Teaching Strong Literary Skills

Question 1

What are literary response skills?

Answer 1

Literary response skills allow students to react and respond to literature through summarizing, analyzing, and creating responses.

These skills involve using evidence from the text to support analyses and reflections.

Question 2

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in a literary response?

Answer 2

A thesis statement acts as a roadmap for the entire response, providing a clear, focused, and debatable claim.

Example: In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’ internal conflict between loyalty and justice ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.

Question 3

What role does textual evidence play in literary responses?

Answer 3

Textual evidence supports claims, reflecting the analysis of a literary text and enhancing the response’s credibility.

Example: In The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas’s description of his community as ‘Sameness’ foreshadows the dystopian reality.

Question 4

What is required in the analysis component of a literary response?

Answer 4

Students must unpack the meaning and significance of their chosen evidence, connecting it to their argument and revealing deeper meanings.

Example: Gatsby’s extravagant parties in The Great Gatsby mask his inner loneliness.

Question 5

How should a literary response be organized?

Answer 5

A strong literary response should include an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs with specific points supported by evidence, and a conclusion summarizing main ideas.

Question 6

What is the significance of language and style in literary responses?

Answer 6

Using formal language and academic vocabulary is essential for clarity and professionalism in writing.

In oral responses, precise delivery and tone matching the content are emphasized.

Question 7

What are pre-reading strategies for literary response?

Answer 7

Pre-reading strategies include brainstorming prior knowledge, vocabulary preview, and multimedia connections to enhance understanding.

Question 8

What is one active reading strategy?

Answer 8

Annotation encourages students to highlight important passages, literary devices, and questions for deeper engagement with the text.

Question 9

What is the purpose of discussion questions in comprehension activities?

Answer 9

Discussion questions facilitate class discussions to assess students’ understanding of main ideas, themes, and character motivations.

Question 10

What is a double-entry journal?

Answer 10

A double-entry journal is a tool where students record quotes on one side and their reflections or analyses on the other.

Question 11

How can graphic organizers assist students in response planning?

Answer 11

Graphic organizers help students brainstorm, organize thoughts, and map out their thesis and supporting arguments.

Question 12

What is the role of peer review workshops in drafting and revising?

Answer 12

Peer review workshops allow students to provide constructive feedback on each other’s drafts, focusing on clarity and evidence integration.

Question 13

What is the Think-Pair-Share strategy?

Answer 13

Think-Pair-Share encourages individual thinking about a question, followed by sharing ideas with a partner and then discussing with the class.

Question 14

What are key components of differentiation in reading instruction?

Answer 14

Key components include skill-related background knowledge, pacing, complexity, and scaffolding.

Question 15

What is literary analysis?

Answer 15

Literary analysis involves interpreting symbols, evaluating author choices, and connecting elements to themes, going beyond basic comprehension.

Question 16

What common elements are associated with literary analysis?

Answer 16

Common elements include:
* Theme
* Characterization
* Setting
* Figurative Language
* Point of View
* Symbolism and Motif
* Tone
* Mood

Question 17

What is the purpose of pre-reading activities for literary analysis?

Answer 17

Pre-reading activities build context, curiosity, and purpose needed to deeply interpret a text.

Question 18

What should students do during reading to enhance understanding?

Answer 18

Students should engage actively, tracking thoughts, noticing literary elements, and checking their understanding.

Question 19

What is the focus of post-reading activities?

Answer 19

Post-reading activities focus on analyzing how meaning is built through the author’s choices regarding impact, theme, and meaning.

Question 20

What is the rhetorical situation in argumentative text analysis?

Answer 20

The rhetorical situation includes the speaker, purpose, audience, context, and exigence that influence the text’s persuasive strategies.

Question 21

What does the acronym SPACE stand for in rhetorical situation analysis?

Answer 21

• Speaker
• Purpose
• Audience
• Context
• Exigence

Question 22

Who wrote this, and what do we know about them?

Question 23

What does the speaker want their audience to do or believe after engaging with the text?

Question 24

Who received this text, and what do we know about them?

Question 25

What was happening in the world when this text was published?

Question 26

What motivated the speaker to write this argument when they did?

Question 27

What is the impact of the rhetorical situation on the speaker's choices?

Question 28

What are the main persuasive appeals used in an argument?

Answer 28

* Ethos * Pathos * Logos * Kairos

Question 29

What does Ethos refer to in persuasive appeals?

Answer 29

An appeal to the speaker's character or credibility.

Question 30

What does Pathos refer to in persuasive appeals?

Answer 30

An appeal to the audience's emotions.

Question 31

What does Logos refer to in persuasive appeals?

Answer 31

An appeal to the argument's logic.

Question 32

What does Kairos refer to in persuasive appeals?

Answer 32

An appeal to the timeliness or context of the argument.

Question 33

What are rhetorical devices?

Answer 33

Persuasive techniques used to emphasize claims.

Question 34

Give examples of rhetorical devices.

