Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

ReaderResponseJournal

A Collection of Response Prompts, Success Criteria, and Assessment

Ideas

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

About This Resource

This resource is meant to provide teachers with a go-to resource full of reader response prompts that will fit with any fictional text. It is easy to print and can be used immediately in your classroom – with no prep necessary.

The questions are divided by comprehension strategies and/or story elements. They are written in checklist style, so you can keep track of questions asked. There are a number of questions for each comprehension strategy and story element, so if you wish, you could offer a choice to your students when providing them with a reader response question. I often present students with two different questions, asking them to choose one question to answer well. This choice allows for differentiation as well as student ownership over their work.

I have also included a set of success criteria that you can have students glue into reader response notebooks, or recreate on an anchor chart to hang in your classroom. You could also use it as a guide to co-create a set of success criteria with your students.

Along with the success criteria, there is also a rubric you could use for assessing students’ reader responses. Like the success criteria, you could also use it as a guide and co-create a rubric with your students.

In my classroom, we respond to a reader response question or prompt every day. We keep a small notebook (1/2 size) in our reading binders for our reading responses. I also use my Building Better Reading Responses resource for teaching students how to write a reader response through scaffolded steps and learning goals.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsInferring

Predict what will happen next. Use clues from the text to make your prediction believable.

What are two emotions the main character has felt? What do you think made the main character feel that way?

What ideas do you have about what is going to happen? What clues have you read to give you those ideas?

Identify four words from what you are reading that you had difficulty understanding. Interpret what you think each word means based on context clues (other words around that word that might help you interpret what the author means).

Which characters would you interpret to be good? Which would you interpret to be bad? What has the author written that leads you to those interpretations?

What clues did the author use to help you predict what was going to happen later?

Did the book end the way you thought it would? What clues did the author give you that made you think that? Did you think these clues were important when you read them?

Do you think the author is asking you to judge one of the characters? Why?

Do you think the author is asking you to cheer on one of the characters? Why?

Choose an event from your reading today. Why do you think the main character reacted in the manner he or she did? Explain.

What character traits would you use to describe the main character? Choose 2 traits and fully explain why you chose those traits.

What message do you think the author is trying to send you? Why?

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsMaking Connections

Describe something you have read that is similar to this. What would be your reaction to having to adapt to the character’s

environment. Why? Describe the similarities and differences between the main character and

you. Compare yourself to a main character. Point out your similarities and try

to account for differences between you and him/her. Considering what you have discovered, what is your reaction to this character? Why? How do you think the character would feel about you?

Compare a character from your text to a character from another work of fiction. What are their similarities? What are their differences? Which character do you admire more? Why?

How did the reading make you feel? Why? Have your feelings changed as you’ve been reading?

If you could talk to the author, what would you want to tell them about yourself? Why? How does that relate to what you’ve been reading?

If you were a character in this book, who would you be? Why? This text relates to my life because … What passage describes how you want to live your life? Why? Who is the most important character to you? Why? Would you be friends with the main character? Why or why not? Support

with evidence from your reading. Write a quote from your reading that connects to your life. What did it

mean to what you’ve been reading? What does it mean to your life? Write about a situation a character experiences. Write about a similar

situation you experienced. How does this connection help you understand the actions of the character?

Compare the plot of what you are reading with your favorite book.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsAsking Questions

Describe a character that you would like to meet. List 4 questions that you would ask the character. Each question must start with a different “W” word (who, what, when, why, where).

Draw a line down the centre of your page. On the left list questions about what you read. On the right, write what you believe to be the answers to your questions.

If the author was here, what would you ask him or her?

List three “thick” questions about what you read today. Thick questions are questions in which you need to think about the answers, such as “Why?” or “What do you think”, etc.

List three “thin” questions about what you read today. Thin questions are questions you can find the answers to in the text, such as “Who”, “When”, Where”, etc.

What questions would you like answered about your reading? Would you like the book / article better if you knew those answers now? Why?

Is there an idea that makes you stop and think or prompts questions? Identify the idea and explain your responses.

Before you started reading today, what was one question you would have wanted answered in the book or article? Was your question answered in your reading? Explain why or why not.

Does the main character seem to have any questions he or she needs answered? Explain your answer.

Why do you think the author would leave you with questions about the text? Explain your thinking.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsDetermining Importance

Select what you consider the most important episode in the text. Explain what happens, why you think it is important to the text, your reaction to the episode, and why you reacted this way.

Describe the most important event. Give at least three reasons why you think it is the most important event.

List five major events in order from which happened first to last.

What are the two most important ideas from what you’ve been reading?

What is the main idea of what you are reading and what are your reasons for thinking it is the main idea?

What is the most important part of the book? Why?

What is the most important word in the book? The most important passage? The most important event or feeling? Explain.

How does the author let you know a certain event or passage is important? Explain your thinking.

Who is the most important character in your book? What makes you think this?

Were there any parts that you felt were not important to the text you were reading? Why do you think this?

