Response To Literature

Final Review

Your response deals with the “Big 4”

1. Meaning

2. Codes & Conventions

3. Connections

4. Judgement

When you use both texts

If you focus on the short storyStory Photos

Meaning

Conventions

Connections

Judgment

If you focus on the photo-essayStory Photos

Meaning

Conventions

Connections

Jugement

Remember: BOTH TEXTS must be used for the first 2 questions.

1: Meaning

1. What is the meaning/message of each text?2. How does each text relate to the guiding

question?3. Establish the purpose and audience of the

text. Try to give a reason for your choice.

• BE SURE TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES, AND DISCUSS THEM!

• If you give quotes, set them up (give context)

Example: Short StoryGoalie is a short story written by Rudy Thauberger. This story was written specifically for sports fans (we can see this through the attention to details about the goalie’s equipment and techniques). The author wants to entertain the reader, but also make him/her to think about the pressure and pain that devoted players go through every game. Thauberger’s main message is that people put incredible pressure on themselves when they are doing the things that they most love. We see this in the story when the goalie begins to practice. He pushes himself hard because he wants to get better, and wants to be the best at something he loves. Even though the games cause him intense physical and psychological pain, he perseveres. Thauberger conveys this through the goalie’s statement to his worried father: “What choice do I have? What else have I ever wanted to do?” (3). The goalie loves playing hockey and being a goalie, even though there is pressure from fans, players, and even his coach – “without the game, he’s miserable”, says his father (2). He endures the pain because without the game, his life is empty.Referring to the quotation in the guiding question, “Playing the game: finding the balance between passion and pressure”, we see how the goalie feels forced to follow his passion, to be the “perfect” goalie, even though this means dealing with crushing pressure. It seems like he hasn’t found the balance yet, though… he constantly shows his anger – by messing up the garage, breaking his hockey sticks. In the end, as his dad says, “Win or lose, he comes home angry”.

Example: Photo EssayThe photo-essay “Playing the Game” asks its viewers to consider the passions, joys, and pressures of hockey. The intended audience would be people who have played the game, since the different settings (ponds, parks, and arenas) will evoke strong memories for anyone who has laced up skates before. The collection of images gives the message that hockey is for everyone, but that the more organized the game, the more pressure players will face. We can see this in the carefree play of “Backyard Gathering” and “The Spirit of the Game”, where players are playing in backyards and on frozen ponds. It seems like sport for fun. Meanwhile, “Hockey Girls” and “Facing Off” show the more intense nature of organized sport.This photo essay deals with the guiding question by showing that as the sport gets more organized, the level of passion gives way to more pressure.

2: Codes and Conventions

Short Story• Identify one literary

technique (give quote or specific example)

• Explain how it is used in the story (how does it affect the message or the reader?)

• Is this technique effective?

Photo Essay• Identify one photographic

technique (give specific example)

• Explain how it is used in the photo essay (how does it affect the message or the viewer?)

• Is this technique effective?

Choose your preferred text (the one you will use for the rest of the exam).

•Jusftify / explain why you have chosen to deal with this text.

Different types of shots• Long Shot

– The subject is shown at a relatively small scale (from far away). Emphasizes setting.

• Wide Shot– Subject takes up full frame, or most of it. We look at whole

subject, within setting.

• Mid Shot– Closer in – shows part of the subject in detail. The photographer

wants us to look closer.

• Close Up– A certain feature takes up the whole frame. Detail or emotion is

important here.

• Foreground– The part of the scene or picture that is or seems

to be toward the front.

• Background– The part of the scene or picture that is or seems

to be toward the back.

• Does the image emphasize one or the other?• Does the background give us extra insight into the

foreground?

Setting and Symbolism

• How does the setting affect the way we see the subject, or the message of the piece overall?

• Does this image contain any elements that are symbolic? Ie: objects that represent bigger ideas?

3: Connections

Text Connection• Make a detailed

connection between your preferred text and another text.– Book, poem, song, short

story, film, TV show, etc.• Look for deeper

connections (ie: think about similarities in meaning or theme).

Global Issue/Event• Make a detailed

connection between your preferred text and a global issue, or a world event (can be a historical event).

Be sure to refer back to the exam text… be as specific as you can!

Some Books & Stories We’ve Read:

• Death of a Salesman

• Just Lather, That’s All

• The Goalie

• ABC Antidote

• Lord of the Flies

• Angela’s Ashes

PoetryLangston Hughes

– The Negro Speaks of Rivers

– I too sing america– Theme for English B

Maya Angelou– Still I Rise – I Know Why the Caged

Bird Sings

4: Judgement

1. Explanation of the quality of the preferred text.

– Is this text well written? Why?– What could be improved? Why?

2. Explanation of how well preferred text addresses (answers) the guiding question.

– Judge whether it does a good job or not. Explain

* Don’t just restate ideas from earlier in your response!