Answer 34

* Hyperbolic statements * Drawing parallels * Rhetorical questions * Repetition of keywords or phrases

Question 35

What should students consider about the organization of an argumentative text?

Answer 35

The order of sub-claims and evidence.

Question 36

What are logical fallacies?

Answer 36

Flawed logic in arguments that seem convincing.

Question 37

What is the structure of an argumentative text?

Answer 37

* Central claim * Sub-claims * Counterarguments

Question 38

What types of evidence do authors use to support claims?

Answer 38

* Statistics * Researched facts * Anecdotes * Author's reasoning

Question 39

What instructional strategies can enhance analysis of argumentative texts?

Answer 39

* Model think-alouds * Provide a variety of texts * Use annotation strategies * Provide graphic organizers * Allow low-stake argumentation activities

Question 40

What are multimodal texts?

Answer 40

Texts that combine two modes of communication.

Question 41

Why is it important for students to understand techniques of written argument in digital texts?

Question 42

What is the benefit of viewing a subject from multiple perspectives?

Answer 42

Builds critical thinking skills and provides a holistic view.

Question 43

List some strategies for evaluating differing perspectives.

Answer 43

* Provide diverse texts * Include texts from different time periods * Use graphic organizers * Allow synthesis of learned opinions

Question 44

What is the importance of historical context in evaluating perspectives?

Answer 44

It helps determine the validity of an argument.

Question 45

What are TEKS?

Answer 45

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills framework for education.

Question 46

What is the focus of TEKS regarding author's purpose?

Answer 46

Students progress from basic to nuanced purposes.

Question 47

What do students learn about author's craft in TEKS?

Answer 47

How authors use techniques to achieve their purpose.

Question 48

What is expected of Grade 7 students regarding author's purpose?

Answer 48

* Explain the author's purpose and message * Analyze text structure * Describe the use of figurative language

Question 49

What is expected of Grade 8 students regarding author's craft?

Answer 49

* Identify and analyze literary devices * Explain rhetorical devices and logical fallacies

Question 50

What should students analyze in literary texts according to TEKS?

Answer 50

* Themes * Characters * Plot * Setting

Question 51

What should students analyze regarding historical and cultural settings?

Answer 51

How they influence characterization, plot, and theme across texts.

Question 52

What are the key relationships students are expected to analyze in literary texts?

Answer 52

Thematic development, characterization, point of view, significance of setting, and plot.

Question 53

How do characters' behaviors contribute to the plot?

Answer 53

They contribute to moral dilemmas that influence the plot and theme.

Question 54

What should students evaluate regarding literary elements?

Answer 54

How they shape the author's portrayal of the plot.

Question 55

In what context should students analyze the influence on plot, characterization, and theme?

Answer 55

The historical, social, and economic context of the setting(s).

Question 56

What genres should Grade 7 students demonstrate knowledge of?

Answer 56

* Realistic fiction * Adventure stories * Historical fiction * Mysteries * Humor * Myths * Fantasy * Science fiction

Question 57

What should Grade 7 students analyze in poetry?

Answer 57

The effect of rhyme scheme, meter, and graphical elements.

Question 58

How do playwrights develop characters according to Grade 7 expectations?

Answer 58

Through dialogue and staging.

Question 59

What should Grade 8 students analyze in poetry?

Answer 59

The effect of graphical elements, such as punctuation and line length.

Question 60

How do playwrights contribute to dramatic action in Grade 8?

Answer 60

Through the use of acts and scenes.

Question 61

What type of literature should English I students read?

Answer 61

American, British, and world literature.

Question 62

What elements should students analyze across various poetic forms?

Answer 62

* Structure * Prosody * Graphic elements, such as line length and word position

Question 63

What dramatic conventions should students analyze?

Answer 63

* Asides * Soliloquies * Dramatic irony * Satire

Question 64

What should English II students analyze in world literature?

Answer 64

The effects of metrics, rhyme schemes, and types of rhymes.

Question 65

What structural elements should English III students analyze in informational texts?

Answer 65

* Clear thesis * Strong supporting evidence * Pertinent examples * Commentary * Summary * Conclusion

Question 66

What should students evaluate in argumentative texts?

Answer 66

* Clear and arguable thesis * Appeals * Structure of the argument * Convincing conclusion * Call to action

Question 67

What types of evidence should students analyze in argumentative texts?

Answer 67

* Treatment of counterarguments * Concessions * Rebuttals

Question 68

What should English IV students analyze in British literature?

Answer 68

The effects of sound, form, figurative language, graphics, and dramatic structure in poetry.

Question 69

What is the purpose of using the TEKS in instruction?

Answer 69

To develop students' literary analysis skills progressively.

Question 70

What kind of analysis should students engage in beyond memorization?

Answer 70

Active analysis of literary elements and genres.

Question 71

What is important for students' exposure to literature?

Answer 71

A diverse range of genres and literary elements.