What do you do to help you remember important parts or details in a text. Explain.

Was there a part in your book that you felt should have been more important than the author made it seem? Explain your thinking using evidence from the text.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsVisualizing

Describe the setting’s time and place. Draw it.

Describe the main character. Draw what you think he or she looks like.

If you are reading a nonfiction text, draw an important concept from the text.

Draw a comic strip or graphic novel page for what you’ve just read.

Draw 4 objects that represent your reading. Write a sentence for each, telling what each item says about what you’ve been reading.

Is the setting described well enough that you can put a picture of it in your mind? Why or why not?

Create a magazine ad for the book you are reading.

Thinking about what you just read, draw the picture that appears in your mind.

What object is important in your book? Draw it. Write an explanation for why you feel it is important.

Find a sentence or two from your reading that describes the main character. How does this description help you visualize the character?

Find a sentence or two from your reading that describes the setting. How does this description help you visualize the character?

Which part from your reading today really helped you visualize something in the book? Identify the part and explain why.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsSynthesizing

Describe the major conflict. What (or whose) side are you on?

Describe what was either believable or unbelievable about your text. Defend your opinion.

Examine a character’s actions, values, behaviour, etc. with which you disagree. What is happening? Why is the character thinking/acting that way? What do you see wrong with it? What would you suggest as a preferable response/behavior?

Did any of the characters’ feelings change as you read? Explain why or why not.

Explain how you may have been surprised by what you are reading.

What have you learned about life from what you’ve been reading?

What is something you’ve learned from your reading?

Analyze the author’s ability to write. What does the author do most effectively? What does the author do least effectively?

This book helps me understand the problem of ___________ better because …

How did the main character show growth in the text you have read? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

What new information did you learn today? How is it different from what you already knew?

Have any of your opinions changed after today’s reading? Explain your thinking.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsSummarizing

In 4 – 6 sentences, summarize what you read today.

Write a short summary for your book. Make me want to read it!

Without using complete sentences or paragraphs, reflect on today’s reading.

Write a review of what you just read (summary plus personal opinions).

Outline the important events of what you are reading.

Write a short summary explaining what would happen if your book had an imaginary sequel.

Write a 20 word sentence (exactly 20 words) summarizing your reading from today.

Summarize your reading with the 5 most important words you read today.

Writing from a specific character’s point of view, summarize what happened in your reading.

Summarize your reading from today in a 5-panel comic strip.

Summarize your reading from today in a poster.

Write a one stanza quatrain, or a haiku that summarizes your reading from today.

Write a “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, and “why” summary for your reading today.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsMonitoring Comprehension

What are some things you do when you don’t understand what you are reading? Give an example from today.

What is something you had to go back and reread today? Why do you think you had to reread it?

Which part of the text made you stop and think today? Why?

Which part did you find most difficult to understand? Why?

What strategies did you use while reading today? Explain.

Reader Response Journal PromptsTheme

Explain an idea or theme – either stated outright or implied by events –which is meaningful to you. Explain its importance to the text and why you find it meaningful.

Describe the central theme (meaning / message) of your reading.

What is the author trying to tell you about life in this story? Defend this moral.

How did the theme relate to the problem in the story?

What part of the story best helped you realize the theme? Explain, using evidence from the text.

Does the theme in this story remind you of another story you have read? Explain.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsPlot

Create a timeline of events from what you have read so far. Explain why you have included these events, and not others.

Draw a line down the centre of your page. Write a cause (why did it happen?) on the left, and an effect (what happened?) on the right. Continue until you have 3 causes and effects listed.

If you were the author, how would the book end?

How would you explain the plot of this story to somebody interested in reading it?

What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?

What were some of the events that created conflict in your book? What made these things happen? Why?

What came as a surprise in the book? Why?

What was predictable in your text? Why?

What was the most important plot event from your reading today? Why do you think this?

Is the plot of your story believable or unbelievable? Explain, using evidence from the text.

Write a summary of the plot from your reading today.

Is the author giving you clues to help you predict what is going to happen in the plot? Explain.

Can you make a connection to any plot event? Explain.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsSetting

What effect does the setting (time, place) have on the main character’s thoughts, actions, and choices?

Describe the setting’s time and place. Create a new setting that you think would be better for the story and describe it.

Describe the setting’s time and place. List the clues that helped you identify the setting.

Write a paragraph describing the setting.

What would be a good contrast to the setting of what you are reading?

Usually an author uses descriptive words to allow us to set the mood and setting. How does this author do that? What words would you use to describe the setting?

If your book took place in a different setting, how would that change the story? Why?

If the book were set 50 years in the future or past, how would the setting change?

Draw a picture of a setting from the book. Find a quote from the book that describes what you drew and use it as the caption for your picture.

Is the setting of the story believable or unbelievable? Explain.

What descriptive words does the author use to describe the setting?

Was the setting easy to visualize? Why or why not?

