Final answer:
To respond to reading response questions on a history textbook, identify the thesis statement and topic sentences, then review that each paragraph's major supporting details back up the thesis. Ensure that all elements within the text are cohesive and directly support the argument.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer reading response questions for a history textbook, it is important to first identify the thesis statement, which is typically found at the beginning of the essay and acts as the central argument the text aims to prove. Next, you would identify the main idea or topic sentence of each paragraph, as this sentence guides the content of each paragraph and should relate back to the thesis statement.
For instance, in the third paragraph of an essay, the major supporting details should directly back up the topic sentence of that paragraph, thereby also supporting the overarching thesis. These details often include evidence, such as quotes or paraphrases from historical texts, and analyze literary devices or structures. All paragraphs should work together to build the case for the thesis statement, offering clear, specific details, and culminating in a conclusion that often mirrors the introduction but with a deepened understanding produced from the essay's arguments.