Diane Krantz
English
Sample

Sample Short Response to a Written Text
The following response to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [ok, I figured you all knew the story] uses a lot of different approaches. The approaches are labeled in the analysis below. Any of these or several of them can be used to respond to a text. Below this example, I've given a NON-ACCEPTABLE response and some analysis of it.

Acceptable Response [NOTE: This is informal. No attempt has been made to create a unified or coherent paragraph. This type of writing would not do for a formal paper.]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves reminds me of my mom's anti- Intellectualism. The jealousy of the queen towards Snow White seems to mirror my mother's jealousy that I might do very well in school, possibly earning a high degree, because I value learning over social skills. This is a classic story of the antagonism between old and young. Snow White herself seems pretty wimpy. She is no more assertive with the dwarves than with her mother, making me worry that the prince who awakens (sexually awakens?) her may take advantage of her. She spends the best days of her young adulthood housekeeping for a bunch of guys that spend their time making enough money to hire a maid. Like Cinderella, Snow White presumably "lives happily ever after," with her prince charming, but also like Cinderella, Snow White's future is not shown to us. I wonder why the story has seven Dwarfs. Is seven a magical number?

ANALYSIS OF RESPONSE SHOWING KINDS OF APPROACHES USED
(Personal response using concrete details from story) Snow White and the Seven Dwarves reminds me of my mom's anti--Intellectualism. The jealousy of the queen towards Snow White seems to mirror my mother's jealousy that I might do very well in school, possibly earning a high degree, because I value learning over social skills. (Character response­ psychological) This is a classic story of the antagonism between old and young. Snow White herself seems pretty wimpy. She is no more assertive with the dwarves than with her mother, making me worry that the prince who awakens (sexually awakens?) her may take advantage of her. (Feminist response) She spends the best days of her young adulthood housekeeping for a bunch of guys that spend their time making enough money to hire a maid. (Comparison with other literature) Like Cinderella, Snow White presumably "lives happily ever after," with her prince charming, but also like Cinderella Snow White's future is not shown to us. (Question) I wonder why the story has seven Dwarfs. Is seven a magical number?

Non-Accepable Response
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a really interesting story. I like the Queen­she's cool. Dopey reminds me of my brother. The rhythm of the words makes it fun to read as well as the way the characters are described. I'm glad we read this story because now I can compare it to the movie.

Analysis of non-acceptable response
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a really interesting story. ("Interesting" says nothing about it) I like the Queen­she's cool. (In what ways is she "cool"; give specific details) Dopey reminds me of my brother. (How?) The rhythm of the words makes it fun to read as well as the way the characters are described. (How are they described?) I'm glad we read this story because now I can compare it to the movie. (Give specific comparisons or contrasts)
(This whole thing is vague, general, lacking content. I can't tell you read the text.)