* Poetry
* Songs
* Speeches
* Memoirs
* Novels
* Plays
* Email/Letters
* Resume
* Essays
* Critical/Analytical Response to Text (CART)
* Personal Response to Text (PRT)
* Position Paper
* Source Interpretation
QUICK LOOK AT POETRY
The golden rule of poetry, to put it simply, is to read poetry. The idea behind this is if you find a poetry that has been published either online or in a literary journal or in a book, somebody thought it was good enough to publish; it may be the poet themselves if it's on their blog or an actual publisher if you found it in a book. Either way, keep an open mind while reading it and think to yourself, what is it about this poem that people thought was worth sharing?
REMEMBER
- Diction
- Imagery
- Comparisons (Figure of Speech)
- Allusions
- Context
- Sound Devices (Rhyme and Rhythm)
- Patterns/Structure
- Persona and Tone
- Contrast
- Symbolism and Archetypes
- Ambiguity
- Themes
QUICK LOOK AT ESSAYS
An essay is about a presentation of not only your ideas but also the ideas that you've acquired which prove that you understand the subject. The essays we will be looking about are these 'brief' essays which we write in examinations.
Common Errors: Punctuation of titles, the punctuation of possessives (apostrophe use), comma use, the punctuation of quotations, formal register, awkward syntax, agreement (singular/plural, pronoun/antecedent, subject/verb)
Critical/Analytical Response to Text (CART)
~ Considering the controlling idea and how you will create a strong unifying effect
~ Develop ideas through examples in your chosen literary texts
Fill your CART with details:
> Read literature more than once
> Characters personalities, feelings, inner conflicts...
> Characters actions that reveal something about them
> Any character change
> Key conflict moments between characters
> Emotional or reflective moments
> Details about setting, atmosphere, mood
> Words that indicate the author's tone
> Ideas or themes as they developed in the story
> Write notes in the margin of your story, they should provide a brief summary or label to what you've highlighted
> Do all the questions you are asked to do because these are excellent tools to force you to search for detail.
> Format: Introduction, Body Paragraph (x3), Conclusion
Personal Response to Text (PRT)
~ Use a prose form (prose means anything besides poetry)
~ Connect one or more of the texts provided to your own ideas and impressions
Approach:
> Read the prompt about the topic
> Read all the texts
> Select one text to use as the stimulus for your personal response
> Record notes on the planning page
> Consider your writing format (personal, editorial, rant, creative, critical)
> Decide on your prose form of writing
> Write!
> Proofread and revise your first draft
> Format: Initially (establishes starting circumstances), However (the second paragraph introduces change), Consequently (the third paragraph examines consequences of the change), Finally (final paragraph explores ultimate unfolding of the characters responses, choices, and understanding)
Position Paper
~ Analyze the source to demonstrate an understanding of the ideological perspective(s) reflected in the source
~ Establish and argue a position in response to the question presented
~ Support your position and arguments by using evidence from your knowledge and understanding
~ Always reference the source, don't reference it once then come back to it
~ Have a thesis, it's your roadmap
~ Concessions
~ Be persuasive, convince your audience why your position is valid -> NO wandering (this is not a history lesson)
~ Format: Introduction (thesis, your argument should be stated), First paragraph (arguing sources position (and yours if you agree), Second paragraph (arguing opposing position (and yours if you disagree with the source), Conclusion
[Note: It can improve your writing arguing an opposing view in your essay, but you should always have a "however" following that view than an additional argument on why that the opposing view wrong and you are right.]
Source Interpretation
> Interpret each source to demonstrate your understanding of how each source links to ______ (whatever topic they give you)(example: liberalism)
> Explain one or more of the relationships that exist among all three sources
> This is not a personal statement, this is about each of the sources points of views (whether you agree with them or not)
> If you want to contradict a point of view don't say, "I think..." instead, state "However, one may argue that..."
> No thesis or introduction paragraph for this sort of essay
> Format: First Paragraph (source #1), Second Paragraph (source #2), Third Paragraph (source #3), Concluding Paragraph (how they all relate)
YOU ARE READING
Writing Tips & Tricks
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