The Response Journal

            The response journal serves you in many ways.  By writing in response to reading, you develop your understanding of what you read.  The writing also provides you with notes, which you can use as a resource for your papers and during your open-book, open-note tests.  And, of course, it constitutes 15% of your final grade, the equivalent of one paper.

            For each chapter assigned and for each literary work you read, you need to write a response.  Note that you are to respond to the literature and the text; do not merely copy verbatim what you read.

Responding to a chapter in the text

            In addition to the literary works in Literature, your text offers instruction on how to analyze works of literature and on how to develop your writing.  Be sure to read the sample essays, noting:

1. how they are developed;
2. what issues they examine; and,
3. the formats they use.

Responding to literary works

First impressions:

1. Record your first impressions.  Is there anything funny, memorable, or noteworthy?  Did you laugh, smile, worry, get scared, feel a thrill, learn, wonder?
2. Make notes on characters, events, techniques, and ideas.  If you like a character or an idea, describe what you like.  Do the same for what you don't like.  Are there any parts you don't understand?  Why?  Does the work surprise you?

Developing your response:

            For a story or a play, determine who are the main characters.  What is your impression of each?  What does each character want?  What concerns does each have?  What do the characters do?  Also, where does the action take place?  Is there any connection between setting and character?  For a poem, who is talking, and to whom is the speaker talking?  What is the situation, and what does the speaker say about it?

            Trace developing patterns.  Make a quick outline or scheme for the story or main idea.  What conflicts appear.  Do these conflicts exist between people, groups, or ideas?  How are these conflicts resolved?  Is one force, idea, or side the winner?  Why?  What is your response to the winner or loser?  Record things that you think need explaining. Describe what is unclear.  Then bring your questions to class for discussion.