Essay Strategy

7/29/2019 Essay Strategy

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T.A.K.O. & S.E.X.Y

How to write a Response

to Text essay so that you

score a bullseye' every

time.

By Elise Macadam


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Whats it all about?

Youll be learning a new trick or strategy

this strategy has been proven to improve thewriting of students of all abilities.

We will learn the strategy and apply it in

our own essays.

Tell me what you think of the strategy, and if

it could be improved.


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Step One - the writing purpose

What is a response to textessay?

A response to text essay is an essay whereyou write about a particular aspect of a text

that you have studied and show your

knowledge and understanding of this aspect

and why it is important or interesting.


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Its really all about YOU

In pairs answer these questions:

Have you done this type of essay before? How did you go?

What do you remember about this type of

essay?


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Group Feedback


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Link to prior knowledge

What do you know about other types of

writing that may link to this type of writing? How is creative writing similar or different to

writing a response to text essay?


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A good response to text essay has:

a clear introduction that lets the reader know what text

you are writing about and how you are going to address

the topic/question in your essay.

focuses on the one aspect that the question/topic is

asking you to write about

makes three points about this aspect

contains specific details, quotes or references from the

text to support each point

makes clear statements explaining how each

point/example links back to the topic and addresses the

question


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What is the purpose of the essay skill ?

I have done the first one for you brainstorm a few more.

need it for exams


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T.A.K.O. (Take out)

T.A.K.O. This acronym instructs you to

provide this information in the introduction:Title (MUST be underlined), Author, Key

words from question, Outline of points/ideas

If you can think of a better (easier to

remember) mnemonic for yourself then useit.


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Step Two -TAKO

Example of a response to text essay

introduction In the novelHatchet by Gary Paulsen an

important character is Brian. Brian is

important because he develops the key ideas

in the book of courage and perseverance.


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Highlight the TAKO information you

notice is given in this paragraph

An interesting character in Gary Paulsens

novel, Hatchet, is Brian. Brian is interestingbecause of the ways in which he changes

from the beginning of the novel to the end.

By the end of the book he has changed from

an average city boy with no outdoors skillsinto someone who has learned how to

survive in the woods.


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S.E.X.Y what does each letter stand for?

This is a mnemonic forthe parts that make up agood paragraph in a response to text essay.

S: the Statement at the start of the paragraph thatsays what point/idea this paragraph is making,focusing on.

E: the Explanation that explains how this statementis relevant to the text and/or question.

X: the eXample(s) from the text that support(s) yourstatement and develop(s) your point. Y: explain whY this example/point is relevant to the

question/topic.


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Underline SEXY in different colours to

show its use in this example paragraph.

One reason why Brian is important is because he shows

us the key idea of perseverance. Brian had to learn

many new things that took him many attempts to getright. An example of when he had to show perseverance

was when he tried to start a fire and it took him many

attempts to get it to work. To begin with he didnt know

what to do but when he realised a rock he foundproduced sparks when it was struck he tried and tried

again until he got a fire going. This was important

because if Brian had not persevered in trying to light a

fire then he would not have been able to keep warm at

night or to cook the meat he needed to eat to survive.


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Now copy this paragraph into your book.Use colour or labels to show where theStatement, Explanation, eXample, explainwhY sentences are.

One reason why Brian is important is because he shows

us the key idea of perseverance. Brian had to learn

many new things that took him many attempts to getright. An example of when he had to show perseverance

was when he tried to start a fire and it took him many

attempts to get it to work. To begin with he didnt know

what to do but when he realised a rock he foundproduced sparks when it was struck he tried and tried

again until he got a fire going. This was important

because if Brian had not persevered in trying to light a

fire then he would not have been able to keep warm at

night or to cook the meat he needed to eat to survive.


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Another example using poetry

Question: Describe at least three

language techniques that a poet has usedin a poem (or poems) that you have

studied in class and explain how they

were effective.

Open the poetry booklet and read SeaFever by John Masefield.


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Sea Feverby J ohn Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tideIs a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whettedknife;And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.


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What mnemonic does this follow?

In the poem Sea Fever by John Masefield,

there are three language techniques whichare used to great effect. The use of rhythm

reinforces the topic of the poem, rhyme

makes it memorable and personification

creates unforgettable and unusual images.This essay will explore the use of these

techniques in this poem.

Copy this down in your book.

TAKO


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What mnemonic does this follow?

Rhythm is a technique that the poet uses in every

line of the poem. The reader can almost feel andhear the ship moving before the wind. the

wheels kick and the winds song and the white

sails shaking is an example of this strong

rhythm running through this poem. The poembecomes more enjoyable to recite because of its

rhythm; after its been read a few times it seems

stuck in ones head.

Copy this down in your book. Write the next 2 paragraphs.

SEXY


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What paragraph does this sound like?

An examination of Language features in Sea Fever

is important because when rhythm and rhyme are

used in the poem, they intensify the experience ofreading the poem. These features contribute a level

of meaning which goes beyond the meaning of the

words alone. I now understand that Language

Features like rhythm and rhyme infuse poems withseveral layers of meaning and add richness and

depth to the poem.


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YES! Its a conclusion.

