English Language Arts: Responses

Hello Families,

Over the course of cycle three your child will write responses to a number of different kinds of texts. The following should help you understand what it is they need to do in their response, and it is a copy of the instructions they have already in their duotangs.

Media Response: What to include.
By Ms Napier

A response is a way of communicating what you understand and think about a “text” you have viewed. In the past, responses to literature included elements students are, by now, easily able to identify and discuss.

¸ The author’s message or “meaning” must be discussed, identifying the theme of the work (such as tolerance, friendship, loss, immigration, racism, changes) and its intentioned purpose (for example, to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to educate). Every time you give an opinion or express and idea, you should support that idea with an example from the text.

¸ Your judgment of the text means that you consider the author’s ideas and you explain your opinions about what the author has to say. To do thins well you need to explain yourself fully and make reference to the text and to life in general. This can often be done in the same section as the author’s message.

¸ Connections to the text must be included, which may be personal or related to other texts the students has seen/read. You can connect to the ideas, the character’s feelings, the situation, or you can relate it to another book/video/movie/commercial/poem/song you know. Give examples, and explain the connection you see.

¸ An appreciation of the text or “structures and features” needs to be included, including the author’s choice of language and events and a discussion of visual elements of the work being examined. When you tell what you appreciate (or do not appreciate) you should comment on the message as well as how the message is communicated.


As well, students should begin with an introduction (stating what the response will discuss) and a summary of the text (including the genre of the text), and a conclusion. This means that the entire response should be no less than six complete, coherent paragraphs.

Many writers find it helpful to prepare an outline and to make notes about their text before beginning the response. These are excellent strategies we all have practiced and which you should use to your advantage. Additionally, reread your response to see that it is logical, sequential, and understandable, and reread comments made on previous work to see how you can improve.

If you have difficulty with the assignment, please see me right away, but remember that you have a great deal of experience with responses, and that as your ideas and opinions become more sophisticated, so does the way in which we expect you to present your work.
I look forward to reading your responses!