RTL WRITING

BTH Day 12
 OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE
We are doing this because… Learning
to analyze a text for literary devices
Today you will…
is a skill that will be useful to you in
be able to organize your ideas
middle school and high school English
into the structure of an RTL
classes where you will be required to
(Response to Literature)
read a text and respond thoughtfully
paragraph by... completing a
about the larger meaning.
paragraph planner analyzing the
Understanding and analyzing how
characterisation of Valentine in
authors use literary devices to convey
Ender’s Game.
meaning also gives us a deeper
appreciation of the text as readers.
DO NOW
Whiteboards

What is the paragraph structure we learned for

expository writing and general analysis writing?

Hint: We might have learned a song about this

topic and there may be a VIP in the room that
could help you!
S.E.E
Expository

Expository: You set forth an argument concerning an idea in a clear

and concise manner backed up by facts.
Topic sentence: Supporting sentences that make an argument
about the prompt.
Evidence: From the story or quotations
Explanations of your thinking

& RTL ;)
 RTL PARAGRAPHS
WHAT IS IT?
RTL (Response-to-Literature): You state your own
opinions about the theme, plot, characters or settings,
backed up with evidence from the literary text.

HOW IS THIS RELATED TO WRITING?

RTL paragraphs have the same three components as expository essays: S.E.E.
 EXAMPLE
In The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Curtis uses characterization
to show that tragedy produces maturity. At the end of the story when Byron is
supporting Kenny and helping him through the tragedy of almost losing their little
sister, he proves that he has grown and is being a supporting big brother. In the
chapter Kenny even mentions, “I couldn’t believe Byron was still talking to me. Most
of the time if I started sounding weepy and whiny he’d take right off" (Curtis 201).
Byron did not care anymore if Kenny was crying or not he just wanted to be with
him and supporting him as he always should have and he knew this. He listens to
what Kenny is going through which shows that he has changed and become more
mature. Byron even told him, “Shut up and cry if you want" (Curtis 199) when
Kenny was upset. They had almost lost their little sister and Byron realized that
what Kenny went through was a big deal. Kenny had seen four little girls and they
died at a place that they thought would be safe. At this point in the story Byron
had already matured. He had finally grown up and it was all because he almost lost
his little sister and went through that feeling with his brother.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
LITERARY THEME
TITLE AUTHOR DEVICE STATEMENT

In Title, Author uses literary device to reveal theme statement.

In Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card uses characterization of

Peter as cruel to reveal that cruelty makes for bad leaders.
 THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Look at the two sentences below and discuss which one is a
topic sentence and why! Be prepared to share outloud.

1. In Ender’s Game, people are training to fight in a war against buggers.

2. In Ender’s Game, Orsen Scott Card uses characterization of Peter to
reveal that cruelty makes for bad leaders.

In Title, Author uses literary device to reveal theme statement.

 GOOD EVIDENCE
Must include the literary device you’re analyzing (i.e
characterization)
Relevant to the main idea/argument
Something that you can explain more about
Quotations from the book with proper citation (Author's LN Page #)

“But they made him a commander and now he has to act like one. He
doesn’t know what he’s doing” (Card 108).
 EVALUATE EVIDENCE
In "Ender’s Game", Orsen Scott Card uses characterization of
Peter to reveal that cruelty makes for bad leaders.

"All the while Peter had sat

nearby, leaning against the
“Peter wasn’t accepted Ender,
tree where perhaps the squirrel
for the very reasons that you
had nested, playing with his
hate him” (Card 24).
desk while the squirrel's life
seeped away".
 EXPLANATION
WHAT IS IT?
A good explanation comments on the evidence by pointing out a
specific detail or rephrasing the evidence in new words. Then, the
explanation elaborates by interpreting the details-pulling things
together to help the reader understand what the writer discovered.

WHAT IS IT COMPOSED OF?

Explanations should almost always be at least two sentences long.
3 STEPS TO WRITE AN EXPLANATION

Interpret your
Rephrase your
evidence: what
evidence in your
does this mean?
own words, Answer: how does
highlighting a this meaning relate
specific detail to your supported
statement?
 WHAT'S WRONG?
In "Ender’s Game", Orsen Scott Card uses characterization of
Peter to reveal that cruelty makes for bad leaders.

Peter is clearly cruel. The squirrel is dying. Since

the squirrel is dying, Peter is not a great leader.
 BETTER!
In "Ender’s Game", Orsen Scott Card uses characterization of
Peter to reveal that cruelty makes for bad leaders.

There is clearly something wrong with Peter as he has no

regard for the dying squirrel in front of him. This quote
shows that Peter does not care about life and humanity.
This cruelty would makes him a bad leader, since good
commander's need to value the lives of their fellow soldiers.
This ensures that they try their best to reduce casualties
and engage in peace talks over causing more violence.
Highlight the 3 components of an RTL
paragraph in your example:
Topic sentence - supported sentence
Evidence
Explanation

Be ready to share!

DUO TIME!
 REVIEW
In Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card uses characterization to show that power is a
corrupting force. During a conversation with her brother, Peter, Valentine reflects on
her intelligence and more specifically on her use of persuasive strategies. Valentine
acknowledges that “she had wanted to believe she was good at persuading people
because she was right, not because she was clever” (Card 127). The fact that
Valentine cares about what is “right” shows that she cares about the truth. However,
Valentine has a gift - she can easily persuade people into believing and sympathizing
with her point of view. She really wants to believe that she persuades people to
believe in the truth - but she knows that isn’t entirely true. In fact, she admits that
“she was ashamed that she took pleasure in this power, and yet she found herself
using it sometimes” (Card 127). This quote shows that Valentine knows that she
doesn’t just use her persuasive powers for the truth. She actually finds it exhilarating
to feel powerful and intelligent for once. She doesn’t always use her powerful
intelligence for the right reason. This shows that power can corrupt someone because
you feel superior to others and can manipulate them to your advantage.
 HOMEWORK
Break down the RTL paragraph
provided by labeling each
component. Answer the big tickle
thinker question at the end.
 CLOSURE
What is one thing you feel
confident doing in RTL and
what is one thing you are still
confused about?