Name: Section: א ב

Unit: Narrative

Homework: Response Journals

Purpose of the journal:
  • Practice selecting interesting pieces of text for discussion and essays
  • Practice close reading with annotations
  • Respond to and reflect on passages from literature
  • Provide thoughtful analysis of evidence
/ What does a successful journal look like?
  • Demonstrates an understanding of how a short piece of texts reveals atheme OR a strong emotion
  • Explores the relationship between the text and the your own opinions and experiences
  • Cites specific wordsand phrases in the selected passages in entries
  • Is 4-7 sentences long
  • Analyzes the quotation (not just summarizes it)

POSSIBLE SENTENCE STARTERS:

I really feel _____ (emotion) about this _____ (idea in the passage) because…

This _____ (idea from the passage) seems important to me because…

I think the text implies/reveals/suggests that...

This section is particularly effective because…

When the author uses _____ (literary device), I think…

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Sample Response Journal

Copied passage from book
1-4 sentences, lines, phrases, words in the text that seem important orinteresting (Always list page #).
My response to the passage
  • You may use the sentence starters to help you respond to the passage.
  • Next, don’t forget toconnect the passage to the theme AND to your own opinion.
  • Be sure to refer to specific words/phrases from passage to deepen your analysis.

“From the finger my grandfather lost to the auger,/the eye my father shut to keep his sight” (Lyon 19-20).
Usually when we talk about our family background, we focus on the positive attributes of our forefathers. In this quotation, Lyon suggests that our identity is influenced not just by positive experiences, but even more so by the tragedies. She pairs an image of her grandfather’s industrial accident with an ironic statement about her father’s vision, “the eye my father shut to keep his sight” (20). Like the grandfather, the father makes the most of his half vision, despite not having his full range of ability. The effect of this pair of images is both haunting, because of what both men are missing, and comforting because they suggest that both men persevere in the face of challenge. The matter-of-fact statement of these family member’s handicaps, coming just after a list of food items, suggests that the family, like the food they eat, are “strong” (18). Because these are the only family members that Lyon names specifically, I think that she’s emphasizing her connection to the older generation; she is “from” the members of her family who set an example of strength in the face of adversity.

Before you hand a response journal in:

 Check for correct spelling of character’s names and commonly confused words (there, they’re, their, your, you’re, it’s, its)

 Check titles (underline for a book, “ ” for the title of a poem, article, or short story)

Capitalize all proper nouns, I, and the word at the beginning of sentences

Apostrophes: Check possessives vs. plurals (Ms. Toal’s sandwich not Ms. Toals sandwich)

Replace boring words/colloquial words (U, 4, bad, good, kinda)

Check organization: Do you have a clear topic sentence? Have you explained general phrases like “the author’s main point” with specifics

Check punctuation: Use semicolons, apostrophes, and commas accurately. Avoid contractions.

Response Journal Rubric

Advanced
5 / Proficient
4 / Basic
3 / Below Basic
2
□ Demonstrates a comprehensive and highly insightful understanding of the theme or tone
□ Selects meaningful and appropriate passages deeply bound to a theme (1-4 lines; writes them out completely)
□ Meaningfully explores the relationship between the literary devices the author uses and the theme (this particular metaphor is effective because...)
□ Frequently and meaningfully cites specific words and phrases in the selected passages in entries
(copies word or phrase and provides clarification about why it is significant)
□ Response is written with stylistic maturity / □ Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the theme OR tone
□ Selects meaningful and appropriate passages around a theme (1-4 lines; writes them out completely)
□ Specifically explores the relationship between the way the author writes the text and the theme (this metaphor connects to the theme because...)
□ Meaningfully cites specific words and phrases in the selected passages in entries (copies a word)
□ Response is written in a polished, academic style / □ Demonstrates a competent understanding of theme OR tone
□ Selects appropriate passages around a theme (1-4 lines; writes out the text, but may not cite it correctly)
□ Generally explores the relationship between the way the text is written and the theme (this is a big comparison and it is important because…)
□ Cites specific words and phrases in the selected passages (mentions a word - may not have quotes around it)
□ Response is 4-7 sentences
□ Response contains few errors in grammar/style / □ May place too heavy an emphasis on textual summary
□ Selects passages that only slightly relate to a theme (writes a portion of the text only)
□ Demonstrates limited understanding of the passage as it relates to the theme
□ Rarely explores the relationship between specific words and phrases in the text and the theme, may not cite specific words and phrases in the selected passages
□ Response is less than 4 sentences
□ Response contains many errors in grammar/style

Insufficient (1): Did not complete assignment OR response is general and loosely related to the assigned chapter.