response to literature essay example

response to literature essay example

Analyzing the persuasive elements in a response to literature essay

1. Introduction

At first look, the definition makes the essay sound simple. Essentially, the writer discusses the image, theme, or character from a text and explains how it conveys a message. While that may be a simple overall definition, the essay is anything but simple to write. In fact, most young writers struggle with writing response to literature essays because the essays require them to think critically. The essays require students to evaluate convincing persuasive writing elements and understand how they work together to persuade audiences. To do this, the writer must first identify the persuasive elements. Then, the writer must analyze how each persuasive element contributes to the intended message or ideology to the audience. The final step of the reader response is to note the connection of the essay to the world, which imparts significance of why understanding the persuasive elements is important.

A response to literature essay is a writing piece in which the writer discusses a theme or image from a particular piece of literature. The essay begins with an introduction where the writer notes the title of the piece, the author, the publication date, and a brief summary of the view of the character or theme presented in the story. The essay then includes body paragraphs that expand on the writer’s points. Each body paragraph focuses on a particular aspect of the theme or image to explain how it conveys an intended message or ideology. The essay ends with a conclusion paragraph, and the writer restates critically important findings and thoughts from the essay.

2. Identifying the thesis statement

The thesis statement should be the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. It is the most important sentence because it summarizes the most important point the individual is making about the topic of the paper. The thesis statement is either true or false. In the writing task, the student should try to prove that the thesis statement is true. If the student cannot prove the thesis, it will be difficult to earn a good score on the paper. The thesis statement should be an interesting statement. A person might think that a two-page paper should contain a simple, direct, non-complex thesis statement, but the thesis statement doesn’t say that the paper is two pages long – the paper should be interesting, and the thesis statement should be, as well. Also, the scoring guide assesses a clear, concise, and direct thesis.

The thesis statement is the most important statement that is made about the topic of the paper. The thesis statement has the main purpose of the paper. The thesis statement can be the most difficult part of a paper to write since it directly answers the question that the writing task asks. It could possibly be described simply, and because it has to answer all the sub-questions of the writing task, it could also be described as the most complex sentence in the paper. The statement should be a single sentence that is clear, concise, and direct.

3. Examining supporting evidence

“But life doesn’t end somewhere, it can only end here. The characteristics of a person never change.” This quote from near the end of the novel may also help to prove how the essay’s final point stands. A few notes are not quite as articulate or developed as they could be. For example, “At this point it’s safe to say Blamires was happy with his life.” But my successes with this paper were also in part due to this student’s thoughtful revision process, and I am impressed by what this student has accomplished. My purpose was to examine in greater detail the failure of secondary characters to support the protagonist Gordon. The seed of their betrayal is evident in the content and structure of the first chapter, and is confirmed through conversations Gordon has with the characters as they betray him in his search for redemption.

The writer began by explaining the story. I noticed right away that what the writer was saying fed right into my thesis. What’s more, the essay was cohesive: an outline of the story or a summary could have been written based specifically on the content of this essay. For what it’s worth, I would have been impressed. Clearly, the writer is confident in his or her knowledge of the story. Examination of this essay found it avoided all types of generalizations, inferences, the predictable or unspecific. The writer referenced each part of the story throughout the essay.

4. Analyzing rhetorical devices used

Cristian does more to make his thesis clear. He uses pathos, rhetorical questions, similes, vivid language, and references to current events. Still, he wanders off the topic, stays there, and ends the essay somewhat satisfied. Finally, he uses emotional landmarks to create closure. Additionally and very importantly Cristian asks “So, in the end, who really gets the better end of the deal – us the lucky Americans or the demanding illegal immigrants?” With this he’s asking a question and also getting the reader to think about the question and weigh out the pros and cons and decide. All the elements together make the reader want to continue to the end to get the answer and feel satisfied, understanding and not manipulated, which is an important rhetorical balance to strike.

In the body of the essay Lamkin describes several rhetorical strategies and devices he uses, which advanced writers often use in persuasive texts. He uses comparisons, like in the following narrative: “Last summer, when I got a mosquito bite on my elbow, I went to scratch it, and my elbow joints cracked like a paperback book,” exaggerations like in the narrative, “I tensed up like the big sister – who always has to save the day – in just about every cartoon,” and figurative language, like when he expresses his feelings at the end of the story: “My brain was flooded with panic and anguish.” Again in the narrative Lamkin appeals to the reader’s emotions. Children, even ones who are not as brave as he is, are the intended audience. Elsewhere he directly addresses the reader: “Can you imagine walking a few steps and being in another country or school for that matter?” This is an effective rhetorical strategy because it pulls the reader in and makes him or her imagine the possibility in the context of one’s own life, and how that would feel.

5. Conclusion

To keep your writing somewhat general, remember that you shouldn’t limit the essay by referring in detail to places the reader hasn’t already been. include finishing touches. Polishing your paper and making final adjustments. Your essay should sparkle. Professors enjoy to read well-written essays that recognize and articulate all points. The standard of the works of genius is that they are unsatisfying. X has to be done (in high art) for Y purpose—which would be quite beyond most of the audience. Our literary scholars keep up a similar game, showing that although their method makes it appear that the old master had indeed said something rather interesting, really he was constraining himself off in one of his many oppositions! An essay is called good because it has gone on, but that may be a judgement ever needing revisal, as the dancing of a gnat seemed to the amiable specter in the shaking of a sheet draped across an unknown bed.

The final statement should give the essay a true sense of completeness. So that the essay meets and exceeds student expectations, it’s important to include material that will please a wide audience. Be honest about the subject of your writing. Don’t rewrite titles to fit the customer’s requirements. Your title should reflect the angle of your approach and say something different about the subject matter. Don’t mention your essay in your title. The best titles make a statement about the topic.