Literary Response Do... 1) Topic/Thesis — tis critical that your response has a proper thesis statement (or topic sentence) that presents your argument to the reader. 2) Name Drop — include the name of the author and the title somewhere early in your response, DO NOT refer to the first name of the author ~ last name only. 3) Example — Use specific examples and details from the text to support your ideas and conclusions. Integrate quotations so that they flow seamlessly with your own words. 4) Explain — Always be sure to explain how the above details and examples support your thesis ~ this section should form the bulk of your essay. 5) Questions = Answers — On English Provincial Exams, the multiple choice questions always provide clues toward your response to the essay question. If you are confident in your answer, use this fo your advantage. 6) Key Words ~ Essay topics often contain key verb and command terms that you may also use (o enhance your own writing. (e.g. instead of “the author is saying/telling us...” Use verbs such as: assess, compare, contrast, demonstrate, describe, discuss, explain, identify, ilustrate, outline, show (that), state, suggest, support, etc...) 7) Transitions — Use appropriate transitional words and phrases in your essay — but do not overuse, 8) Present Tense — Use the present tense verb form for the majority of your writing (e.g. “In her novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte presents a young woman who seems quiet and ordinary..."), only switching tenses when appropriate. 9) Paragraph — Make sure that your word count matches the number of paragraphs that you use. (i.e. 2 150 word response should be one paragraph in length, whereas a 300 word response should consist of between three fo five paragraphs.)Avoid... 10) Summary — Do not write a summary of the plot. Instead, search for the elements that best support your explanation. 111) lime/my — Avoid using the first person point of view, as it tends to weaken your argument. 42) Contractions ~ Contractions (e.g. don't, won't, can’t, etc...) make an essay sound informal. Do not use them. 13) Repetition — Stay away from using the same words over and over and over again, ‘especially in your introduetion and conclusion.Literary Response to “Whispers” by Myra Cohn Livingston Whispers Whispers tickle through your ear telling things you like to hear Whispers are as soft as skin letting little words curt in. Whispers come so they can biow secrets others never know. by Myra Colm Livingston Soft Strength The poem "Whispers" by Livingston speaks of an intimacy between two people that is very comfortable. Livingston compares whispers to the “tickles ‘through your ear and telis the reader through simile that they are “as soft as skin,” This shows how delicate and tender soft words, to perhaps @ lover, might be They are easy to hear and are received well. The last stanza further develops this close relationship. The author states that whispers “can blow secrets" that no one else will hear, This reinforces the private nature that delicate speech holds and its significance to two people. Practicing soft and quiet conversation may even make a relationship stronger. (109 words) ‘The paragraph response begins with the identification of the piece's titie and author (last name) as well as the focused, main idea Notice'the verb choices: speaks, compares, shows, develops, reinforces (all in present tense Any figurative language is identified and used to prove the theme statement Consider how quotations are used, There is an introduction (context) and an immediate explanation Ends with a final thought reflecting on the theme statementOn the Way to Schoo! By Ron Sedor On the way to school One morning long ago stopped to look: At the sunrise Looked too long I missed my bus I failed school T got a crumby job Tspend my Life Joking at sumrises And sunsets Lived in poverty And died rich. Literary Response ‘The poem “On the Way to Schoo!” by Sedor assesses the importance of breaking habits by doing something different that may chance our perspective of life in a good way. By using ironic language the author expresses his pessimism in the way he describes the changes of life when he says, “I missed my bus/ [failed school.” We can see all the changes that one factor in our life can generate. However even when the author is showing the pessimist view, he is also trying to show us the importance of being variable and not ‘being completely strict in our habits. When he says, “I lived in poverty’ And died rich”, he is also writing ‘that even though he did not got a good job, failing at school and missing the bus, even when all his material life went bad by just looking at the sunset, he was happy and complete doing it. He is telling us that life depends on how happy and complete we are by doing the things we like, not by doing the things society usually do, We also can find the comparison between the days and the author life by changing-the sunset, sunrise, mid day and night for moments were his life change completely to become more observers. To sum. up, the author expresses that by changing one detail every day our life can become better in ways that we actually can not imagine.Theme Statement: Ron Sedor in “On the Way to Schoo!" illustrates the idea that a fulfilled life comes from seizing the moment, and not sticking to a regimented path. A Step-by-Step Analysis of “Pterodactyls”, by Marjorie L. Salle Theme Statement Salle in the poem “Pterodactyls” describes the power of a skillful teacher who ‘awakens students to find value in seemingly antiquated and dull concepts, While it appears she is warning the reader to disengage with such a teacher, ironically her message conveys the vitality that this kind of teacher can bring to her life. Statement In the first stanza, the narrator speaks of how a teacher lures his student to appreciate poetry, with his Example “pterodactyl[]" tie, collection of “strange toys,” “junk” and the way he pierces her mind to “literary history" Explanation The teacher shares personal information to the students, which may at first seem outdated, but obviously ruse some interest on the part of the student. She is “haunted” by his voice years later; he has made an impact on her. Statement #2 ‘The personified dinosaurs reinforce the idea that old notions are brought to life for the new generation Lead in In the final stanza, Salle draws a simile between the "poets in the book" and the "pterodactyls" when she says, Example #2 “[the teacher] made them breathe again for us.” Explanation $$$$While both the dinosaurs and the poets in many youth anthologies are both dead, a skillful teacher can bring them to life with his quirky insights and constant instruction. Conclusion Salle reinforces that there is value in what has come before our time and it takes someone with more experience (and grey hair) to take us there - even if we take the path reluctantly ALL TOGETHER NOW..without the first example and explanation FIRST DRAFT Salle in the poem "Pterodactyls" describes the power of a skillful teacher’ who awakens students to find value in seemingly antiquated and dull concepts While it appears she is warning the reader to disengage with such a teacher. ironically her message conveys the vitality that this kind of teacher can bring to her life, The personified dinosaurs reinforce the idea that old notions are brought to life for the new generation. In the final stanza, Salle draws a simile between the “poets in the book" and the "pterodactyls" when she says, “[the teacher] made them breathe again for us.” While both the dinosaurs and the poets in many youth anthologies are both dead, a skillful teacher can bring them to life with his quirky insights and constant instruction. Salle reinforces that there is value in what has come before our time and it takes someone with more experience (and grey hair) to take us there - even if we take the path reluctantly.