Writing About Likes and Dislikes:

Responding to Literature
The act of reading is accompanied by emotional responses which, at the simplest level,
take the form of pleasure or displeasure: You either like or dislike a poem, story, or play.
You have not said much, however, if all you say is that you have liked or disliked
something. Writing about likes and dislikes should require you to explain the reasons for
your responses. In short, your discussion should be informed and informative.
Sometimes a first response is that a work is boring. This response is usually a mask
covering an incomplete and superficial first reading; it is neither informed nor
informative. As you study most works, however, you will become drawn into them. One
common word that describes this process is interest; to be interested in a work is to be
taken into it emotionally. Another word is involvement; it suggests that ones emotions
become almost enfolded in the characters, problems, and outcomes of a work. But
sometimes these two words are used defensively, much like the word boring. It is easy
to say that it was interesting or you were involved, but you might be saying these
things hoping that no one will ask you to explain why. In this case, you are being asked
to explain your reasons.
Using Your Early Reading Response Notes
No one, not even your English teacher, can tell you what you should or should not like.
While your experience of reading is still fresh, you should refer back to your reading
notes (from assignment two). Build on to these notes if necessary and discuss whether or
not you liked what you read.
Be frank in your judgement. Write down your likes and dislikes and try to explain the
reasons for your response, even if they are brief and incomplete.
Example:
I like The Necklace because of the surprise ending. It isnt that I like the
Mathildes bad luck, but I like the way that the author, Maupassant, hides the
most important fact in the story until the end. Mathilde does all that work and
sacrifice for no reason at all, and the surprise ending makes this point really well.

This little paragraph could be expanded as a part of a developing essay. It is a clear

statement of liking, followed by references to liable things in the story. This response
pattern can be simply paraphrased as I like [or dislike] this story because and is
useful in writing an initial response in your notebook.
Brainstorming Likes and Dislikes
If at first you cannot write any full sentences detailing the causes of your responses, make
a list of the things you like or dislike. If you write nothing, you are likely to forget your
first reactions; recovering these for later, either for writing or discussion, will be difficult.

Responding Favourably
Usually you can equate your interest in a work with liking it. Use the following list to
help you be more specific when trying to articulate a favourable response:
-

You like and admire the characters and what they do and stand for
You learn something new something you had never known or thought before
You gain new insights into things you already knew
You learn about people and customs of different places, times, and ways of life
You get interested and involved in the outcome of the action or ideas and do not
want to put down the work until you have finished it
You feel happy or feel good for having read the work
You are amused and laugh often as you read
You like the way the author has presented their ideas
You find that some of the ideas are beautiful and worth remembering

Responding Unfavourably
Although dismissing a story as boring is not usually an ideal response, it can be used to
formulate a response that has been carefully constructed. You do not need to hide the fact
that you did not like something.
Examples:
1. I do not like The Necklace because the main character seems spoiled, and I
dont think she is worth reading about.
2. The Necklace was boring to be because it is not an adventure story, and I
only really enjoy adventure stories.

These are both legitimate responses because they are based on some specific aspects of
the story. The Example 1 stems from a distaste of the main characters unlikable traits;
Example 2, from a preference for stories that move quickly and evoke interest in the
dangers faced and overcome by main characters. What is important is that you include
reasons for your dislike, and support those reasons using details from the story.
Example 1:
I do not like The Necklace because the main character seems spoiled, and I
dont think she is worth reading about. She is a phoney. She nags her husband
because he is not rich. She never tells the truth. I dislike her for hurrying away
from the party because she is afraid of being seen in her shabby coat. She is
foolish and dishonest for not telling her friend about losing the necklace. It is true
that she works hard to pay the debt, but she also puts her husband through ten
years of hardship. If Mathilde had faced facts, she might have had a better like.
I do not like her and cannot like the story because of her.

Example 2:
Before you can discuss what you dont like, you must first articulate what you do like and
why. Here are some reasons for liking adventure:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Adventure has fast action.

Adventure has danger and tension, and therefore interest.
Adventure has daring, active, and successful characters.
Adventure has obstacles which the characters work hard to overcome.

If you were to simply say that that you did not like this story because of qualities it does
not possess and left it at that, you would not have enough information to write an essay.
Therefore you must try to bridge the gap by extending your preferences.
For example, the story The Necklace definitely does not meet the criteria of the first
three qualities of adventure stories, but a connection can be made to the fourth by saying
that the main character works hard to overcome the conflict and hardship in the story.
The trick is to show an open-minded approach and be willing to form a positive
connection to the text being considered, even if reluctantly.
I usually only like adventure stories; therefore, I disliked The Necklace at first
because it is not an adventure story. But one of my reasons for liking adventure
is that the characters work hard to overcome obstacles and hardships, liking
finding buried treasure or exploring new places. Mathilde, the main character in
Maupassants The Necklace, also works hard to overcome an obstacle. [Insert
details from the story] I see many of the same qualities in Mathilde that I see in
adventure characters, and came to appreciate this character and her
determination.

Writing about Responses: Likes and Dislikes

In writing about your responses, you should rely on your initial informed reactions. It is
not easy to reconstruct your first responses after a lapse of time, so you will need your
Early Reading Reponses observations as a guide in the pre-writing stage. Develop your
essay by stressing what interests you (or does not interest you) in the work.
Introduction
Begin by describing briefly the conditions that influence your response. Your
central idea should be why you like or dislike the work. Be sure to mention the
name of the story and its author. The thesis sentence should list the major causes
of your response, which are to be developed in the body paragraph(s).
Body
The most common approach is to consider specific things about the work that you
like or dislike. The list given on this handout may help you to articulate your
responses. Give just enough (relevant) details from the story that someone who
has not read the text will be able to understand your point. Use paragraphs as
appropriate for your content.

Conclusion
Here you might summarize the reasons for your major response. Yu might also
face any issues brought up by a change or modification of your first reactions.
For example, if you have always held certain assumptions about your taste but
like the work despite these assumptions, you may wish to talk about your own
change or development. This topic is personal, but in an essay about likes and
dislikes, discovery about yourself is something you should aim for.

Assignment
Write a short essay (3-5 paragraphs) examining the reasons that you like or dislike the
story you are reading.
While a reflective personal essay (therefore using I or my), this essay should be
written using an academic and analytic approach. Since no time will be given for
multiple drafts, this essay will be marked on content and organization only.