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Judy Wang and Nina Nzekwe, winners of our 2020 Summer Reading Contest, show us how to respond to texts both personally and critically.

Judy Wang and Nina Nzekwe were two winners of The Learning Network's 2020 Summer Reading Contest. Credit... The New York Times Learning Network

In our "Annotated by the Author" series, we invite New York Times journalists and winners of our student contests to comment on their work to help demystify the writing and research process.
Chances are, a teacher has asked you to write a response to a text at some point in your school career, whether it's to a novel, a persuasive essay, a historical document or anything else.

But what makes a great reader response? How can you make your writing not only clear and engaging, but a true reflection of your own thoughts, beliefs and experiences?

Two teenage writers are here to show you. For this edition of our Annotated by the Author series, we asked two winners of our 2020 Summer Reading Contest, Judy Wang, a sophomore at The Governor's Academy in Byfield, Mass., and Nina Nzekwe, a junior at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, N.M., to annotate their winning essays.

In this contest, we invite students to submit short written responses on a New York Times article, photo, video, graph or podcast of their choice each week throughout the summer. Our favorite responses are those that go beyond saying "I liked it" or "I hated it," and instead take us on a journey through their experience of the text.

In the videos below, you'll see how Judy and Nina did just that. They explain how, in their essays, they made personal connections to the pieces they chose, challenged the authors' arguments, clearly demonstrated their thinking, and wrote with style and wit.

If you're inspired by Judy and Nina's pieces, you can submit a reader response of your own to our 12th Annual Summer Reading Contest, which begins June 11 and runs through Aug. 20.

Judy won Week 6 of our 2020 Summer Reading Contest with her essay on " The Phantom Handbag," an article from the Style section aboutthe disappearance of handbags from everyday life amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I actually stumbled upon the article while just scrolling through The New York Times and exploring the different sections," she told us. "And I was intrigued by the title and specifically the word 'phantom.' And I was like, oh, like a handbag is a physical thing, but how could it be phantom at the same time?"

First, listen to Judy read her winning essay; you can follow along below or in this PDF. As you listen, annotate the text, paying attention to the words and lines that communicate Judy's thinking about the article and anything else that stands out to you.

Judy Wang Reads Her Essay on 'The Phantom Handbag'

A winning reader response to an article from the New York Times Style section.

On 'The Phantom Handbag'
Even in my most distant memory, Mama always carried this one bag. Covered in black and tan stripes, the Burberry tote looked more like a lunch box than a handbag.

I hated it.

For one thing, it was constantly overflowing - used tissue paper, bandages, hair ties, foundation, random files from work. After years of nagging my mom to get a lighter, more organized bag, the "leather-lunch box," with its increasingly fuller belly, stayed.

In "The Phantom Handbag" Lou Stoppard reminisces about the time when a fashionable handbag was a necessity, and questions whether it will be relevant after all the suffering. In today's time, handbags seem altogether impractical: too tiny for the grocery store, too dangly for cycling, too bothersome for protesting. Coupled with the fact that new normals often create shifts in buyer trends, the future of bag buying doesn't seem all that promising. Like Ms. Hillier said, "there are other things they can spend money on." Indeed, as people realize there are more to bags than "a status thing," high-street bag sales might plummet, but the things carried in these luxurious containers will endure.

Though my mom's bag was a quixotic choice, I now know that within the countless frivolous objects is the wholehearted love of my mother: tissues for my frequent water spills, bandages for cuts, and ties for my long hair. Whether handbags will see their destiny no longer matters, as the love that was carried with the nitty-gritty will remain constant.

Then, watch the short video above of Judy explaining some of the choices - or, as we like to call them, "writer's moves" - she made in her reader response. As you watch, consider what you can learn from Judy's essay that you might like to try in your own writing.

Nina won Week 8 of our 2020 Summer Reading Contest with her essay on " Why America Needs a Royal Family,"an Opinion essay arguing for separating ceremony and celebrity from politics.

What drew her to the Opinion section? Nina told us: "Persuasive writing is interesting in that you can analyze how the author is trying to persuade you, even if the premise is more far-fetched or kind of out there."

First, listen to Nina read her winning essay; you can follow along below or in this PDF. As you listen, annotate the text, paying attention to the words and lines that communicate Nina's thinking about the article and anything else that stands out to you.

Nina Nzekwe Reads Her Essay on 'Why America Needs a Royal Family'

A winning reader response to a New York Times Opinion essay.

