You know, it is easy to understand when someone tells you to kick harder, or walk faster. What used to get to me was when teachers and my parents would tell me to "try harder."
"Huh?" I would think. "How does one go about trying harder?"
It isn't clear, and there is no set way to "try". I really wanted to do better, but without the steps broken down for me, I didn't know how.
When I became a teacher, I knew I could never tell a kid to try harder if I wasn't able to provide the steps for him or her. So, that is one thing that I attempt to do.
Writing an essay answer to an literature question isn't easy to learn. For some kids, it just happens, but for others, they need the step by step process. Since I have never found one I like, I came up with the Ms. Grier Method of Answering Essay Questions, or the MGM. It is what I expect in my classroom. It isn't the only way, but even if the students never develop their own way, this is one structure that will help them through all of their writing for the rest of their lives, especially when answering essay questions. It is a five step process that goes like this:
The MGM
Step 1: Restate the question as your topic sentence. This is what you will prove, and it is your chance to make sure you have understood what you are to answer. This should be a strong statement with no "I think" phrases. It should state one position, unless the question is a compare and contrast.
Step 2: If possible, find a quote to use, if not, paraphrase from the book some part that will help you prove your point.
Step 3: Prove, or explain, your quote. Tell how the quote supports your point.
Step 4: Add another quote or generalization that supports your topic sentence.
Step 5: Restate the question as your conclusion.
Once students internalize this pattern, writing those essay answers will be very easy for them. Not only that, but they will be far ahead of their peers in their writing ability.
