Name: ________________
Date: ________________
Period: ________________
7th Grade Practice Response to Literature Essay
Introductory paragraph:
Identify the two texts you will be analyzing, being sure to include title, author, and form (poetry, short story, novel).
EXAMPLE: The Poem “Oranges” by Gary Soto and the short story “Seventh Grade” by the same author are similar in many ways.
Summarize each text briefly. Use the present tense.
EXAMPLE: In “Oranges,” a 12-year old boy takes a girl to buy some chocolate, but he runs into trouble when he realizes that he doesn’t have enough money to pay for it. In “Seventh Grade,” the main character, Victor, tries to impress his crush by speaking French.
Thesis statement: What is the recurring theme?
EXAMPLE: One theme that recurs in both “Oranges” and “Seventh Grade” is adults remember what it means to be young and in love.
Body Paragraph #1: 1:2 One-Chunk Paragraph about the theme in text #1: TS-CD-CM-CM- CS. Always include quotation marks and line/page numbers!
EXAMPLE:
TS: This theme, adults remember what it means to be young and in love, is clearly shown in the poem “Oranges.”
CD: One example that shows the theme is “This is an example / Use your own example / In your own essay” (1-3).
CM: This example shows the theme because _________________ .
CM: This example also shows the theme because _________________ .
CS: Thus, it is clear that the theme, adults remember what it means to be young and in love, is shown in the poem “Oranges.”
Body Paragraph #2: 1:2 One-Chunk Paragraph about the theme in text #2: TS-CD-CM-CM- CS. Always include quotation marks and line/page numbers!
EXAMPLE:
Same as Body Paragraph #2, but using the text “Seventh Grade”.
Conclusion:
Re-state your thesis and briefly mention some of the techniques that the author used to show the theme in each text.
EXAMPLE: Therefore it is clear that the theme, adults remember what it means to be young and in love, recurs in both “Oranges” and “Seventh Grade.” In “Seventh Grade,” Gary Soto shows the theme through Mr. Bueller’s flashbacks, while in “Oranges” he shows the theme through the kindness of the saleswoman.
Put your thesis in fresh words and leave your reader with something to think about.
EXAMPLE:
As kids, it is important for us to remember that adults have been through challenges in life just like we have, and sometimes they even remember what it feels like well enough to lend us a helping hand.