On 'Why America Needs a Royal Family'
The royal family's private life often intersects with their royal duties. Similarly in America, the extracurricular activities of politicians often overlap with their political affairs as well. Seeing this, writer Jennifer Weiner asserts that America needs its own "royal family," separately-elected representatives who can perform ceremonial tasks while representing America's overall values.

Ms. Weiner juxtaposes the royal family's personal affairs with a soap opera, stating that, "The problem with a real-time soap opera ... is that very few people are equipped to be its stars." She appeals to a sense of familiarity by comparing the lives of the royal family and, in larger part, politicians to television melodrama, showing the reader that these matters relate.

I largely disagree with her argument and would like to propose one of my own: We need to separate the ribbon-cutting and the baby-kissing from politics and remove them entirely. Even now, politicians' personal affairs distract from more important political matters, and an American "royal family" would only compound this issue.

What Ms. Weiner is asking for reminds me of a mascot, such as the Nesquik bunny - a hollow symbol of the values of carefree fun that the company supposedly has while its parent company, Nestle, commits child-trafficking and slavery in West Africa to harvest cocoa. America needs a lot of things, and a mascot isn't one of them.

Then, watch the video above of Nina explaining some the "writer's moves" she made in her reader response. As you watch, consider what you can learn from Nina's essay that you might like to try in your own writing.

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Annotated by the Author: Writing Reader Responses

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Judy Wang and Nina Nzekwe, winners of our 2020 Summer Reading Contest, show us how to respond to texts both personally and critically. In our "Annotated by the Author" series , we invite New York Times journalists and winners of our student contests to comment on their work to help demystify the writing and research process.

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It's not easy to find all the best documentaries on a single streaming service. But with dozens of free offerings as well as movies available for rent and purchase, YouTube comes the closest.

Whether you're in the mood for an awe-inspiring nature movie or a true crime spectacle for the ages, YouTube's documentary lineup includes some of the most superior works in the genre. With classics like The September Issue and Hoop Dreams running alongside newer releases like Three Identical Strangers, 13th, and Our Planet, this is the place to learn something new.

To help you get your education binge started, we've combed through YouTube's catalogue and selected both the best free documentaries on YouTube and the best documentaries available for rent or purchase on YouTube. Broken into two categories, but listed in no particular order, here are 17 docs you should make time to see stat.

The best free documentaries on YouTube

In this Academy Award-nominated documentary feature, filmmaker Ava DuVernay examines systemic racism and the persistent horror of slavery in the United States with thorough, detailed, and astounding reporting. Interviews with public figures, including Bryan Stevenson, Van Jones, Cory Booker, and more provide a wealth of evidence to support DuVernay's thesis that the Thirteenth Amendment did not make black people free, but instead shepherded them into a criminal system designed to keep them oppressed.

Winner of Best Documentary Short Subject at the 89th Academy Awards, Orlando von Einsiedel's The White Helmets offers a wrenching look at rescue workers in Aleppo, Syria and Turkey fighting to save citizens affected by the war. At once heartbreaking and enlightening, this 40-minute film stands as one of the most impactful examinations of Syrian conflict, with an emotional undercurrent you're unlikely to forget.

For those missing the late Marvel Comics creator, With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story offers an inviting banquet of appreciation. Centered on Lee's multi-decade career and unceasing desire to enchant the world through super stories, director Will Hess' delightful portrait includes interviews with comic fans, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Patrick Stewart, Eva Mendes, Samuel L. Jackson, Lee himself, and more.

In Netflix's breathtaking nature docuseries, genre icon David Attenborough narrates eight installments of fascinating, awe-inspiring footage taken across 50 different countries. Created by Netflix in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, takes a look at the different kinds of habitats across the globe and provides an educational foundation perfect for animal lovers of any age.

Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 87th Academy Awards, this real-life thriller chronicles director Laura Poitras's relationship with infamous whistleblower Edward Snowden as it unfolds through a series of mysterious emails and tense face-to-face encounters. Citizenfour is a riveting watch that captures a fascinating moment in American history that seems to only grow in relevance.

Although the media landscape has changed immeasurably since director R.J. Cutler visited the offices of Vogue in 2007, The September Issue remains a fun documentary watch for lovers of fashion, a strong work ethic, and icy exchanges. Rooted in Anna Wintour's relationship with Grace Coddington, this workplace drama follows the creation of Vogue 's most esteemed annual publication, from Fashion Week to staff meetings to photoshoots, as an intimate portrait of true passion is revealed.

