(Choose 2 from each section and respond to them in your journals).
Initial Reaction
(What is your initial reaction to the story? Include any questions, thoughts, or opinions you may have.)
1.
What happens in the selection?
2.
Who is involved(characters)?
3.
What is the major conflict, issue,
or problem in the text? What is the result of the conflict? What does the conflict and/or its resolution show or teach us?
4.
How do you feel about this conflict?
the resolution?
5.
Why do the characters do what
they do? say what they say? think what they think? What is/are the motivation(s) of the character(s)?
6.
What is the setting? How does the setting affect (add to the story, change something in the story, add to the meaning) the story
or conflict?
7.
Does a character change in the
selection? How? Why does this character
change?
8.
Does a character learn anything
in the selection? What? What does
this lesson do for the character? How do we know the character learned something?
9.
Did you learn anything from the
selection? What? How did you learn
this?
10.
What questions do you have about
the text? What might the answers to those questions be?
11.
What thoughts do you have about
the selection? Explain.
12.
What conclusions have you made
about it? Why?
13.
What is the major theme in the
selection? How do you know?
Interpretation
(Discuss the meaning/relationship of a quotation, the title, how the character changes during the
story)
CHOOSE A QUOTATION OR TWO IN ORDER TO ANSWER THESE
QUESTIONS. REFER TO THE LINE #’s OR PAGE #’s OF THE QUOTATION
1.
Using the theme/message/lesson
the character learns, tell what the title or quote means and how it relates to the story, characters, lesson, overall meaning, etc.
2.
How does the quote fit the character,
theme, or story line?
3.
Why is the quote important?
4.
Is the quote the theme, message,
or lesson of the story? Explain.
5.
How does the quote further the
reader’s insight into the characters, theme, etc.?
6.
How does the main character change
from the beginning of the text to the end (of the selection)?
7.
How does this quotation relate
to the whole text?
8.
How does the quotation further
your understanding of the character(s) or the theme(s) in the text?
Connection
(What does this story tell us about people in general? How does this story relate to life, a story you have read, a piece of art, a movie
or television program you have seen, people you know, etc.)
1.
Which characters do you identify
with (who they are, what they do, what they say, what they learn, etc.)? Why?
2.
Have you been in a similar situation/conflict? Explain.
3.
Have you learned similar lessons/messages? Explain.
4.
Do you know people who are similar
to characters in this selection?
5.
How does this selection relate
to your life, your friends, your situation, etc.? Explain.
6.
Does the theme, message, or lesson
fit your life in any way? Explain.
Critical Stance
(Is the author effective in creating a piece of good
literature?)
1.
Is this selection good literature? Explain how it fits or does not fit with your definition of good literature.
2.
Does the setting of the story
aid in relating the meaning of the story?
3.
Is the dialogue realistic and
effective?
4.
Are the characters realistic/believable?
5.
How does the use of language/wording/word
usage/phrasing add or detract from the selection?
6.
What literary devices does the
author use in the selection? How do they aid/detract from the overall message of the selection?
7.
Is the message relevant? Does
it matter in the “grand scheme of things”?
8.
What do you like or dislike about this selection?
9.
Would you recommend this selection
to a relative or friend? Why? What
would you tell them about the selection?
10.
What is your opinion of the message/lesson/theme? It is an important lesson? Is this relevant
to everyday life?
11.
What literary devices did the
author use in the text? How do these literary devices enhance or detract from
the overall text?
12.
How does this text help you to
further your understanding of human nature? Explain.
13.
Should all students read this
selection? Why or why not?