Rationale

What is a rationale?

A rationale is an explanation of the choices you have made in your creative response to a text studied in class.

When do you use rationales?

The purpose of your rationale is to demonstrate how well you have understood the original text and the ways in which your creative response shows this. You need to make careful links between the text and your creative response. Then focus on why you chose to respond in this way and how you went about it.

What do you need to include in a rationale?

• Introduction - states the aspects of the text you are responding to and highlights the main points you will discuss in this rationale
• A description of what you have created and how you have created it
• An analysis of each aspect of your creative response
• An explanation of how your response links to the text, using specific examples or direct quotations from the text
• A conclusion which sums up what you were trying to achieve in your creative response

Tips and hints for writing a good rationale:

• Write in paragraphs
• Use specific examples from the text
• Quote where possible, particularly when discussing style and language
• Use of 'I' is appropriate
• Write in sentences, not in point form
• Avoid slang
• Make sure that you have explained every aspect of your creative response