Introduction to extended text response structure & planning

Year 8 English – Term 1 – Writing Lesson 1 Introduction to extended text response structure & planning

Text response essays • Being able to write a text response essay is a skill and one that you will be expected to have mastered by the end of the year! • So what exactly do text response essays do and why do we write them?

When writing a text response essay you will… • Have an introduction, at least three body paragraphs and a conclusion (5 paragraphs total) • Respond to a theme/idea/event, etc. in a particular text • Analyse the text • Present your arguments about the text • NOT retell the story

Step 1: Understand the topic • Imagine that you have been given the topic: In the text ‘Boy Overboard’, female characters face dangers and injustice. Discuss using examples from the novel. Copy this topic statement into the middle of your sheet of butcher’s paper

On your paper, complete these 3 things: • Underline the key words. Use a dictionary to understand words you are not familiar with. • Rewrite the following topic in your own words using synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning). • What is the topic asking? Complete this sentence. “This question is asking me to...” In the text ‘Boy Overboard’, female characters face dangers and injustice. Discuss using examples from the novel.

Step 2: Brainstorm • On your page, brainstorm all the ideas you have about the topic. • Make a list of these things that might be relevant to the question. • ideas • quotes • examples/opinions • Then identify and highlight the 3 strongest arguments.

Step 3: graphic organiser

TEEL – huh? Each body paragraph must follow TEEL: T: Topic – say what this paragraph is going to be about E: Explain – what your argument for this paragraph is about in a few more sentences E: Example – use an example from the text to support your explanation L: Link – back to what the topic of the paragraph was

Step 4: write your draft • Use your TEEL planner to help you structure your essay draft • You write your draft in full • Use quotes and evidence to back up your argument about the text • Use formal language (no abbreviations, no text language) • Use present tense to discuss your argument (eg. When Bibi yellsat the sailor; When Jamal is facing…) • Be convincing • Be specific (don’t waffle on, get straight to the point)

Writing the essay: Introductions • Introductions are an important part of the essay as they set the tone for your piece. • They are also the first opportunity that you have to persuade your reader. • The introduction always provides two things: • Contention (whether you agree with the essay topic or not) • Three arguments

The introduction must include the name of the text: ‘Boy Overboard’ (single quotation marks) and the name of the author (Morris Gleitzman). • Eg: In the novel ‘Boy Overboard’ by Morris Gleitzman, female characters face dangers and injustice. • Your turn: Now you need to finish this introduction by writing in the three arguments

Writing the essay: Conclusions • Conclusions are important as they leave a final impression on your reader. • Restate your contention (in different words than those used in your introduction.) • Summarise your arguments. • Do not introduce any new ideas. • Your turn: Write a conclusion for the same topic as the introduction

Year 8 English – Term 1 – Writing Lesson 2 extended text response body paragraphs and use of evidence

Body Paragraphs • Your paragraphs are where you develop your main ideas. Each paragraph has a main idea/major argument. • Use TEEL to structure your paragraphs. T: Topic – say what this paragraph is going to be about E: Explain – what your argument for this paragraph is about in a few more sentences E: Example – use an example from the text to support your explanation L: Link – back to what the topic of the paragraph was

Using quotes & evidence – the 2nd T in TEEL • Now we’ve read more of the book, we know of some examples from the book we can use. • But what is a quote? • What is evidence? • And how do I tell you where I got them from?

Quotes • A quote is when we take something word for word from a text and put it into our own writing • A quote can be reusing what a character has directly said • A quote can also be a non-speaking part from the text • Whenever you quote, you use quotation marks (“…”) at the beginning and end of the quote

Quote examples • Direct speech: As Bibi says, “You pongy lump of camel spleen. I’d like to kick you in the guts”. • Indirect speech: Jamal is shocked by Bibi’s attitude and thinks, “Nine-year-old kids shouldn’t hate their country”.

Evidence • Sometimes you may want to describe a critical scene or someone’s actions, and a single quote may not be enough • In this case you can talk about what happened at a certain point in the novel to demonstrate what you are talking about

Evidence example • Jamal shows that he is a positive person who always tries to find solutions throughout the book…. An example of this is in chapter 8, when he hatches a plan for himself and Bibi to be able to show the Afghani government how good they are at soccer. Jamal believes the government will be so impressed, they will forgive his parents for running the illegal school.

Referencing • “You pongy lump of camel spleen. I’d like to kick you in the guts” (pg 22) • “Nine-year-old kids shouldn’t hate their country” (pg 23) • An example of this is in chapter 8, when he hatches a plan… OR: • An example of this is when he hatches a plan… (chapter 8)

Your turn… • Practice developing and writing a body paragraph for one of the three arguments in your introduction. • Complete the TEEL graphic organiser first • Then write your paragraph in full, following the TEEL structure you set out on your graphic organiser

Introduction to extended text response structure & planning