The Jane Schaffer Writing StrategyThe Jane Schaffer Writing Strategy

Basics for Basics for

Response-to-LiteratureResponse-to-Literature

EssaysEssays

The 11 Sentence ParagraphThe 11 Sentence Paragraph

The Prompt

Before writing anything, know your assignment— READ THE PROMPT! What are you being asked to do?

Response-to-Literature Writing= writing that discusses what is of value in a work of literature.

Literary Response requires a careful, critical look at the reading.

Step 1: Topic SENTENCEStep 1: Topic SENTENCE

• A Topic Sentence (TS) is the top bun of a hamburger.

• TS = first sentence of the paragraph. It shows the main idea.• Usually a mildly controversial statement--something that you have to prove. It can be as brief as 3 words!

1)1) In the fairy tale “The In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise.pig is very wise.

Example Topic Sentence (TS)

Step 2: CONCRETE DETAILSStep 2: CONCRETE DETAILS

• Concrete Details (CD) are the meat of the hamburger.

• CDs = Support for your TS. (facts, quotes, examples, etc. from text)

• CDs can’t be argued with—a CD is evidence that supports your point!

Example Concrete Detail (CD)

2) For example, remembering 2) For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.sturdy brick.

Step 3: COMMENTARYStep 3: COMMENTARY• Commentary Sentences

(CM) are the “extras” on the hamburger—the tomato, cheese, lettuce, mayo—they make it delicious!

• CMs = your analysis, interpretation, explanation, or insight into how the text proves your claim in your topic sentence.

Example Commentary Sentences (2 CMs)

3) The wolf is unable to blow 3) The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. 4) This down the brick house. 4) This shows that the third pig is shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the who were both eaten by the wolf.wolf.

Step 4: CONCLUDING Step 4: CONCLUDING (Circle) SENTENCE (Circle) SENTENCE

• A concluding sentence (CS) is the bottom bun of the hamburger.

• A CS wraps up the paragraph. It rephrases the main idea so we come back full “circle” to the beginning.

Example Concluding Sentence Example Concluding Sentence ((CSCS))

5) In conclusion, the thirdpig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad”wolf as well.

TSTS, , CDCD, , CMCM, , CSCS—Now What?—Now What?CHUNKING !!!CHUNKING !!!

For a literary response writing, we use a combination (or “ratio”) of 1:2.

That means…

for every 1 CD…

you will have 2 CMs.

A combination of aCD and the CMs that explain it is called a CHUNK.

One Chunk: 1 One Chunk: 1 CDCD + 2 + 2 CMCM

For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.

Ratio = 1:2

One-Chunk Body ParagraphOne-Chunk Body Paragraph• Sentence #1Sentence #1 - TS – States your claim/opinion - TS – States your claim/opinion• Sentence #2Sentence #2 – CD - starts with – CD - starts with “For example”“For example”• Sentence #3Sentence #3 – CM - – CM - (“This shows that...”)(“This shows that...”)

• Sentence #4Sentence #4 – CM - – CM - (“This also show that..” (“This also show that..” “This is because...” “This is because...”

“This is important because...”) “This is important because...”)

• Sentence#5Sentence#5 – CS – Concluding, or “Circle” – CS – Concluding, or “Circle” Sentence – Sums it up and Sentence – Sums it up and

ties back to the thesis ties back to the thesis

(“As a result...”)(“As a result...”)

Step 6: A Whole Paragraph

In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

Does It Flow?

Now you know how to write a one- chunk paragraph…

LET’S ADD MORE LET’S ADD MORE CHUNKS!CHUNKS!

Two Chunk ParagraphTwo Chunk Paragraph

• Has the Thesis/Topic Has the Thesis/Topic Sentence (TS) at the Sentence (TS) at the beginning and a beginning and a Concluding/ Circle Concluding/ Circle Sentence at the end.Sentence at the end.

• Includes two CD, CM, CM, Includes two CD, CM, CM, structures (chunks) with a structures (chunks) with a transitiontransition between. between.

