1. Essay Structure: Text response

2. In order to write a text response essay, you need…
Knowledge of the text’s structure and storyline
Knowledge of key events and their signifiance
Understanding of characters and their motivations
Knowledge of themes (or ‘big ideas’)
Ability to recognise and interpret symbols
Understanding of how to select and incorporate evidence
Awareness of the TEEL structure

3. The Text Response Essay
Intro
Body
Conclusion

4. The Text Response Essay
Intro T E L T E L
Body
Conclusion

5. The Text Response Essay
Intro T E L
Topic Sentence
Elaboration of Argument
Evidence
Link back to Contention
Body
Conclusion

6. The Text Response EssayL I E S L I E S
Intro T E L
Topic Sentence
Elaboration of Argument
Evidence
Link back to Contention
Body
Conclusion

7. The Text Response EssayL I E S
Link your opening sentences to the topic
Indicate the author and title
Establish a contention
Signal/signpost your arguments
Intro T E L
Topic Sentence
Elaboration of argument
Evidence
Link back to contention
Body
Conclusion

8. The Text Response EssayL I E S
Link your opening sentences to the topic
Indicate the author and title
Establish a contention
Signal/signpost your arguments
Intro T E L
Topic sentence
Elaboration of argument
Evidence
Link back to contention
Body R R
Conclusion

9. The Text Response EssayL I E S
Link your opening sentences to the topic
Indicate the author and title
Establish a contention
Signal/signpost your arguments
Intro T E L
Topic Sentence
Elaboration of argument
Evidence
Link back to contention
Body R
Restate contention
Restate arguments
Round off essay
Conclusion

10. Beyond t.e.e.l.
Each paragraph should be a discussion of ideas, as opposed to a list of examples
You do need a topic sentence, however from there, provided your paragraph contains the elements of TEEL, you have creative freedom
Discuss your ideas, give examples to support your ideas and makes a link back to the overall topic
You need to find your voice

11. Step 1: Brainstorming
The best way to start is to brainstorm the topic and ensure you completely understand what it means
Write the topic on an A3 piece of paper. Underline the key words or phrases in the topic
Off each of these words, draw branches and write any and every idea that comes to mind
These might be definitions, examples from the text, questions, quotes, notes about characters/themes/symbols etc.
Do this for each key word. Be as detailed as possible
Basically, your task is simply to understand the topic, and link it in every way possible to the text

12. Step 2: grouping ideas
Once you have thrown your ideas/examples/questions down on paper, you need to decide what your strongest ideas are, and group them together
Aim for 3-4 key ideas
These ideas will form your paragraphs
One key idea for each paragraph > topic sentence

13. example
Pino and Teresa Amitrano are more to be pitied than condemned. Do you agree?

14. Practise Essay topic:
Michele learns that loyalty and trust are far more valuable than money or objects. Do you agree?