Conclude the essay by writing about why you care aboutthe topic (even if you dont you have to pretend you do! )

Use this sentence as a starter in your conclusion if youare stuck. An examination of these (name what youressay has examined) is important because .(state whyyou think it is important).

The conclusion refers to key words used in the body ofthe essay. In my example essay, key words wererhythm and rhyme, so the conclusion sentences remindthe reader of the discussion that you presented. DONOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION INTO THECONCLUSION.


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Getting started a 5 paragraph

response to text essay

Introduction Paragraph 1

Using . say what your essay is about.

You should use some of the wording used in

the question, and outline three

points/techniques/ideas (in your planning,identify the examples of each of these that

you will use).

TAKO


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Paragraph 2

Use the .. Mnemonic.

Take the first of the points in the introduction(paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more

fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2

examples/quotes).

There should be 3 to 5 sentences.

SEXY


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Paragraph 3


Take the second of the points in the introduction(paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully

and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2

examples/quotes).


SEXY


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Paragraph 4


Take the third of the points in the introduction(paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more

fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2

examples/quotes).


SEXY


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Conclusion - Paragraph 5

How is the conclusion written?

Look back at the question, read your first paragraph

again and refer to the same three ideas NOTHING

NEW!

State again the question or topic, wording it

differently, but similar in content to the introduction.


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First well select an essay topic and

write an exemplar essay

Then well use the graphic organiser chart

on the page after the essay topics to help

us to plan the essay.

Refer to all the notes about characters that

we made on The Boy in the Striped

Pyjamas


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Essay Titles 250 words

Choose a character who changes during your

text. Describe him/her at the beginning and atthe end of the text and explain how the changes

came about.

Describe a relationship and explain how and why

it changed.

Describe a setting and the effect it had on the

story.

Briefly describe the opening scene of your textand explain how effective it is.

Explain the most important idea and explain what

you thought about it.

Describe a relationship


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maid in Brunos

wealthy household

helps him to pack,

unpack - tidies his room

subservient - p1:always

kept her head down.

P57: just got on with

the job no sign of life

p17: Bruno always

liked her and felt as if

she was one of the

family.

Bruno sought heradvice P135

P187: realises that he

had become much

more friendly with her

after going to Berlin

p17: always

considered her one of

the family

p60: but never fully

considered her to have

a life until she opened

up about what Father

had done for her

their strengthening

relationship helped him

feel more at home at

Out-With p187.

Describe a relationshipand explain how and whyit changed.The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

John Boyne Maria/Bruno They become friendlier

Bruno realises she is a real person

Relationship - Maria

& Bruno

How - Maria and Bruno

become friendlier

Why - Bruno realises

she is a real person


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In the novel, The Boy in the Striped

Pyjamas by John Boyne, Maria and Bruno

have an interesting relationship that

changes as the story develops. Bruno is

the son of a German Commandant and

Maria is the maid in this household. As thestory unfolds Maria and Bruno become

friendlieras Bruno realises she is a real

person.


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The relationship between Bruno and Maria wasone of a maid to the son of a wealthy

Commandant. Bruno respected Maria, as hismother told him to, and he always got on wellwith her as indicated when he says that, hehad always liked Maria and felt as if she was

one of the family. Maria was a hard workingsubservient maid, who always kept her headbowed and never looked up from the carpet.

Marias job was to sort and tidy Brunos roomand Bruno really thought nothing more of her,than her being a maid because, she had nevershown any particular signs of life before. She

just got on with her job.


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The relationship began to change as

Bruno began to question what was going

on at Out-With and what his father wasdoing. He began to turn to Maria for

advice. On more than one occasion he

asked her what she thought about Out-With. For example, Bruno says, Maria

can I ask you a question? Because she

seemed like the perfect person. Later onin the story after a return visit to Berlin he

realised that, hed become much friendlier

with Maria than he had ever been back in

Berlin.


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This change came about because Bruno

began to realise that Maria was a real

person. Although he had alwaysconsidered her one of the family, he had

never fully considered her to have a life

until she opened up to him about whatFather had done for her and her family. It

was this strengthening relationship that

made him realise that hed grown used tolife at Out-With, and he was now happier

there than he would have been in Berlin.


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These examples show how therelationship between Bruno and Maria

developed. In Bruno's eyes she changedfrom being just the familys maid to being aperson who had feelings and thoughts andsomeone he could talk to. This changehappened because he no longer treatedher as just the maid. Over time this helpedBruno to feel more settled at his new

house.

411 words


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Its your turn to write on your own now!

Heres another essay

question from the list that the

previous question came

from.

Choose a character who

changes during your text.Describe him/her at the

beginning and at the end

of the text and explain how

the changes came about.

Choose a character who


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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

changes during yourtext. Describe him/herat the beginning and theend of the text andexplain how the changes

came about.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

by John Boyne - Father career orientated, in

command and well respected - disliked, desolate -

was responsible for the death of his son.

Beginning - career orientated,

in command and well

respected

End - disliked,

merciless desolate

How - responsible for the

death of his son.


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Acknowledgements

Mrs Halkyard literacy specialist teacher

Shawn Hawthorne NZATE conferencepresentation 2008

Documents

Essay Strategy