The Personal ResponseNotes on Improving Exam Writing - Part A

OverviewThe English 30-1 Personal Response to Texts assignment is one of two different writing tasks on the diploma exam (E30-2 students have a similar task called a Visual Reflection).

You are provided with a number of texts, usually consisting of a poem, an image, and a selection of prose writing. All three texts relate to a specific theme.

The thematic question for the assignment asks you to connect one or more of the texts to your personal knowledge/experience in answering the question.

Sample Texts

Sample Texts

Sample Texts

The Question

Example #1: Satisfactory

Example #2: Proficient

Example #3: Excellent

ConclusionThe Personal Response assignment is meant to be a thematic warm-up for the larger Critical/Analytical paper in the exam.

If you are writing an essay, be sure you show a sound grasp of basic essay-writing skills (e.g., Formal tone, paragraphs, organization, sentence structure, mechanics).

Creative responses allow writers to experiment somewhat with traditional writing rules, but know the basics: how to create a lead, rules of dialogue, imagery, etc. The key is to create a convincing voice.

Conclusion

Finally, do not forget to make reference to one or more of the texts provided on the exam! You can do this explicitly (e.g., “Ben Harper’s song ‘Better Way’ suggests...” or implicitly (e.g., “I had become so tired of the cynics, of the endless multitude of people who offered criticism but no better plan. There had to be a better way, and clearly I was the only one who would step forward to offer a plan.”)