Giving an Oral Response to
Literature
There are two types of oral
responses that we will discuss:
 Summary
 Critique
What is the difference
between a summary
and a critique?
A summary is an abbreviated
retelling of the book.
A good summary will include:

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
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title, author, setting
character’s names and how they are related to each
other
the main conflict
the main events in the order they occur
the climax
the resolution
A critique requires you to share your
opinions about the book.
These are some suggested areas in which you could
share your opinion:

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Did you enjoy the book?
In your opinion, what is the best part of the book?
What do you feel this book teaches about life (theme)?
Do you recommend this book to others?
These are other types of media that can be
summarized or critiqued:
Movies
 Articles
 Magazines
 T.V. shows
 Speeches

Read the following example of a
summary of the movie Avatar.
When his brother is killed in battle, paraplegic Marine
Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the
distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy
corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving
off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the
precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland.
In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake
gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded
by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously
attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an
"avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native
tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri,
the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless
extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.
Written by The Massie Twins
Now read a critique of the movie
Avatar.
This is a 'Must see' movie, innovative, and extraordinary. I think it will
be regarded by most cinema goers as another milestone in the history
of the art. The level of realism achieved is remarkable, and although
the film is relatively long in real time, it retains it's excitement and holds
the audience's attention to the end.
Performances are good, but this is not the sort of film that dwells on big
star value for the actors, although Sigorney Weaver does shine and
delivers a very convincing performance, as do the rest of the cast. But
as there is so much entertainment and action value on screen the
human element does not dominate in the usual way.
As Writer/Director, James Cameron deserves high praise for this
creation and in my opinion it will break box office records. I thoroughly
enjoyed this film.
What were some of the
differences that you noticed
between the summary and
critique of Avatar?
While you are giving your oral
summary and critique of your
book, keep in mind the
following basic tips.
Delivering Your Oral Response
To become a good public speaker,
you must use more than just
words. Nonverbal communication
or body language adds to your
message.
Nonverbal
Element
Examples
Eye contact
Look into the eyes of your audience to keep your
audience’s attention.
Facial
Expression
Smile, frown or raise an eyebrow to show your
feelings or emphasize a point
Gestures
Give a thumbs up, shrug, nod, or shake your head
to emphasize a point or to add meaning to a
speech
Posture
Stand tall and straight to show that you are sure
of yourself.
How you use your voice can also affect the message that
you give your audience. Consider the verbal elements
in the chart below as you practice and deliver your
speech.
Verbal Element
Examples
Feeling
Show enthusiasm through your voice so that your
audience will become enthusiastic about your response.
Pitch
Your voice rises and falls naturally when you speak. Capture
the audience’s attention by using the pitch of your voice to
emphasize key points.
Rate
In conversations you may speak at a fast rate, or speed. When
you make a speech, you should talk more slowly to help
listeners understand you.
Volume
You will need to speak loudly when giving your oral response.
The listeners at the back of the room should be able to hear
you clearly.