Created from Noam Chomsky's academic text of the same name, Requiem for the American Dream evaluates the economic and social structures that have allowed income disparity to reach the staggering (and terrifying) heights too many American have been forced to accept. This documentary film offers a compelling indictment for wealth concentration, as well as a much-needed call to action for the American people to demand better.

Directed, written, and produced by Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Up takes an unforgiving look at the forces behind the United States' obesity epidemic. By gradually dismantling the the idea that obesity is a matter of willpower (particularly among children), Soechtig opens up viewers to the reality that high-sugar sales frequently motivate public representatives to place their bottom line above the health of their constituents.

Living on One Dollar originally began as a series of YouTube videos created by friends Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci, Sean Leonard, and Ryan Christofferson as they experienced what it was like to live on less than $1 per day in rural Guatemala. This final compilation, clocking in at just 56 minutes, provides a brief yet profound look poverty, kindness, and what it really takes to deliver change.

The best documentaries to buy and rent on YouTube

Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 81st Academy Awards, Man on Wire examines the mind-boggling determination of Philippe Petit as he attempts to high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center. Director James Marsh captures not only the terrifying stakes of the stunt at hand, but the heart behind what made it so tempting in the first place.

Directed by legendary street artist Banksy, the Academy Award-nominated Exit Through the Gift Shop profiles Thierry Guetta, a fervent street art lover who became Banksy's guide for a trip to Los Angeles. A delightful blend of art appreciation, eccentric style, and secrecy, this film remains one of the most enjoyable documentary watching experiences available - though we never do see Banksy's face.

How to watch: Exit Through the Gift Shop is available to buy or rent on YouTube.

Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, this 2018 Oscar winner is an immensely captivating (if slightly nauseating) adventure in extreme athletics. World-famous rock climber Alex Honnold begins the film intent on climbing the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without the assistance ropes, harnesses, or other protective gear - a deadly challenge never before accomplished.

Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 88th Academy Awards, Asif Kapadia's spellbinding portrait of the late Amy Winehouse is a masterclass in artistry and empathy. Examining the events that led to Winehouse's immense success and to those surrounding her accidental death in 2011, this documentary paints of a lasting portrait of a woman who burned bright.

How to watch: Amy is available to buy or rent on YouTube.

The story of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran is as mesmerizing as it is tragic. Investigating the separation and reunion of the three identical brothers, director Tim Wardle sheds light on the adoption agency that manipulated the boys' parents into unknowingly offering their sons up for an unethical study that fundamentally destabilized their lives.

How to watch: Three Identical Strangers is available to buy or rent on YouTube.

In this Academy Award-nominated crime documentary, director Andrew Jarecki looks at the collapse of a family when father Arnold and son Jesse are investigated and later tried for charges of child molestation. The result is a chilling juxtaposition of what predators can choose to present to the world and their true nature behind closed doors.

This intimate look at the life of Andrew Bagby, created by close friend Kurt Kuenne after Bagby's murder in 2001, stands as one of the most moving filmmaking processes in documentary history. Comprised of touching remembrances and the legal goings-on surrounding Bagby's death, Kuenne's project began as a time capsule for Bagby's son - but soon evolved into a telling glimpse at the failings of our justice system and what it means to let go.

A famed Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature snub from director Steve James, Hoop Dreams redefined the Oscar category and reached the height of sports documentaries. Following Arthur Agee and William Gates, two inner-city Chicago kids with dreams of playing professional basketball, over a five-year period, this unforgettable story delivers a poignant reflection on what it means to have hope even in the face of immense obstacles.

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The 17 best documentaries on YouTube to entertain and teach you

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It's not easy to find all the best documentaries on a single streaming service. But with dozens of free offerings as well as movies available for rent and purchase, YouTube comes the closest. Whether you're in the mood for an awe-inspiring nature movie or a true crime spectacle for the ages, YouTube's documentary lineup includes some of the most superior works in the genre.

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Stream these titles for a lesson on what’s going on in the world.

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Thirty years ago, the Northwest was torn apart in a fight over trees, owls and the meaning of the natural world. "Timber Wars" looks at the history and consequences of this conflict. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the NPR One app.

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Thirty years ago, the Northwest was torn apart in a fight over trees, owls and the meaning of the natural world. "Timber Wars" looks at the history and consequences of this conflict. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the NPR One app.