2) Once you are able to open the test, take a minute (or five) just to take it all in.
- Flip through all the pages.
- Read all the writing topics, in particular.
3) When you are a reading a text:
- Read with a pen/pencil in your hand.
- (Remember the writing topic).
- Underline passages that seem important.
- Take a look at the title - what does it tell you?
- Remember to use The Questions to Ask of a Story to get to a deep understanding quickly.
- Setting?
- Plot?
- Character?
- Conflict?
- POV?
- Theme?
- Figurative Language?
4) When you are writing your literary response, be sure to include the following:
- An engaging opening/ "Hook"
- In your introduction, introduce the characters and some of the basic plot...
- A clear and detailed thesis - includes title and author and main idea (answer to question/topic)
- Plenty of short, integrated supporting quotations
- Layers of points, evidence and evaluation (pee method)
- Transitions from idea to idea
- A clear and memorable conclusion (re-visit but do not re-state your thesis)
Movie time!? In between units... Anyone seen Slumdog Millionaire?
