Reader Response Instructions
Write a Reader Response to this short story using the instructions below.
“Roman Fever”–https://www.newberry.org/sites/default/files/calen…
The Edith Wharton Society–https://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/wharton/bio.htm
What is a Reader Response?
A Reader Response consists of 4-5 paragraphs plus a discussion question and should follow this basic format:
A paragraph where you summarize the story (this should be the shortest paragraph)
2 or 3 paragraphs where you discuss things about the story which interested you or which seem significant to understanding the story (ideas for this part are in the next question) (these should be the longest paragraphs)
A paragraph where you explain a way you related deeply to something in the story (dig deep to find connections; there are always connections if you think broadly enough)
A discussion question for your peers to reply to in Discussions
For bullet #2 above, where do I start when trying to choose things about the story that interest me or that are significant?
Some ideas for this section are below. Choose any which appeal to you, or come up with your own ideas for sharing interesting elements of your story. Whatever you do in this section, be sure to use details from the text (quotes and paraphrases from the story) to support your ideas.This section should be a close reading of the text, supported by textual details, not a forum for you to discuss tangentially related issues from your own life or experiences.
Chose a story element (plot, characterization, setting, point of view, theme, or style) which you think was significant in this story and explain why
Closely analyze a character in terms of any of the following: actions, motivations, dominant traits, change from beginning to end, how the author seems to want us to feel about the character, etc.
Identify passages which you think are important in terms of understanding the story, the theme, or a character
Examine small details which might help you understand the story better, such as a character’s name, a repeated word or phrase, an unusual word choice, etc.
Study the beginning or ending of the story. Why did it open or close in that way? How does this affect your understanding of the story?
Consider the author’s purpose. Why was this story written? What makes it more than just entertainment? Support this clearly with story details
Determine what was done especially well in the story
Discuss something about the text you found particularly frustrating, challenging, delightful, or memorable
Identify an issue that the text addresses and explain what seems to be the author’s point of view on it
Analyze the diction (word choice) in the story and how it affects the story
Consider possible themes of the story. Support this clearly with story details.
Identify any expectations you had about the story (based on knowledge of the author, theme in which it was placed in this course, time period when it was written or in which it was set, etc.) and discuss how these expectations were met or not
Consider whether this story changed your mind about anything (or strengthened your view of something)
Discuss why you would/would not recommend this story to others, using passages or details from the story as explanation
Identify other stories in the course (or other works of literature or films) this story reminds you of.Use specific details to make the comparison.
Remember, the key to doing this part successfully is to support every claim you make about the story with evidence (quotes or paraphrases) from the story. You should point to the story itself to answer the questions, Why do I think so? and Where do I get that from the story?
How do I create a good discussion question?
Coming up with a good discussion question is very important, since it is the starting point for the class discussion of your story. You should ask a question that will provoke interesting, spirited, thoughtful discussion.
Keep the following suggestions in mind:
Ask a question that will require students to think deeply about the story, one which they may not have considered yet. Thoughtful analysis of the question should lead to deeper understanding of the story by all students.
Ask a question that will make for an interesting discussion. f you’d be bored responding to the question, come up with a better one!
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