1. T.A.K.O. & S.E.X.Y
How to write a Response to Text essay so that you score a ‘bullseye' every time.
By Elise Macadam

2. What’s it all about? You’ll be learning a new trick or strategy
this strategy has been proven to improve the writing of students of all abilities.
We will learn the strategy and apply it in our own essays.
Tell me what you think of the strategy, and if it could be improved.

3. Step One - the writing purpose
What is a response to text essay?
“A response to text essay is an essay where you write about a particular aspect of a text that you have studied and show your knowledge and understanding of this aspect and why it is important or interesting.”

4. It’s really all about YOU …
In pairs answer these questions:
Have you done this type of essay before?
How did you go?
What do you remember about this type of essay?

5. Group Feedback

6. Link to prior knowledge
What do you know about other types of writing that may link to this type of writing?
How is creative writing similar or different to writing a response to text essay?

7. A good response to text essay has:
a clear introduction that lets the reader know what text you are writing about and how you are going to address the topic/question in your essay.
focuses on the one aspect that the question/topic is asking you to write about
makes three points about this aspect
contains specific details, quotes or references from the text to support each point
makes clear statements explaining how each point/example links back to the topic and addresses the question

8. What is the purpose of the essay skill
What is the purpose of the essay skill ? I have done the first one for you – brainstorm a few more.
need it for exams

9. T.A.K.O. (Take out)
T.A.K.O. – This acronym instructs you to provide this information in the introduction: Title (MUST be underlined), Author, Key words from question, Outline of points/ideas
If you can think of a better (easier to remember) mnemonic for yourself then use it.

10. Step Two - TAKO Example of a response to text essay introduction
“In the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen an important character is Brian. Brian is important because he develops the key ideas in the book of courage and perseverance.”

11. Highlight the TAKO information you notice is given in this paragraph
“An interesting character in Gary Paulsen’s novel, Hatchet, is Brian. Brian is interesting because of the ways in which he changes from the beginning of the novel to the end. By the end of the book he has changed from an average city boy with no outdoors skills into someone who has learned how to survive in the woods.”

12. S.E.X.Y … what does each letter stand for?
This is a mnemonic for the parts that make up a good paragraph in a response to text essay.
S: the Statement at the start of the paragraph that says what point/idea this paragraph is making, focusing on.
E: the Explanation that explains how this statement is relevant to the text and/or question.
X: the eXample(s) from the text that support(s) your statement and develop(s) your point.
Y: explain whY this example/point is relevant to the question/topic.

13. Underline SEXY in different colours to show its use in this example paragraph.
One reason why Brian is important is because he shows us the key idea of perseverance. Brian had to learn many new things that took him many attempts to get right. An example of when he had to show perseverance was when he tried to start a fire and it took him many attempts to get it to work. To begin with he didn’t know what to do but when he realised a rock he found produced sparks when it was struck he tried and tried again until he got a fire going. This was important because if Brian had not persevered in trying to light a fire then he would not have been able to keep warm at night or to cook the meat he needed to eat to survive.

14. Now copy this paragraph into your book
Now copy this paragraph into your book. Use colour or labels to show where the Statement, Explanation, eXample, explain whY sentences are.
One reason why Brian is important is because he shows us the key idea of perseverance. Brian had to learn many new things that took him many attempts to get right. An example of when he had to show perseverance was when he tried to start a fire and it took him many attempts to get it to work. To begin with he didn’t know what to do but when he realised a rock he found “produced sparks when it was struck” he tried and tried again until he got a fire going. This was important because if Brian had not persevered in trying to light a fire then he would not have been able to keep warm at night or to cook the meat he needed to eat to survive.

15. Another example – using poetry
Question: Describe at least three language techniques that a poet has used in a poem (or poems) that you have studied in class and explain how they were effective.
Open the poetry booklet and read “Sea Fever” by John Masefield.

16. Sea Fever by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

17. What mnemonic does this follow?
TAKO
What mnemonic does this follow?
In the poem Sea Fever by John Masefield, there are three language techniques which are used to great effect. The use of rhythm reinforces the topic of the poem, rhyme makes it memorable and personification creates unforgettable and unusual images. This essay will explore the use of these techniques in this poem.
Copy this down in your book.

18. What mnemonic does this follow?
SEXY
What mnemonic does this follow?
Rhythm is a technique that the poet uses in every line of the poem. The reader can almost feel and hear the ship moving before the wind. “…the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sails shaking” is an example of this strong rhythm running through this poem. The poem becomes more enjoyable to recite because of its rhythm; after it’s been read a few times it seems stuck in one’s head.
Copy this down in your book. Write the next 2 paragraphs.

19. What paragraph does this sound like?
An examination of Language features in Sea Fever is important because when rhythm and rhyme are used in the poem, they intensify the experience of reading the poem. These features contribute a level of meaning which goes beyond the meaning of the words alone. I now understand that Language Features like rhythm and rhyme infuse poems with several layers of meaning and add richness and depth to the poem.

