THE WRITING PROCESS

Writing a Response or Reaction Paper

Each semester, you will probably be asked by at least one instructor to read a book or an article
(or watch a TV show or a film) and to write a paper recording your response or reaction to the
material. In these reports—often referred to as response or reaction papers—your instructor will
most likely expect you to do two things: summarize the material and detail your reaction to it.
The following pages explain both parts of a report.

PART 1: A SUMMARY OF THE WORK

To develop the first part of a report, do the following:

 Identify the author and title of the work and include in parentheses the publisher and
publication date. For magazines, give the date of publication.

 Write an informative summary of the material.

 Condense the content of the work by highlighting its main points and key supporting
points.

 Use direct quotations from the work to illustrate important ideas.

 Summarize the material so that the reader gets a general sense of all key aspects of the
original work.

 Do not discuss in great detail any single aspect of the work, and do not neglect to mention
other equally important points.

 Also, keep the summary objective and factual. Do not include in the first part of the paper
your personal reaction to the work; your subjective impression will form the basis of the
second part of your paper.

PART 2: YOUR REACTION TO THE WORK

To develop the second part of a report, do the following:

 Focus on any or all of the following questions. Check with your instructor to see if s/he
wants you to emphasize specific points.

 How is the assigned work related to ideas and concerns discussed in the course for which
you are preparing the paper? For example, what points made in the course textbook, class
discussions, or lectures are treated more fully in the work?

 How is the work related to problems in our present-day world?

  How is the material related to your life, experiences, feelings and ideas? For instance,
what emotions did the work arouse in you?

 Did the work increase your understanding of a particular issue? Did it change your
perspective in any way?

 Evaluate the merit of the work: the importance of its points, its accuracy, completeness,
organization, and so on.

 You should also indicate here whether or not you would recommend the work to others,
and why.

POINTS OF CONSIDERATION WHEN WRITING THE REPORT

Here are some important elements to consider as you prepare a report:

 Apply the four basic standards of effective writing (unity, support, coherence, and clear,
error-free sentences) when writing the report.

 Make sure each major paragraph presents and then develops a single main point. For
example, in the sample report that follows, the first paragraph summarizes the book, and
the three paragraphs that follow detail three separate reactions of the student writer to the
book. The student then closes the report with a short concluding paragraph.

 Support any general points you make or attitudes you express with specific reasons and
details. Statements such as "I agree with many ideas in this article" or "I found the book
very interesting" are meaningless without specific evidence that shows why you feel as
you do. Look at the sample report closely to see how the main point or topic sentence of
each paragraph is developed by specific supporting evidence.

 Organize your material. Follow the basic plan of organization explained above: a
summary of one or more paragraphs, a reaction of two or more paragraphs, and a
conclusion. Also, use transitions to make the relationships among ideas in the paper clear.

 Edit the paper carefully for errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, word use, and
spelling.

 Cite paraphrased or quoted material from the book or article you are writing about, or
from any other works, by using the appropriate documentation style. If you are unsure
what documentation style is required or recommended, ask you instructor.

 You may use quotations in the summary and reaction parts of the paper, but do not rely
on them too much. Use them only to emphasize key ideas.
  Publishing information can be incorporated parenthetically or at the bottom of the page in
a footnote. Consult with your instructor to determine what publishing information is
necessary and where it should be placed.

A SAMPLE RESPONSE OR REACTION PAPER

Here is a report written by a student in an introductory psychology course. Look at the paper
closely to see how it follows the guidelines for report writing described above.

A Report on Man's Search for Meaning

Part 1: Summary
Topic sentence for summary paragraph

Dr. Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning (New York: Washington Square Press,
1966) is both an autobiographical account of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps
and a presentation of his ideas about the meaning of life. The three years of deprivation and
suffering he spent at Auschwitz and other Nazi camps led to the development of his theory of
Logotherapy, which, very briefly, states that the primary force in human beings is "a striving to
find a meaning in one's life" (154). Without a meaning in life, Frankl feels, we experience
emptiness and loneliness that lead to apathy and despair. This need for meaning was
demonstrated to Frankl time and again with both himself and other prisoners who were faced
with the horrors of camp existence. Frankl was able to sustain himself partly through the love he
felt for his wife. In a moment of spiritual insight, he realized that his love was stronger and more
meaningful than death, and would be a real and sustaining force within him even if he knew his
wife was dead. Frankl's comrades also had reasons to live that gave them strength. One had a
child waiting for him; another was a scientist who was working on a series of books that needed
to be finished. Finally, Frankl and his friends found meaning through their decision to accept and
bear their fate with courage. He says that the words of Dostoevsky came frequently to mind:
"There is one thing that I dread: not to be worthy of my suffering." When Frankl's prison
experience was over and he returned to his profession of psychiatry, he found that his theory of
meaning held true not only for the prisoners but for all people. He has since had great success in
working with patients by helping them locate in their own lives meanings of love, work, and
suffering.
Part 2: Reaction

