Philippine E-Journals

Bridging Story World Gap Through Response Journals

Marie Grace C. Reoperez

Discipline: Reading

 

Abstract:

This study investigated the use of response journals as a strategy for bridging the gap between the story world in a historical fiction and the experiences of adolescent readers for them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the novel Kangkong 1896 by Ceres Alabado. Students’ journal entries were analyzed based on the response processes of engagement and involvement in the text as explained in the experiential theories of response. Results confirm that adolescent readers’ life experiences help shape their understanding of the text. Insights gained from this study may help teachers understand better how adolescent readers forge links with literature.