Reader Response Journal
You are to complete five Reader Response entries per week for four weeks for a total of twenty entries. Entries are to be of no less than 1/2 page (approximately 125 words) and represent the beginning, middle, and end of the book.
You will have at least three opportunities for in-class independent reading and writing - use them!
Five Response Entries will be submitted on Mondays. You can certainly work ahead, but do not fall behind. You can compose your entries on notebook paper, or you can download the blank template posted below.
On Mondays, you'll also meet with your "book partner" to discuss what you've read so far.
A response journal is a reflective journal. Reflective means that you think. There are several levels of reflection:
Some tips:
You will have at least three opportunities for in-class independent reading and writing - use them!
Five Response Entries will be submitted on Mondays. You can certainly work ahead, but do not fall behind. You can compose your entries on notebook paper, or you can download the blank template posted below.
On Mondays, you'll also meet with your "book partner" to discuss what you've read so far.
A response journal is a reflective journal. Reflective means that you think. There are several levels of reflection:
- Lowest level: This part is stupid.
- Mediocre: This part is stupid because I do not understand what is going on.
- Truly reflective: At first, I did not understand what was going on. But then, I looked it up/thought about it, and I believe that…..
Some tips:
- Take time to write down anything in relation to the text. If you're intrigued by certain statements or if you're attracted to characters or issues or problems, write your response. Try to take at least five minutes to write when you've put your book down for a break. You may want to write something that strikes you then.
- Make connections with your own experience. What does the reading make you think of? Does it remind you of anything or anyone?
- Make connections with other texts or concepts or events. Do you see any similarities between this text (concepts, events) and other texts (concepts, events)? Does it bring to mind other related issues?
- Ask yourself questions about the text: What perplexes you about a particular passage? Try beginning, "I wonder why..." or "I'm having trouble understanding how...' or "It perplexes me that..." or "I was surprised when ...."
- Try agreeing with the writer. Write down the supporting ideas. Try arguing with the writer. On what points, or about what issues, do you disagree? Think of your journal as a place to carry on a dialogue with the writer or with the text in which you actually speak with him or her. Ask questions; have the writer respond. What happens when you imagine yourself in his/her shoes?
- Write down striking words, images, phrases, or details. Speculate about them. Why did the author choose them? What do they add to the story? Why did you notice them? Divide your notebook page in half and copy words from the text onto the left side; write your responses on the right. On a first reading you might put checks in the margin where the passages intrigue you; on the second reading, choose the most interesting ideas, then write about them.
- Describe the author's point of view. How does the author's attitude shape the way the writer presents the material?
Reader Response Template |
Due Dates |
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Monday, 3/30
Entries #1-5 and #6-10 Monday, 4/6 Entries #11-15 Monday, 4/13 Entries #16-20 |