THREE Chunk ParagraphTHREE Chunk Paragraph(The 11 Sentence Paragraph)(The 11 Sentence Paragraph)

• Has the Thesis/Topic Has the Thesis/Topic Sentence (Sentence (TSTS) at the ) at the beginning and a Concluding/ beginning and a Concluding/ Circle Sentence at the end.Circle Sentence at the end.

• Includes two Includes two CD, CM, CMCD, CM, CM, , structures (chunks) with a structures (chunks) with a transitiontransition between. between.

TransitionsTransitions• A good paragraph will also use transition words in

between the chunks.

• These are words or phrases that help readers connect your ideas.

Example Transitions:

For example,

For instance,

Consequently, Thus,As a result,

Because of this,

In summary, Hence,

Therefore,

NOW NOW

YOU YOU DO IT!!DO IT!!

Consider one of the following pieces: “The Plot Against People” The Plot Against People” OROR “And of Clay We Are Created”“And of Clay We Are Created”

“How does the author’s PURPOSE and the author’s PERSPECTIVE affect the TONE of the selection?

.

Russell Baker’s tragic past and his desire to entertain create a tone of mocking sarcasm in “The Plot Against People.

PROMPTPROMPT

Your Your TOPIC SENTENCE TOPIC SENTENCE is the answer to the is the answer to the prompt and what your paragraph must prompt and what your paragraph must PROVEPROVE::

PURPOSE: inform * entertain * express * persuade PERSPECTIVE: author’s experiences * values * beliefsTONE: author’s attitude toward his subject

Your Your TOPIC SENTENCETOPIC SENTENCE answers answers ALLALL parts of the prompt and it’s what your parts of the prompt and it’s what your

entire paragraph must entire paragraph must PROVE.PROVE.

So my answer to the question in the prompt might So my answer to the question in the prompt might be…be…

Russell Baker’s tragic past, and his desire to entertain create a tone of mocking sarcasm in “The Plot Against People.

perspective

purpose

tone

……And now my And now my CONCRETE DETAILS CONCRETE DETAILS must be examples must be examples from the text where Baker is from the text where Baker is mocking mocking man’s tendency to man’s tendency to stress out over the little things:stress out over the little things:

1.) because he is trying to be funny/entertaining 1.) because he is trying to be funny/entertaining (purpose)(purpose)

(AND)(AND)2.) because his tragic life experiences made him realize2.) because his tragic life experiences made him realize the true unimportance of life’s little annoyances. the true unimportance of life’s little annoyances. (perspective) (perspective)

CONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCECONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCE::#1 #1 The one The one “goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately “goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately

defeat him.” defeat him.” (purpose)(purpose)

#2 #2 Things that get lost have a Things that get lost have a “secret method of locomotion” “secret method of locomotion” that they can that they can hide whenever a hide whenever a “human eye falls upon them.” “human eye falls upon them.” (purpose)(purpose)

#3 #3 That things that don’t work have That things that don’t work have “given man the only peace he receives “given man the only peace he receives from inanimate objects” from inanimate objects” and have therefore and have therefore “attained the highest state “attained the highest state possible for an inanimate object.”possible for an inanimate object.” (perspective)(perspective)

his subject

……Then add 2 sentences of COMMENTARY for each detail Then add 2 sentences of COMMENTARY for each detail that explains how that detail proves a part of your topic that explains how that detail proves a part of your topic sentence:sentence:

CONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCECONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCE::#1 For example, Baker states that the one #1 For example, Baker states that the one “goal of all inanimate objects is “goal of all inanimate objects is

to resist man and ultimately defeat him.” to resist man and ultimately defeat him.” (purpose)(purpose)

TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY: TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY:

He is speaking as if inanimate objects can think and reason and actually He is speaking as if inanimate objects can think and reason and actually have joined together to plot mankind’s destruction. The absurdity of have joined together to plot mankind’s destruction. The absurdity of this statement makes it funny and causes the reader to perhaps laugh at this statement makes it funny and causes the reader to perhaps laugh at his or her own experiences with such objects.his or her own experiences with such objects.

CONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC CONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCESENTENCE::

#2 #2 In addition, Baker speculates that perhaps things that get lost have In addition, Baker speculates that perhaps things that get lost have a a “secret method of locomotion” “secret method of locomotion” that they can conceal whenever a that they can conceal whenever a “human eye falls upon them.” “human eye falls upon them.” (purpose)(purpose)

TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY: TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY:

The mental image of a pair of pliers suddenly sprouting arms and The mental image of a pair of pliers suddenly sprouting arms and legs when we can’t see them is hilarious. This is, of course, just plain legs when we can’t see them is hilarious. This is, of course, just plain silly and quite obviously meant to get a laugh from the reader. silly and quite obviously meant to get a laugh from the reader.

CONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCECONCRETE DETAILS to PROVE my TOPIC SENTENCE::#3 #3 Finally, Baker feels those things that don’t work have Finally, Baker feels those things that don’t work have “given man the only “given man the only

peace he receives from inanimate objects” peace he receives from inanimate objects” and have therefore and have therefore “attained the “attained the highest state possible for an inanimate object.”highest state possible for an inanimate object.” (perspective)(perspective)

TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY: TWO SENTENCES OF COMMENTARY:

Baker experiencing the tragedy of losing his father, and having to leave Baker experiencing the tragedy of losing his father, and having to leave behind his sister cause him to see the unimportance of the need to control behind his sister cause him to see the unimportance of the need to control these objects. He understands that peace can only come from placing no these objects. He understands that peace can only come from placing no expectations on the areas of ones life that one cannot control.expectations on the areas of ones life that one cannot control.

Russell Baker’s tragic past, and his desire to entertain create a tone of mocking sarcasm in “The Plot Against People. For example, Baker states that the one “goal of all For example, Baker states that the one “goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.” inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.” He is speaking as if He is speaking as if inanimate objects can think and reason and actually have joined together to plot inanimate objects can think and reason and actually have joined together to plot mankind’s destruction. The absurdity of this statement makes it funny and causes the mankind’s destruction. The absurdity of this statement makes it funny and causes the reader to perhaps laugh at his or her own experiences with such objects. reader to perhaps laugh at his or her own experiences with such objects. In addition, Baker In addition, Baker speculates that perhaps things that get lost have a “secret method of locomotion” that they speculates that perhaps things that get lost have a “secret method of locomotion” that they can conceal whenever a “human eye falls upon them.” can conceal whenever a “human eye falls upon them.” The mental image of a pair of pliers The mental image of a pair of pliers suddenly sprouting arms and legs when we can’t see them is hilarious. This is, of course, suddenly sprouting arms and legs when we can’t see them is hilarious. This is, of course, just plain silly and quite obviously meant to get a laugh from the reader. just plain silly and quite obviously meant to get a laugh from the reader. Finally, Baker Finally, Baker feels those things that don’t work have “given man the only peace he receives from feels those things that don’t work have “given man the only peace he receives from inanimate objects” and have therefore “attained the highest state possible for an inanimate inanimate objects” and have therefore “attained the highest state possible for an inanimate object.”object.” Baker experiencing the tragedy of losing his father, and having to leave behind his Baker experiencing the tragedy of losing his father, and having to leave behind his sister cause him to see the unimportance of the need to control these objects. He sister cause him to see the unimportance of the need to control these objects. He understands that peace can only come from placing no expectations on the areas of ones understands that peace can only come from placing no expectations on the areas of ones life that one cannot control. life that one cannot control. In conclusion, Baker’s past and his sense of humor go hand in In conclusion, Baker’s past and his sense of humor go hand in hand to put a sarcastic spin on the importance of lifes little nuisences.hand to put a sarcastic spin on the importance of lifes little nuisences.

TSTS

CDCD

CDCD

CDCD

CMCM

CMCM

CMCM

CMCM

CMCMCMCM

CSCS

EXAMPLE 11 SENTENCE PARAGRAPH