Personal Text Response

Purpose

Post-Module Learnings

Content

Introduction to Personal Text Response

Analysis-Led Personal Text Response

Personal-Led Personal Text Response

Key Terminology and Styles to Unpack

Types of Personal Links

1. Shallow: In this format, we normally just say, the reference in the Text reminds me of X in my own life.
1. e.g. For The Rain Heron (by Robbie Arnott): Arnott’s connection with nature is not one that is reflective of a Romanticist perspective, yet he does portray Ren as trying to coexist amongst the … . In this manner, I reflect on how my own connection with nature is rather limited, especially living in a more suburban area away from …

2. Mid: You can incorporate the quotes from the Text into your own experience, probably a little out of context, but still integrated within your personal experience.
1. e.g. For The Rain Heron (by Robbie Arnott): In the midst of chaos, Arnott unveils the “floating storm of colour” that reinvigorates Lieutenant Harker’s desire to protect and safeguard, over the more masculine discipline and rigour she previously holds as a mantra. Despite her twisted past, the sense of imagery and colour that replaces the monochromatic darkness of the previous storms, I feel a longing for the similar “storm of colour” in my own life, as the monotony and repetition of education and high school years can be draining. Perhaps the “flickering colour” I seek, the tinge of hope that Harker herself longs for, is finding a sport that I enjoy, an extracurricular activity that brings out the more soft, non-masculine values of teamwork, friendship and interdependency. For me, volleyball is the colour that “spr[ings] to life” when …

3. Deep: When you reflect on how the protagonist (or a character in the text) would view you, it’s a more empathetical approach when you consider how you may connect or link with the protagonist or another character.
1. e.g. (Character-viewing-you technique) For The Rain Heron (by Robbie Arnott): With the monastic faith of a dedicated monk, Ren spends “five years”, a symbol of her endurance against the “starvation [that] nearly killed her”, in the mountains, as Arnott depicts the escapism she finds away from the expectations of life in the “big city”. In her eyes, “all her preparations” from an academic landscape seem to fail her in the midst of the natural world, reliant on her own independence and the seeming ounce of nourishment in the metaphorical “cave”, an isolated shelter, that nurtures her survival. In her “malnutritious state”, I often wonder what she would consider me to be, a young male who has never needed to “forage for mushrooms”, who feigns ignorance towards “simple precedent” found in nature and prefers the complexity of academic life. I would probably be an abomination, not in the sense that I am flawed, but rather she would see that children in the big city, like me, would be heading towards a path of soulless fulfilment, that capitalist ideal and expectations of masculinity she tries so hard to avoid.
2. e.g. (Alternative deep approach: theme-level empathy) In The Rain Heron, Robbie Arnott explores the idea of adaptability and growth, especially when confronted with the pressures of modern living. As a Year 11 high school student in suburban Melbourne, I can relate to those same pressures on a deeply personal level. The protagonist, Ren, must learn to adapt to challenging environments in nature, while likewise, I struggle to find balance between academics and extracurricular activities. Ren's strength to accept her "small space in the universe" in the face of adversity resonates with my experience of striving to accept my growing responsibilities and the pressures placed on us by an increasingly fragmented society. Just as Ren adapts to her new life, so too do I aim to discover new ways of navigating the complexities of school life in preparation for my future. While Ren's journey takes place in the wild landscape, my own journey unfolds against a backdrop of school deadlines, sporting events, and thoughts of the life that lies ahead.
3. e.g. (Alternative deep approach: identity + values alignment) Arnott delves into in The Rain Heron is the importance of challenging societal norms and finding one's identity in a rapidly changing world. Growing up in Melbourne's suburbs, I often find myself stifled by the confines of conventional expectations and the pursuit of traditional ideals. Ren's journey of self-discovery reflects my own process of questioning the societal norms that can sometimes hinder our growth. Despite Ren's initial reluctance to leave the familiar behind, she ultimately finds solace in the act of breaking away from societal constraints and discovering her true identity. This same struggle often plagues me in my day-to-day life, as I grapple with the expectations placed on me by mainstream education, my parents, and my peers. Like Ren, I strive to cultivate meaning and identity in an environment that might sometimes prioritise social conformity over personal growth. The Rain Heron acts as both a mirror and a lens, urging exploration of my own path as I manoeuvre my way through the challenges of adolescence in today's world.

Essay Topics

Body Paragraph Topic Sentences

• From a young age, my perception of … was shaped by the environment I grew up in, a sentiment that [Author] captures through [Character]'s early encounters with …

• Looking back on my past, I recognise how deeply … influenced my understanding of … , paralleling the way [Author] presents [Character]'s initial exposure to …

• The innocence of my childhood, where … seemed so certain, mirrors the naivety [Author] attributes to [Character] before …

• Growing up surrounded by … , I developed an instinctive sense of … that [Author] similarly instils in [Character] through …

• It was during my transition into adolescence that I began to question … , a disillusionment [Author] traces through [Character]'s own confrontation with …

• The shift from childhood certainty to teenage uncertainty reshaped my views on … , much as [Author] depicts [Character]'s evolving relationship with …

• As I entered my teenage years, the expectations of … began to weigh on me, reflecting [Author]'s exploration of … through [Character]'s struggle to …

• In the turbulence of my early high school years, I came to realise that … , an awareness that [Author] cultivates in [Character] through the symbolism of …

• Standing at the threshold of adulthood, I now grapple with … , a tension [Author] crystallises through [Character]'s ultimate reckoning with …

• As I confront the demands of … and the looming pressures of … , [Author]'s depiction of … resonates with my own attempt to reconcile …

• Today, my understanding of … has matured, shaped by experiences that echo [Author]'s portrayal of [Character]'s journey towards …

• In my present life, the lessons of … have come full circle, and I find [Author]'s message about … to be a reflection of my own growing awareness that …