If you were the author of the book, would you change any parts about the setting? Explain your thinking.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsCharacter

Are the characters realistic (do they seem like they could be real people)? Why or why not?

Describe a character that you would like to meet (which doesn’t mean you would like the character, but that you think the character would be interesting). List 4 – 6 questions you would ask the character.

Describe your least favourite character and explain why. Describe your most favourite character and explain why.

List at least three problems the characters faced? Which was the most life-changing? Explain.

List the physical characteristics of the main character. For each physical characteristic, give supporting evidence from the text.

List the personality characteristics of the main character. For each personality characteristic, give supporting evidence from the text.

Pretend you are a friend of one of the characters. Write him or her a letter.

Think of a problem that a character had to face. Write the problem and how the character solved it or is working to solve it. If you were that character, what would you do differently?

Who are the main characters? Describe who they are, what they look like, and how they are connected.

Write a journal entry as if you were a certain character from your reading.

Write an obituary for the main character. Write the biography of the main character. Would you like to acquire a personality trait of a particular character?

What is the trait and why do you like it? What advice would you give a particular character? Why? If you could introduce a character from your book to your family, who would

it be? Why? Choose a character from the book and decide what would be two

appropriate birthday presents for that character and explain why.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Journal PromptsMiscellaneous

Does the title fit the story? Why or why not? Draw a line down the centre of your page. On the left, list what you like about what

you read and why. On the right, list what you didn’t like and why. Imagine the book you are reading is nominated for a national award. Explain why

you think it should or should not receive an award. What you are reading is going to be made into a movie. Make a list of five

characters, what famous actor will play each character, and what about the character makes that actor the best choice for the part.

Pretend you get to create the music soundtrack for what you’ve been reading. What five songs would you include? Write an explanation for each song: why would you include it, how does the song connect to events?

Pretend you have special powers and could put yourself in your reading. Where would you put yourself and why? How would your being there change the story?

Select a quote from your reading that you liked. What made you pick it? How does it make you pause and think?

What emotions did you feel while you read? Give details from your reading that made you feel that way.

What event could have happened in real life? What would be similar in real life? What would be different in real life?

What has been the most interesting part of your reading? Why? What have you found boring about what you’ve been reading? What made it

boring? If you were the author, what would you do to make it more interesting? Who is the author? What do you know about the author? What do you imagine the

author must be like? What you are reading is going to be made into a movie. You are the movie executive

that chooses the location for the filming. Where would you choose and why? Why did you choose this book to read? Give at least 3 reasons. Explain what kind of reader would like this book the most. Would you like to read other books by this author? Why? Did this book make you laugh? Cry? Cringe? Smile? Cheer? Explain. If you could step into the book, what would be the first thing you would do? Why? What genre is this book? How do you know? Create an award for this book. Explain the award and why this book received it.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Success Criteria for Writing a Reader Response

Reread the question. Be sure you understand exactly what the question is asking.

Plan your response. Think about everything you want to include and write down some important ideas that you don’t want to forget.

Include the book title and author’s name in your response.

Use your own ideas to answer the question, and support your ideas with specific details from the text. When possible, include a quote from the book that supports your thinking.

Only include the most important details in your answer.

Write your answer using complete sentences, organized into paragraphs.

Use great vocabulary! Don’t include words like “good”, “bad”, “stuff”, etc.

Book title, characters’ names, important places, etc. should be spelled correctly.

When you are finished, reread your response for missing words. Edit your response for spelling, punctuation, complete sentences, etc.

Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde

Reader Response Rubric

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge and UnderstandingThe student’s journal entry demonstrates:− the main idea and supporting detail− elements of story: plot, characters, setting− characteristics of the writing genre

− limited knowledge of content− limited understanding of content

− some knowledge of content− some understanding of content

− considerable knowledge of content− ideas of some complexity

− thorough knowledge of content− thorough understanding of content

ThinkingThrough the journal entry the student identifies:− processing skills− personal opinion, thoughts and/or feelings about the text- inferences about character’s thoughts / feelings

− processing skills with limited effectiveness− shows little or no evidence of reflection about what was read

− processing skills with some effectiveness− shows evidence of some reflection about reading

− reasoning that is consistent and exhibits a general level of understanding− shows evidence of a general level of reflection about reading

− complex ideas: shows evidence of reflection and deeper thinking about reading− reasoning that is consistent and exhibits a thorough level of understanding

CommunicationThe student’s journal entry communicates:− expression and organization of ideas

− a message that has little or no clarity of ideas, in simple terms− the length of journal entry is inconsistent with the message− with little or no structure and/or logical order

− a message that has some clarity of ideas, in simple terms− the length of journal entry is somewhat appropriate to the message− journal is somewhat structured and demonstrates elements of logical order

− a message that has a general level of clarity and specificity− the length of journal entry is appropriate to the message− the journal demonstrates a general level of structure and logical order

− a message that communicates a clear, specific message− the length of journal entry is appropriate to the message− the journal is structured and logical

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Copyright (c) 2014 J. Runde