’t afford to buy them. Instead of giving up, he begins
working to save money. He sells fruit and fish bait to fishermen. He
Text evidence to support
point
also sells fruit to his grandfather so his grandfather can sell it in
his store. Billy finally saves enough money to buy both dogs from a
catalog.
Billy also shows a lot of determination when he goes to pick up
the dogs from the mail depot in the next town over. Since he lives
Second piece of text
evidence to support point
up in the mountains and his family is too poor to own a buggy, there
is no quick way to get to the town. His grandfather tells him to wait
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Continued
Writing Model
until the next buggy comes the following week. Instead of waiting,
Billy packs some food and walks all night to get to the town. I
Writer’s feelings
thought this was really dangerous, but it also showed how much he
wants the dogs and how he will do whatever it takes to get them.
Billy’s dogs Little Anne and Old Dan also show a lot of
determination. They work hard during their training. When they
go on their first raccoon hunt, they trap one in a large tree. Billy
Third example from book
to support writer’s first
point
works until late that night to try to chop the tree down. When he
goes home to rest, Old Dan and Little Anne take turns guarding the
raccoon all night. I liked how the author showed how persistent
animals can be.
I also admire the way the characters support each other. Billy
Second key point
his family supports him. For example, when Billy struggles to chop
Text evidence
the big tree down, his father brings him food and his grandfather
shows him how to make a scarecrow so the raccoon stays in the tree.
Also, Billy’s grandfather sees how good his grandson is at
hunting and how well he has trained his dogs. He shows his support
Clear organization with
each key point followed by
text evidence
by entering them in a hunting contest, even though Billy will be
competing against men with more expensive dogs and better hunting
gear. His grandfather believes in him and offers encouragement.
Throughout the book, the characters show each other how much
they love and support one another. They also always do what it takes
Strong conclusion that
summarizes response and
restates thesis
to accomplish their goals. Even the dogs are loving and determined.
The novel has a sad ending, but I admire the characters and really
enjoyed reading the book.
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Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Grammar for Writing.
supports his dogs and vice-versa. Billy also supports his family, and