Topic sentence for first reaction paragraph

One of my reactions to the book was the relationship I saw between the “Capos” and ideas about
anxiety, standards, and aggression discussed in our psychology class. The Capos were prisoners
who acted as trustees, and Frankl says they acted more cruelly toward the prisoners than the
guards or the SS men. Several psychological factors help explain this cruelty. The Capos must
have been suppressing intense anxiety about “selling themselves out” to the Nazis in return for
small favors. Frankl and other prisoners must have been a constant reminder to the Capos of the
courage and integrity they themselves lacked. When our behaviors and values are threatened by
someone else acting in a different way, one way we may react is with anger and aggression. The
Capos are an extreme example of how, if the situation is right, we may be capable of great
cruelty to those whose actions threaten our standards.

Topic sentence for second reaction paragraph

I think that Frankl’s idea that meaning is the most important force in human beings helps explain
some of the disorder and discontent in the world today. Many people are unhappy because they
are caught in jobs where they have no responsibility and creativity; their work lacks meaning.
Many are also unhappy because our culture seems to stress sexual technique in social
relationships rather than human caring. People buy popular books that may help them become
better partners in bed, but that may not make them more sensitive to each other’s human needs.
Where there is no real care, there is no meaning. To hide the inner emptiness that results from
impersonal work and sex, people busy themselves with the accumulation of material things. With
television sets, stereos, cars, expensive clothes, and the like, they try to forget that their lives lack
true meaning instead of working or going to school to get a meaningful job, or trying to be
decent human beings.
Topic sentence for third reaction paragraph
I have also found that Frankl’s idea that suffering can have meaning helps me understand the
behavior of people I know. I have a friend named Jim who was always poor and did not have
much of a family—only a stepmother who never cared for him as much as for her own children.
What Jim did have, though, was determination. He worked two jobs to save money to go to
school, and then worked and went to school at the same time. The fact that his life was hard
seemed to make him bear down all the more. On the other hand, I can think of a man in my
neighborhood who for all the years I've known him has done nothing with his life. He spends
whole days smoking and looking at cars going by. He is a burned-out case. Somewhere in the
past his problems must have become too much for him, and he gave up. He could have found
meaning in his life by deciding to fight his troubles like Jim, but he didn't, and now he is a sad
shadow of a man. Without determination and the desire to face his hardships, he lost his chance
to make his life meaningful.
Concluding paragraph
In conclusion, I would strongly recommend Frankl’s book to persons who care about why they
are alive, and who want to truly think about the purpose and meaning of their lives

Tips for Writing a Good Reaction Paper

The main aim of this article is to give students a chance to understand what is a reaction paper
and to explain how to complete it without any efforts. A reaction paper is a type of written
assignment, which requires personal opinion and conclusions on a given article or abstract.
Unlike a summary, a reaction paper should contain your own thoughts on the problem, discussed
in the original text. It aims to show professor how deep your understanding of the situation is and
how well you can use your analytical skills.

The first part of your paper should contain information on the author and the topic. You need to
write down the main ideas and highlight the main points of the paper. You can use direct
quotations if needed. Avoid your personal opinion in this section. The second part should contain
your personal thoughts on the subject. Focus on a main problem or address all of them and
describe your opinion. Explain how the material can relate to the modern world, to the society or
separate individuals. Back your statements with sources if needed and make conclusions whether
you support the author or not.

Writing a reaction paper can be quite a challenging task, so many students use examples to learn
more about its structure and key features. Here are a few recommendations, which will help you
complete an outstanding reaction paper:

 Read the original article carefully and highlight the main ideas and points you want to
discuss;

 Describe your point of view and back it with additional information if needed. Use vivid
examples;

 Use various sources to make your statement more argumentative.

There are also a few tips, which will help you to avoid common mistakes. First, don’t give a
summary of an article. You should perform your personal opinion, not an overview. You should
always back your ideas with examples. However, avoid using examples, which are difficult to
relate to the topic. With the help of these simple rules, you will learn how to write a reaction
paper and will be able to create an outstanding work!

Samples and Examples of Reaction Paper

Nowadays it is impossible to find a student, who is capable of completing all the tasks without
anyone’s help. Because of a heavy workload and tight schedules additional help may be more
than useful, so let's continue to simplify your studying. While many students don’t have a chance
to order a paper or want to create it on their own, using online samples can be a great way out.
They can help students get an overall idea on the subject, structure and main tips. By
downloading a sample, you will learn how to write reaction paper and avoid common mistakes.

