INTRODUCTION TO EXTENDED TEXT RESPONSE STRUCTURE & PLANNING

Year 8 English – Term 1 – Writing Lesson 1

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?

Text response essays

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

When writing a text response essay you will…

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:1. Underline the key words. Use a dictionary to

understand words you are not familiar with. 2. Rewrite the following topic in your own words

using synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning).

3. 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 aboutE: 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 explanationL: 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 yells at the sailor; When Jamal is facing…)

Be convincing Be specific (don’t waffle on, get straight to the point)

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:1. Contention (whether you agree with the

essay topic or not)2. Three arguments

Writing the essay: Introductions

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

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

Writing the essay: Conclusions

EXTENDED TEXT RESPONSE BODY PARAGRAPHS AND USE OF EVIDENCE

Year 8 English – Term 1 – Writing Lesson 2

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 aboutE: 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 explanationL: Link – back to what the topic of the paragraph was

Body Paragraphs

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)

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

Your turn…