20. YES! It’s a conclusion.
Conclude the essay by writing about why you care about the topic (even if you don’t you have to pretend you do! ) Use this sentence as a starter in your conclusion if you are stuck. “An examination of these …(name what your essay has examined) is important because ….(state why you think it is important).
The conclusion refers to key words used in the body of the essay. In my example essay, key words were ‘rhythm’ and ‘rhyme’, so the conclusion sentences remind the reader of the discussion that you presented. DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION INTO THE CONCLUSION.

21. Getting started – a 5 paragraph response to text essay
Introduction – Paragraph 1
Using ………. say what your essay is about. You should use some of the wording used in the question, and outline three points/techniques/ideas (in your planning, identify the examples of each of these that you will use).
TAKO

22. Paragraph 2 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic.
Take the first of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes).
There should be 3 to 5 sentences.

23. Paragraph 3 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic.
Take the second of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes).
There should be 3 to 5 sentences.

24. Paragraph 4 SEXY Use the ……….. Mnemonic.
Take the third of the points in the introduction (paragraph 1). State it again, explain it more fully and give examples/quotes (Ideally 2 examples/quotes).
There should be 3 to 5 sentences.

25. Conclusion - Paragraph 5
How is the conclusion written?
Look back at the question, read your first paragraph again and refer to the same three ideas – NOTHING NEW!
State again the question or topic, wording it differently, but similar in content to the introduction.

26. First we’ll select an essay topic and write an exemplar essay
Then we’ll use the graphic organiser chart on the page after the essay topics to help us to plan the essay.
Refer to all the notes about characters that we made on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

27. Essay Titles – 250 words
Choose a character who changes during your text. Describe him/her at the beginning and at the end of the text and explain how the changes came about.
Describe a relationship and explain how and why it changed.
Describe a setting and the effect it had on the story.
Briefly describe the opening scene of your text and explain how effective it is.
Explain the most important idea and explain what you thought about it.

28. Bruno sought her advice – P135
Describe a relationship and explain how and why it changed.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
John Boyne – Maria/Bruno – They become friendlier – Bruno realises she is a real person
Relationship - Maria & Bruno
How - Maria and Bruno become friendlier
Why - Bruno realises she is a real person
maid in Bruno’s wealthy household
helps him to pack, unpack - tidies his room
subservient - p1:always kept her head down.
P57: just got on with the job – no sign of life
p17: Bruno always liked her and felt as if she was one of the family.
Bruno sought her advice – P135
P187: realises that he had become much more friendly with her after going to Berlin
p17: always considered her one of the family
p60: but never fully considered her to have a life until she opened up about what Father had done for her
their strengthening relationship helped him feel more at home at Out-With – p187.

29. In the novel, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne, Maria and Bruno have an interesting relationship that changes as the story develops. Bruno is the son of a German Commandant and Maria is the maid in this household. As the story unfolds Maria and Bruno become friendlier as Bruno realises she is a ‘real’ person.

30. The relationship between Bruno and Maria was one of a maid to the son of a wealthy Commandant. Bruno respected Maria, as his mother told him to, and he always got on well with her as indicated when he says that, “he had always liked Maria and felt as if she was one of the family”. Maria was a hard working subservient maid, “who always kept her head bowed and never looked up from the carpet”. Maria’s job was to sort and tidy Bruno’s room and Bruno really thought nothing more of her, than her being a maid because, “she had never shown any particular signs of life before. She just got on with her job.”

31. The relationship began to change as Bruno began to question what was going on at Out-With and what his father was doing. He began to turn to Maria for advice. On more than one occasion he asked her what she thought about Out-With. For example, Bruno says, “‘Maria can I ask you a question?’ Because she seemed like the perfect person.” Later on in the story after a return visit to Berlin he realised that, “he’d become much friendlier with Maria than he had ever been back in Berlin.”

32. This change came about because Bruno began to realise that Maria was a real person. Although he had “always considered her one of the family,” he had never fully considered her to have a life until she opened up to him about what Father had done for her and her family. It was this strengthening relationship that made him realise that “he’d grown used to life at Out-With,” and he was now happier there than he would have been in Berlin.

33. These examples show how the relationship between Bruno and Maria developed. In Bruno's eyes she changed from being just the family’s maid to being a person who had feelings and thoughts and someone he could talk to. This change happened because he no longer treated her as just the maid. Over time this helped Bruno to feel more settled at his new house.
411 words

34. It’s your turn to write on your own now!
Here’s another essay question from the list that the previous question came from.
Choose a character who changes during your text. Describe him/her at the beginning and at the end of the text and explain how the changes came about.

35. Choose a character who changes during your text
Choose a character who changes during your text. Describe him/her at the beginning and the end of the text and explain how the changes came about. .
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
by John Boyne - Father – career orientated, in command and well respected - disliked, desolate - was responsible for the death of his son.
Beginning - career orientated, in command and well respected
End - disliked, merciless desolate
How - responsible for the death of his son.

36. Acknowledgements Mrs Halkyard – literacy specialist teacher
Shawn Hawthorne – NZATE conference presentation 2008