Spent the entire workday churning out the following notes for my students so that they know how to develop a well-elaborated personal response about a topic. Thank you for reading. :) All images found here are my own work. :)
What is a well-elaborated personal response?
Worked Example One
If someone asks you, “What did you do over the weekend?”, what would a well-elaborated personal response look like? Read the following example to find out.
Notice that in his well-elaborated personal response, the speaker:
- related his experiences at the park
- shared his feelings
- explained why he had felt that particular way
Challenge: What should you do when you do not have any experiences related to the topic?
In your mind, quickly brainstorm a list of things you know about the subject. Ask yourself these two questions.
- Do your family members and friends have personal experiences regarding this topic?
- Does this topic remind you of your interest and is similar to something you are familiar with?
Worked Example Two
Please tell me about your favourite online game.
I don’t know any online games, actually. However, my brother is an avid fan. I always see him spending time in front of the laptop after school playing all sorts of games. I think his favourite game is Fortnite. He seems to enjoy working with his squad mates to kill other players. (Think of someone who is a gamer.) So, I may not play online games but it’s almost similar to playing basketball, which I am familiar with. Just like how my brother gets his friends to work together, I try to get everyone on the same page when we have different opinions during a match. That’s why games like Fortnite are so popular because they foster teamwork. (Think of an activity that you are familiar with. Explain how it is similar to gaming.)
