Reader Response Journal
You will use this document to guide your writing about what you read in class and at home; as a reader, you will respond
to the text. One prompt will be due at the start of each discussion on discussion day. Responses must be typed in 12
point font Times Roman or Calibri and should be one page double-spaced. You may include your prompt at the top of
the page.
Over the next 2.5 weeks, you will be completing 5 prompts.
Choose from the prompts below to write about your book. Begin your response with a sentence that captures the title,
author, and the prompt in the form of a sentence. Then write several paragraphs to fully answer the prompt with
evidence from the text. Prove that you have read the text deeply and carefully! Be sure to use the rubric to guide your
writing.
PROMPTS (Use 5 different prompts for your book)
1. After reading pages ____________, I wonder…
2. Describe what is happening in the book so far. Describe the main character and setting. Have any themes popped up
yet? Are there any conflicts? Make a realistic prediction of what you think will happen in this book.
3. Setting: What effect does the setting (time, place, social and historical background) have on the character’s thoughts,
actions, and choices? What would be your reaction to having to adapt to the character’s environment? Why?
4. Describe the setting’s time and place. Create a new setting that you think would be better for the story and describe
it.
5. Are the characters realistic (do they seem like they could be real people)? Why or why not?
6. Describe a character that you would like to meet and explain why. List 4 questions that you would ask. Do you think
you and the characters could be friends? Why or why not?
7. Importance of an Episode: Select what you consider the most important episode in the book. Explain (briefly) what
happens, why you think it is important to the section, your reaction to the episode, and why you react this way.
8. Describe what was either believable or unbelievable about your reading. Defend your opinion.
9. Judgment: Examine a character’s actions, values, behavior, etc. with which you disagree. What is happening? Why is
the character thinking/acting this way? What do you see wrong with it? Why? What would you suggest as a
preferable response/behavior/value?
10. Character Comparison #1: Compare yourself to a main character. Point out your similarities and try to account for
differences between you and him/her. Considering what you have discovered, what is your reaction to this
character? Why? How do you think the character would feel about you?
11. Character Comparison #2: Compare a character from your text to a character from another work of fiction (novel,
play, film, short story). What are their similarities? What are their differences? Which character do you admire
more? Why?
12. What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning?
13. Describe the major conflict. What side are you on?
14. If you could change the ending of the book, what would you do? Why?
15. Did any characters change during the course of the book? How did they change? What forces caused this change?
16. Explain how the title relates to the entire text. Give evidence from beginning, middle, and end of the book.
17. Theme: Explain an idea or theme –either stated outright or implied by events—which is meaningful to you. Explain
its importance to the text and why you find it meaningful.
18. Rate the book based on 1-5 Stars (*****) with 5 the highest. Give specific reasons and evidence. Who is the best
audience for this book?