You will also be able to shape your ideas in an appropriate form and emphasize the strongest
points of your paper, while omitting those, which lack examples and support.

Reaction paper format

Formatting gives every student a chance to create an outstanding paper, using previous
experience and a clear plan of actions. With the help of such an outline, you will be able to see
how the paper will look like and will be able to go from one paragraph to another smoothly.
Usually you will have specific information on the size of the paper, so a plan will be of a great
help.

A reaction paper consists of four main parts:

1. Introduction;

2. Body;

3. Conclusions;

4. List of citations and sources.

Introduction section is the face of your paper, so you need to pay extra attention to this part to
gain interest of the reader. Here you should describe the author and the paper you are analyzing,
the main ideas and problems you are going to discuss. You should write at least three-four
sentences about the original text and close the introduction section with your thesis, which will
be discussed later in the paper. Make sure your statement is brief and straight to the point,
because you will need to get back to it over and over again throughout your paper.

The second part of the paper is where the real work begins. You need to write down your
thoughts on the main ideas of the paper, backed with appropriate quotes and sources. Remember
to stick to the original article and always get back to it, while providing your personal thoughts.
However, you are free to add theoretical information to support your ideas. This section is
crucial and should contain a thorough analysis of the obtained data.
Conclusions should be brief and contain information on your thesis and main ideas, which were
shaped throughout the work. You can also refer to the target audience and the impact these
conclusions may have on the society. The list of citations should contain a brief but structured
information on the sources, used in your work.

Writing a reaction paper can be a real challenge, but at the same time it will help you to improve
your analytical skills and share your opinion with the world!
 Writing a Reaction or Response Essay

Reaction or response papers are usually requested by teachers so that you'll consider carefully
what you think or feel about something you've read. The following guidelines are intended to be
used for reacting to a reading although they could easily be used for reactions to films too. Read
whatever you've been asked to respond to, and while reading, think about the following
questions.

 How do you feel about what you are reading?

 What do you agree or disagree with?

 Can you identify with the situation?

 What would be the best way to evaluate the story?

Keeping your responses to these questions in mind, follow the following prewriting steps.

Prewriting for Your Reaction Paper

The following statements could be used in a reaction/response paper. Complete as many

statements as possible, from the list below, about what you just read.

My Reaction to What I Just Read Is That . . .

I think that

I see that

I feel that

It seems that

In my opinion,

Because

A good quote is

In addition,

For example,
 Moreover,

However,

Consequently,

Finally,

In conclusion,

What you've done in completing these statements is written a very rough reaction/response
paper. Now it needs to be organized. Move ahead to the next section.

Organizing Your Reaction Paper

A reaction/response paper has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

 The introduction should contain all the basic information in one or two paragraphs.

This sentence should give the title,

Sentence 1:
author, and publication you read.

Sentence 2, 3, and These sentences give a brief summary of what you

sometimes 4: read (nutshell)

This sentence is your thesis statement. You agree, disagree,

Sentence 5:
identify, or evaluate.

 Your introduction should include a concise, one sentence, focused thesis. This is the
focused statement of your reaction/response. More information on thesis statements is
available.

 The body should contain paragraphs that provide support for your thesis. Each paragraph
should contain one idea. Topic sentences should support the thesis, and the final sentence
of each paragraph should lead into the next paragraph.

Topic Sentence
 detail -- example --quotation --detail -- example -- quotation -- detail -- example --
quotation -- detail -- example --quotation

Summary Sentence

 You can structure your paragraphs in two ways:

Author

You

 OR

Author

in contrast to

You

 The conclusion can be a restatement of what you said in your paper. It also be a comment
which focuses your overall reaction. Finally, it can be a prediction of the effects of what
you're reacting to. Note: your conclusion should include no new information.

More information on strategies for writing conclusions is available.

Summary

In summary, this handout has covered prewriting and organizing strategies for reaction/response
papers.

 Prewriting

o Read the article and jot down ideas.

o How do you feel about what was said?

o Do you agree or disagree with the author?

 o Have you had any applicable experience?

o Have you read or heard anything that applies to this what the writer said in the
article or book?

o Does the evidence in the article support the statements the writer made?

 Organizing

o Write the thesis statement first.

o Decide on the key points that will focus your ideas. These will be your topic
sentences.

o Develop your ideas by adding examples, quotations, and details to your

paragraphs.

o Make sure the last sentence of each paragraph leads into the next paragraph.

o Check your thesis and make sure the topic sentence of each paragraph supports it.