Reading Response Guidelines

                                                  

Reading Response assignments should have:

*Details that show you have read the book, DO NOT WRITE A SUMMARY

*What you thought about as you read or your opinion or feelings about; the whole book, certain chapters or pages, events, characters, problems, solutions, author’s style, sense of humor or seriousness

*Support and/or explanation of your thoughts

*Quote or point out a part of the book that supports what you are saying

 

ON THE WHOLE BOOK

What genres, authors, or topics do you generally enjoy?

What do you like best about your book? Why?

How did the book make you feel? What reaction did you have? Why?

What themes are explored in the book? How does the author make his point about the theme? What reaction do you have to the theme as presented in the book?

 

CHARACTERS

Have you ever felt like any of the characters? When?

Did the characters in the book remind you of other people or yourself?

How would you have reacted given the exact circumstances?

How do you feel about the characters? With which character do you identify most closely? The least? Why?

Which character would you like to be? Why? What personality traits do they have that you would like to have?

 

SETTING

Why did the author choose the time and place that he did? Was it a good choice? Why?

Did the setting remind you of anyplace? Describe and compare them.

 

PLOT

What is your favorite part? Why? You must support this with quotes and explanations.

Look at the beginning. Why did the author begin the way he did?

What is your reaction to the ending? Does it work? Why?

 

MORE READING RESPONSE POSSIBILITIES

*Did this book make you laugh? Cry? Cringe? Smile? Wonder? Explain your reaction and give quotes or examples.

*What was the worst or most disappointing part of the book? Why?

*What is the author saying about life or living with this book?

*What parts of the book seem most believable? Most unbelievable? Why?

*What do you think might happen if the book continued? What would happen next?

*Do you think the title fits the book? Why or why not?

*Comment on the tools the writer uses. Comment on dialogue, description, imagery, word choice, and style.

*Select the five moments of greatest tension or conflict in the novel.

*What questions would you most like answered by a character after reading the novel? Answer them.