Introduction
Goals and Goal Setting
Goals Common to All RST Writers
Other Goals to Consider
Defining My Own Goals
Advice about Assignments
Getting Started: Listing Topics to Write about in the Tutorial
Narrative One: Personal Piece on a Significant Experience
Narrative Two: Academic Piece on a Significant Experience
Summary/Response One
Summary/Response Two
Tutorial Evaluation Postscript
On Using the Resources for Writers
Generating and Developing Ideas
Finding/Expressing Main Ideas
Showing v. Telling Sentences
Focusing Topic Sentences
Thesis Statements
Reading Strategies
Assessing Your Reading Strategies
Summarizing
Writing Effective Summary and Response Essays
Discourse Analysis Worksheet
Trade Magazines
Selecting Readings
A summary is a concise paraphrase of all the main ideas in an essay. It cites the author and the title (usually in the first sentence); it contains the essay's thesis and supporting ideas; it may use direct quotation of forceful or concise statements of the author's ideas; it will NOT usually cite the author's examples or supporting details unless they are central to the main idea. Most summaries present the major points in the order that the author made them and continually refer back to the article being summarized (i.e. "Damon argues that ..." or "Goodman also points out that ... "). The summary should take up no more than one-third the length of the work being summarized.
The Response:
A response is a critique or evaluation of the author's essay. Unlike the summary, it is composed of YOUR opinions in relation to the article being summarized. It examines ideas that you agree or disagree with and identifies the essay's strengths and weaknesses in reasoning and logic, in quality of supporting examples, and in organization and style. A good response is persuasive; therefore, it should cite facts, examples, and personal experience that either refutes or supports the article you're responding to, depending on your stance.
Two Typical Organizational Formats for Summary/Response Essays:
1. Present the summary in a block of paragraphs, followed by the response in a block:
Intro/thesis Summary (two to three paragraphs) Agreement (or disagreement) Disagreement (or agreement) Conclusion
Note: Some essays will incorporate both agreement and disagreement in a response, but this is not mandatory.
2. Introduce the essay with a short paragraph that includes your thesis. Then, each body paragraph summarizes one point and responds to it, and a conclusion wraps the essay up.
Intro/thesis Summary point one; agree/disagree Summary point two; agree/disagree Summary point three; agree/disagree Conclusion
EnglishForEveryone.org
Writing practice worksheets terms of use, finish the story writing worksheets.
- Beginning Finish the Story - The Snow Day
- Beginning Finish the Story - The Fair
- Beginning Finish the Story - Summer Camp
- Beginning Finish the Story - The Birthday Party
- Beginning Finish the Story - The Halloween Costume
- Beginning Finish the Story - The 4th of July
- Intermediate Finish the Story - The Beach Trip
- Intermediate Finish the Story - The Great Find
- Intermediate Finish the Story - Which Way?
- Intermediate Finish the Story - Finding Muffin
- Intermediate Finish the Story - The Zoo
- Advanced Finish the Story - The Troublemaker
Question Response Writing Worksheets
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Color
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Day
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Number
- Beginning Question Response - In Your Family
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Sport
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Clothes
- Beginning Question Response - Your Favorite Music
- Beginning Question Response - How You Relax
- Beginning Question Response - Lunch Time
- Beginning Question Response - With Your Friends
- Beginning Question Response - Collecting Stamps
- Beginning Question Response - Your Birthplace
- Beginning Question Response - Starting Your Day
- Intermediate Question Response - Your Favorite Food
- Intermediate Question Response - Your Favorite Movie
- Intermediate Question Response - Your Favorite Song
- Intermediate Question Response - TV Programs
- Intermediate Question Response - Your Favorite Time
- Intermediate Question Response - Which Country?
- Intermediate Question Response - The Wisest Person
- Intermediate Question Response - Someone You Admire
- Advanced Question Response - A Great Accomplishment
- Advanced Question Response - The Most Exciting Thing
- Advanced Question Response - Oldest Memory
- Advanced Question Response - The Most Productive Day of the Week
- Advanced Question Response - An Interesting Person
- Advanced Question Response - What Have You Built?
- Advanced Question Response - What You Like to Read
Practical Writing Worksheets
- Beginning Practical - Grocery List
- Beginning Practical - TO Do List
- Beginning Practical - At the Beach
- Beginning Practical - The Newspaper
- Intermediate Practical - Absent From Work
- Intermediate Practical - Your Invitation
- Intermediate Practical - Paycheck
- Intermediate Practical - The New House
- Advanced Practical - Soccer Game Meeting
- Advanced Practical - Note About Dinner
- Advanced Practical - A Problem
- Advanced Practical - A Letter to Your Landlord
- Advanced Practical - A Product
Argumentative Writing Worksheets
- Intermediate Argumentative - Cat, Star, or Book?
- Intermediate Argumentative - Soccer or Basketball?
- Intermediate Argumentative - Giving and Receiving
- Intermediate Argumentative - Does Practice Make Perfect?
- Advanced Argumentative - Five Dollars or a Lottery Ticket?
- Advanced Argumentative - The Most Important Word
- Advanced Argumentative - An Apple
- Advanced Argumentative - Too Many Cooks
Writing Worksheets
- Beginning Writing Worksheet
- Intermediate Writing Worksheet
- Advanced Writing Worksheet
Using Precise Language
- Using Precise Language - An Introduction
- Using Precise Language Practice Quiz
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COMMENTS
A response is a critique or evaluation of the author's essay. Unlike the summary, it is composed of YOUR opinions in relation to the article being summarized. It examines ideas that you agree or disagree with and identifies the essay's strengths and weaknesses in reasoning and logic, in quality of supporting examples, and in organization and style.
14 Free Reading Response Templates (Word, PDF) A reading response is a written reaction or reflection to a text that highlights the reader’s understanding, interpretation, and evaluation.
Responding to literature can take several forms, including a critical overview of an author; an evaluation of specific literary elements, such as symbols, settings, and themes; a plot summary, or a character analysis.
Be sure to plan your response before you begin writing. Draft your response and revise it as needed. As you read, think carefully about the argumentation presented in the passage(s). “Argumentation” refers to the assumptions, claims, support, reasoning, and credibility on which a position is based.
Question Response Writing Worksheets. In these writing practice worksheets, students practice reading and writing in these exercises. Each worksheet asks a question that students must try to answer. Example answers are provided for students to read and model their answer after.
Response • This is your chance to argue • Argue, disagree, argue for or against, question, or offer new ideas • Was the author persuasive with the argument? • Persuade your reader of your point of view • Use examples, quotations, and support to build and prove your argument
Extended Response Prompt: Analyze the arguments presented in the two speeches. In your response, develop an argument in which you explain how one position is better supported than the other. Incorporate relevant and specific evidence from both sources to support your argument.
Follow steps in a process for guiding students in analyzing a prompt, finding evidence in texts, answering text based questions, and writing an appropriate response. Examine sample test items and discuss how to use them in supporting student skill development and confidence.
To help you prewrite effectively for this essay, I’d like to take you through some steps to writing the Summary and Response. If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to read the “Summary and Response Assignment Sheet” and perhaps even look over the sample student essays so that you understand the
Included in this unit: Detailed teacher directions and suggestions for simple implementation. 10 days of lesson plans that include guiding questions, materials, mini-lessons, student work tasks, and student share tasks. 3 original text passages with constructed response questions.