The three types of academic
writing
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Summary: A description of what happens

Response: Your reaction to what happens
•
•
•
•
•
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What you think
How you can connect
What it makes you think of
What questions you have
What predictions you can make
Analysis: Explanation of why it is significant
• What is the importance
• What it reveals
• What is being shown
SUMMARY
•A boy, who watches a flock
of sheep near a village,
decides to play a prank by
crying out, “ Wolf! Wolf!“
•When his neighbors come
to help him, he laughs at
them for falling for the
prank. - what a punk •Then one day the wolf
does actually come.
• The boy, now really
alarmed, shouts in terror:
“Wolf! Wolf!“
•This time no one pays
attention to his cries and
do not come to his aid.
RESPONSE
ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
RESPONSE
•A boy, who watches a flock -What is your reaction
of sheep near a village,
to events of this story?
decides to play a prank by
crying out, “Wolf! Wolf!”
•When his neighbors come
to help him, he laughs at
them for falling for the
prank. - what a punk •Then one day the wolf
does actually come.
• The boy, now really
alarmed, shouts in terror:
“Wolf! Wolf!“
•This time no one pays
attention to his cries and
do not come to his aid.
ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
RESPONSE
•A boy, who watches a flock
of sheep near a village,
decides to play a prank by
crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!“
•When his neighbors come
to help him, he laughs at
them for falling for the
prank. - what a punk •Then one day the wolf
does actually come.
• The boy, now really
alarmed, shouts in terror:
“Wolf! Wolf!“
•This time no one pays
attention to his cries and
do not come to his aid.
-What is your reaction
to events of this story?
-This makes me think of
the time my sister kept
lying about my brother
tackling her, and then
when it actually did
happen I didn’t believe
her
-I think the boy is wrong
to keep playing the
trick on the village
people.
ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
RESPONSE
ANALYSIS
•A boy, who watches a flock
of sheep near a village,
decides to play a prank by
crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!“
•When his neighbors come
to help him, he laughs at
them for falling for the
prank. - what a punk •Then one day the wolf
does actually come.
• The boy, now really
alarmed, shouts in terror:
“Wolf! Wolf!“
•This time no one pays
attention to his cries and
do not come to his aid.
-What is your reaction to -Why are the events of
events of this story?
this story important?
-What is the
-This makes me think of significance of this
the time my sister kept
story?
lying about my brother
tackling her, and then
when it actually did
happen I didn’t believe
her
-I think the boy is wrong
to keep playing the
trick on the village
people.
SUMMARY
RESPONSE
ANALYSIS
•A boy, who watches a flock
of sheep near a village,
decides to play a prank by
crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!“
•When his neighbors come
to help him, he laughs at
them for falling for the
prank. - what a punk •Then one day the wolf
does actually come.
• The boy, now really
alarmed, shouts in terror:
“Wolf! Wolf!“
•This time no one pays
attention to his cries and
do not come to his aid.
-What is your reaction to -Why are the events of
events of this story?
this story important?
-What is the
-This makes me think of significance of this
the time my sister kept
story?
lying about my brother
tackling her, and then
-The boy lies so much
when it actually did
that nobody believes
happen I didn’t believe him when he actually
her
tells the truth. The
-I think the boy is wrong events of this story are
to keep playing the
significant because they
trick on the village
show the value of
people.
honesty. If trust is
abused, it is very
difficult to earn back.
SUMMARY
RESPONSE
ANALYSIS
•Just give the most
important plot points
•Think of any and all
connections
•Be brief, but be
thorough
•Remember that your
reaction is specific to
your experiences. It’s
ok if your reaction is
different than other
people’s reaction.
•Really examine what
the significance is, do
not just write the
summary over again in
different words.
•This is also a place to
make predictions and
ask questions.
•If it helps, start with the
phrase “this shows” or
“this is significant
because.” The most
important thing to
remember is to show
your critical thinking.