RWV Reflection and Response (Example)
The Little Picture
Word:
Source:
 Article
 Song
 Poem
 Novel & Chapter
Sentence:
Camaraderie
Virginia Postrel’s “The Twisted Allure of Jihadi Glory: Like Much of
Modern Life, Even Terrorism Can Be Glamorized” from Time
magazine
Contextual Meaning:
To be one among many
Context Clues:
“is to be a man” “ancient as Achilles” “It offers a way to matter.”
“a sense of belonging”
Dictionary Definition:
A spirit of friendly good-fellowship
“It promises prowess, courage, camaraderie and historical
importance.”
The Big Picture
Topic of Source:
Author’s Point or Slant on
Topic:
Jihad and terrorism
“Terrorism can be glamorized”
Stated Thesis?
 Y
N
Support:
“…Islamist terrorism draws on much more complex and powerful
forms of glamor than a desire for rock-star treatment.”
Effectiveness:
Response:
Prefaces argument with reference to Salman Rushdie interview:
“Terror is glamour…” Makes the connection between “glamour”
and “imagination” before she moves into a three-part discussion
of Reitman’s argument about “several sources of glamour have
nothing to do with celebrity.” Conclusion leaves reader with a
sense of disquiet.
This was an effective editorial. Postrel explored the idea of
“glamour” and talked succinctly through the points of Janet
Reitman’s article in Rolling Stone. The tone was quite stark.
I agree with many of the points Postrel makes, but I am left with
a sense of unease. How do we dispel the magic of glamour to
prevent terrorism?
 Original/Copied Source
RWV Reflection and Response (Template)
The Little Picture
Word:
Source:
 Article
 Song
 Poem
 Novel & Chapter
Sentence:
Write the word here.
Author + Title
Contextual Meaning:
Based on your reading, what do you think the word means in this
context?
Context Clues:
What clues helped you understand the meaning of this word?
List them here.
Dictionary Definition:
Which definition best matches the contextual meaning above?
Write it here.
Write the entire sentence straight from the source.
The Big Picture
Topic of Source:
Author’s Point or Slant on
Topic:
What’s the whole thing about?
What is the author’s main point or opinion about the above
topic?
Stated Thesis?
Y
N
If yes, copy it here word-for-word. If no, write the implied thesis
in your own words here:
Support:
How does the author develop or support the thesis above?
Provide several examples quoted from the source.
Effectiveness:
How effective was the source? Did you buy what it sold?
Response:
What are your thoughts on this topic?
 Original/Copied Source
RWV Reflection and Response
The Little Picture
Word:
Source:
 Article
 Song
 Poem
 Novel & Chapter
Sentence:
Contextual Meaning:
Context Clues:
Dictionary Definition:
The Big Picture
Topic of Source:
Author’s Point or Slant on
Topic:
Stated Thesis?
 Y
 N
Support:
Effectiveness:
Response:
 Original/Copied Source
English 4 Real World Vocabulary:
Engaging with the Literate World
As you prepare to leave high school and move even further into the adult world where information,
current events, technological innovation, and responsibility fly toward you with ever-increasing
speed and ferocity, you must become accustomed to sifting through it all to get to what’s really
important in life. To do this, you must be both an analytical and critical thinker.

Analytical thinkers break problems, articles, and challenges into smaller chunks so that
they can examine them more closely and tackle them more systematically.
Critical thinkers evaluate the world around themselves, looking for evidence, examining
assumptions, conducting research, and forming opinions.

To help you grown in both capacities, I expect you to engage with the texts of the world around
you. These take different forms, and you’ll encounter many in your search for your vocabulary
words in this literate real world. But I want you to really shift your focus from the word as an
isolated thing to the its role in a greater context, that of the source or text. What demands does
the text, the article, the poem make of you as a reader and thinker? Does it challenge any of your
beliefs? Does is force you to reevaluate an opinion or consider a topic from a different
perspective? Consider all of these as you:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find 5 vocabulary words in the real world.
Look at the little and big pictures by reading articles and completing the “Reflection and
Response” for each one.
Arrange a coversheet (including heading and title), completed R&Rs, and copies of
articles in a bradded folder or report cover.
Submit Real World Vocab project on the following dates
Fall Semester: ____________________________
Spring Semester: ____________________________
Each Reflection and Response is worth 20 points, broken down as follows:
Little Picture
Points
Big Picture
Points
Other
Points
Word
2
Topic of Source
2
Article Copy
1
Source
2
Point or Slant
1
Thoroughness
2
Sentence
2
Thesis
2
Insight
1
Context Defined
1
Support
2
Context Clues
1
Effectiveness
1