Group 1:
Discuss the author’s attitude toward the subject or theme.
- Explain what type of essay it is – argumentative, persuasive, exploratory, narrative, or otherwise.
- Define what the subject or theme of the essay is.
* Try to sum up the subject/theme in one word or one sentence.
- Cite specific sentences or paragraphs where the author’s attitude toward the subject/theme is reflected.
- How does the author’s attitude toward the subject/theme influence how you feel about it?
- What emotions does the author’s attitude toward the subject/theme elicit in you? (i.e., How do you feel after reading the essay? Angry? Confused? Inspired? Complacent? Indifferent?)
- What did you learn from this essay that you can apply to your own writing?
Group 2:
Discuss the tone and flow of the essay.
- Explain what type of essay it is – argumentative, persuasive, exploratory, narrative, or otherwise.
- Cite specific sentences or paragraphs where the overall tone and flow of the essay is reflected or interrupted.
- Look at word choice and sentence structure. Does the author use an excessive amount of run-on sentences? Short sentences? “Big’ words?
- How does the sentence structure and word choice influence the tone of the essay?
Consider the following:
- What effect do the tone and flow have on you as a reader?
- How do the tone and flow of the essay influence how you feel about the subject?
- What did you learn from this essay that you can apply to your own writing?
Group 3:
Discuss the structure of the essay.
- What do you feel works about the structure of the essay? What is not working?
- Does the essay have a beginning, middle and end?
- Cite areas when you feel each aspect occurs.
- If the essay does not appear to have a fluid, beginning, middle and end, what affect does that have on you as a reader?
- Does the essay build on tension?
- How would swapping the first and final paragraphs affect the essay?
- What did you learn from this essay that you can apply to your own writing?
Group 4:
Discuss the author’s analysis of evidence.
- What is the evidence presented?
- How does the author use evidence to support their revelation or discovery? What leads to a change in them?
- Cite specific examples where the author reflects on the evidence in order to show a personal change or revelation.
- Is the author’s analysis of the evidence unique?
- Weak? Strong? Why?
Group 5:
Discuss the impact of the essay on you as a reader.
- What conclusions can you come to about who the author is as a person and what their intention might have been in writing the essay?
- What message(s) do you feel the author is trying to convey to the reader?
- Discuss how the author’s “revelation,’ learning lesson, message or idea reflect that of a broader collective mindset.
- Do you consider the author overtly liberal? Conservative?
- Is their message political?
- What did you learn from this essay that you can apply to your own writing?
Group 6:
What risks does the author take in writing the essay?
- Discuss what risks (if any) the author takes and the affect those risks have on the outcome of the essay.
- Are the risk personal risks? Political? Otherwise?
- Cite specific areas where you feel risks occur.
- If the essay does not appear to have any meaningful risks, explain why you feel that way.
- What did you learn from this essay that you can apply to your own writing?
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU USED THIS PROMPT IN YOUR CLASS. HOW DID IT GO? WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? DID YOU MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS?