Interpretive Response

Interpretive Response

Is an open-ended response to literature. The writer

shows thoughtful comprehension and goes deeper
to develop an answer that is not easily spotted in
the text.
Step one: State your Claim/Answer

A claim answers the question or problem and it states what you know.
- Always include the author’s last name and title of the excerpt in your
answer.
- Don’t use the word “I think.”
- Must be in a complete sentence and incorporate the question in your
answer.
- State your answer then STOP. Do not explain until after you include
your evidence.
Evidence

● Evidence MUST come from the text. You can not bring in any outside
information into your paper.
● Evidence must support your answer .**Proof**
● Evidence will always be a direct quote from the book. Don’t forget your
quotation marks.
● Introduce evidence- According to the text, as the author stated, as the author
mentioned, “I’m making it Sonia.” (Sanchez, p.7).
Response

Clearly explain your answer and add more input into your analysis.
Give examples of how you got your claim (answer).

Do not summarize the text.

Example Question

Did Sonia’s teachers prepare her for high school?

Claim- In Sanchez’s short story “Norma,” the narrator, Sonia was not prepared for high school by her teachers.

Evidence- “And he kept pointing to the book and looking upward as if the combination of those actions would give me the
joy of an explanation”

Response- This shows that the inability of the teacher to effectively instruct the students not only impacted those who
wanted to learn, but also the those who needed to be urged to learn. The students were not prepared and it affected
their ability be successful in high school and beyond. This is evident in the ending of the story as we see Norma struggle
after middle school.
Example response
Sonia’s teachers did not prepare her for high school. According to
the text Sonia noted, “He kept pointing to the book and looking upward,
as if the combination of those actions would give me the immediate joy
of an answer” (Sanchez, p.1). Mr. Castor, her math teacher, he never
took the time to teach his students. Instead of explaining to Sonia
how to factor an equation he opted to point to the book which shows
that Sonia’s teacher did not truly prepare her for high school. Later
on in the story, Sonia thought, “George Washington High School was
difficult. Our teachers had not prepared us for high school” (Sanchez,
p.1). Clearly, once Sonia got to high school, she did not feel ready to
meet the challenges placed in front of her due to a lack of
preparation on the part of her teachers.
Your turn: Honors

Why does Sonia vow to never agree again after her meeting
with Norma?

In the story “Norma”,by Sonia Sanchez, Sonia vows to never

agree again after her meeting with Norma because …
 Your turn: On level

Do you think Sonia looked up to Norma?

In the story “Norma”, Sonia (does or does not) look up

to Norma.
Outline of your response

Claim/Answer
Evidence #1
Explanation of Evidence #1
Evidence #2
Explanation of Evidence #2