How to Write a Reading Reaction

Response Paper
 What Does Writing a Reading Reaction
Response Paper Involve?
• Critical Reading
– Identifying the ideas, organization, and purpose of the reading

• Critical Thinking
– Analyzing and evaluating the reading and ideas

• Reacting in Writing
– Identifying the reading’s key ideas
– Stating your opinion about a particular part or all of the
reading
– Supporting your opinion with appropriate details, quotations,
and explanations
 Purpose of a Reading Reaction Response
Paper
• It’s a way to express what you think about a the reading in an
organized way including:
– Evidence that you have understood what the reading says and does
– Your reaction to the writer’s ideas
– Your evaluation of the reading’s strengths and weaknesses

• It’s a way to find an angle to take with your response

– Don’t just regurgitate main points or all you’re doing is writing a
summary

• It’s a way to craft your angle into argument

– Have something unique and interesting to say about what you just
read.
– Tell your audience why it's unique and interesting.
 Steps to Writing a Good Reading Reaction
Response Paper
• Step 1: Look for answers to the following
questions as you read it the first time:
– What is the topic and the main problem or issue
that the author is addressing?
– What is the author’s central claim, argument, or
point?
– What assumptions does the author make?
– What evidence does the author present?
 Steps Continued…
• Step 2: Write down your ideas and answers to
the following questions as you read it the
second time:
– How do I feel about what is being said?
– Is the author’s claim supported sufficiently?
– Do I agree or disagree with the author?
– What are possible counterarguments to the
reading’s claims?
 Steps Continued…
• Step 3: Write a draft of the summary of the
reading. Paraphrase:
– The author’s thesis
– Main supporting ideas
– Important details (only)

• Step 4: Write your opinion about or reaction to

the reading

• Step 5: Write the first draft of the

response/reaction paper
 Components of a Reading Reaction
Response Paper
• Introduction Paragraph:
– First Several Sentences:
• Has an engaging & historically relevant hook
• Provides historical background
• Builds up to thesis
– Last Sentence (Your Thesis Statement) which could:
• Expresses agreement, partial agreement, disagreement,
or evaluates the text (i.e., discusses strengths and or
weaknesses of the methods used in reporting)
 Components Continued…
• Body Paragraph 1
– Starts with a topic sentence (Supporting idea 1) to
explain the opinion you expressed in your thesis
– Contains a clear topic and controlling idea
– Clearly relates to the thesis statement
– Includes sufficient details/examples/quotes from
the reading to explain your point that are
parenthetically cited
– May contain a passage from another quality
source which is parenthetically cited
 Components Continued…
• Body Paragraph 2
– Starts with a topic sentence (Supporting idea 2) to
explain the opinion you expressed in your thesis
– Contains a clear topic and controlling idea
– Clearly relates to the thesis statement
– Includes sufficient details/examples/quotes from
the reading to explain your point that are
parenthetically cited
– May contain a passage from another quality source
which is parenthetically cited
 Components Continued
• Conclusion:
– Restates your thesis
– Summarizes the main idea

• Works Cited:
– Separate page
– Alphabetical
– Spacing
– Hanging Indent
– Sufficient Info. Cited