Name: ____________________________

RESPONSE ELEMENTS

CONSTRUCTING MEANING
ELEMENT DEFINITION QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Point of View 1st person-narrated by “I”: reader can see Discuss which point of view
into the heart and mind of the one character was used and the impact on
that is telling the story and can only gather the narrative. How would a
information about the other characters from different point of view have
the narrator’s point of view. changed the text?
3rd person “He/She”: reader gathers
information about the hearts and minds of
characters from a narrator who is not
necessarily central in the story…..like God.
The writer decides which characters are
exposed.
Conflict The situation creating tension or a problem How did the writer develop
for the key character. conflicts?
Character vs Character How did the situations get
Character vs Self worse?
Character vs Society How was the conflict
Character vs Nature resolved?
Overall The big idea that the writer is writing about How did the author use the
Message in life. It is a message that everyone can characters to communicate a
connect to. It is not a cliché. message about life to you
“You should…../We should……” and the audience?
What is important about the
message?
Characterization Motivation: The reasons why the What motivates the
characters choose to act or react to characters to react to
situations. situations the way they do?
Setting Description of time and place that affect the Look at each significant time
reader’s understanding of the events of the and place.
novel What mood was created by
Selected vocabulary creates a mood. the words in the text?
What was the impact on your
understanding?
Values/Beliefs The reader’s personal values or beliefs Which of your own personal
that affect his/her reading and values or beliefs was
understanding of the meaning. triggered or touched by
different parts of the novel?
What was the impact on your
reading?
Name: ____________________________

Plot Exposition: The event or character that Use the plot diagram to
triggers the conflict. The facts gathered at analyze how the plot was
the beginning (i.e. setting, central developed. Use all the key
characters) terms in the diagram.

Rising action: A series of events that build

from the initial conflict. Begins with initial
conflict and ends with climax. The moments
that cause the plot to thicken.

Climax:
 The result of the crisis.
 The moment of highest interest or
emotion.
 The point at which the outcome can
be predicted.
 The moment of the crucial
realization (character or reader).

Falling action: The events after the climax.

Resolution: Rounds out and concludes the

action. The facts the author leaves you with
to imagine what happens after the last page.

Sub-plots: the plots within the main plot.

FEATURES

FEATURE DEFINITION QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Hook The moment that the reader’s attention is What strategy did the writer use
acquired. It creates the desire to continue to create the hook?
reading. May be a word, sentence, scene What impact was created for the
or image. May incorporate suspense reader?
and/or an initial conflict.

Symbol An object, colour, or image that represents Name the symbol. What does it
an important abstract idea in the text. Is represent?
often recurring throughout a text What role does it play in the
text?
How does it affect the way you
read the text?
Name: ____________________________

Metaphor/Simile Comparing an object to something unusual What is being compared?

and Extended in order to create a new meaning. Simile How does the comparison
Metaphor uses “like and as”; metaphor does not. create a deeper meaning for the
novel?
Alliteration Two words next to each other that begin Why did the author want your
with the same letter or sound. Typically an attention drawn to these
adjective or adverb next to a noun or verb. moments?
Never prepositions and articles, like “to
the” or “then the”. Used to draw the
reader’s attention to the subject.
Personification Human characteristics, qualities or abilities Identify the characteristic.
are given to inanimate objects. What is the new meaning that is
created?
What impact does it have?
Suspense Makes the reader uncertain or tense about the How did the author use action
outcome of events. Suspense is greatest when sequences and foreshadowing to
it focuses attention on a sympathetic create suspense?
character. On which character is the
Foreshadowing: Hints like symbols or tension focussed?
scenes that help us to predict the plot. How did this feature impact your
This feature is often revealed at the reading?
end of reading a text.

Action sequences: Scenes when

characters are challenged in some
physical way (threatened, overcoming
obstacles, natural disaster).

Title The carefully selected name of a text. Why did the writer select this
title?
Where is it referred to in the
text?
What is the impact on you when
you first read it and when you
finish the story?
Imagery and Language that appeals to the senses. Identify the senses that are
Contrasting Descriptive writing that allows readers to hear, activated and any opposites.
Imagery see, smell, taste. Creates deeper meaning in a What feelings were created
text. because of the images?
May be used to show opposites. How did they impact your
reading?
Name: ____________________________

CONNECTIONS

Connection Definition Connect Questions for

Discussion
Feelings List all of the feelings Choose one of these How does your feeling
(emotional, not experienced by the feelings that you help you to
physical) characters have felt. understand the feeling
of the character in the
text?
Dilemmas (To do List all of the dilemmas Choose one of these How does your
something or faced by the characters dilemmas that is dilemma help you to
not) similar to a dilemma understand the
you have faced. dilemma faced by the
character in the text?
Actions (state as List all of the actions taken Choose one of the How does your action
a relatable by the character actions that is similar help you to
action….to kill to an action you have understand the action
can be to taken taken by the character
destroy) in the text?

Text to Text List other texts that share Choose one of the How does the other
an element with your text. texts that you have text help you to better
read, heard or understand the
viewed. response text?
Text to the List issues, events, Choose one of the How does your
World situations that are shared issues, events or understanding of the
between the world we live situations that you world help you to
in and the world of the are most aware of in better understand the
text. our world. world of the text?
Name: ____________________________

JUDGEMENT

ELEMENT QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Significance of a Why is this text important:
Text i. to me personally?
ii. to my community?
iii. to society?
Why is this text an example of great writing?
Why was it published?

Universal Theme These are the general ideas in the text to which everyone
can relate. A topic is not a theme. A theme narrows down
a topic.
Why can all readers relate to this theme? Why is it
universal?
Impact of the Text How will people react to this text? How will it affect or
change the reader? How could the impact vary with
different audiences?

Target Audience Who would this text appeal to? Who did the author have
in mind while writing? Be specific.
How would the impact vary from one audience to another?