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  • Ways of Responding to Writing

Different Ways of Responding to Writing

From Peter Elbow and Pat Belanoff, Sharing and Responding , Random House

Two Paradoxes of Responding

When we talk about collaboration between peers, whether that’s in peer review or in a writing center session, we have some expectations, whether implicit or explicit, for how participants should behave. These expectations can create tension, confusion, or even frustration, especially if we try to push back against them. It’s important that we learn to work  with these paradoxes rather than against them. In order to do that, we must avoid a “one size fits all” method of responding to each other’s writing.

First Paradox: the reader is always right; the writer is always right.

The reader gets to decide what’s true about their reaction: about what they have seen or what happened to them, about what they think or how they feel. It makes no sense to quarrel with the reader about what’s happening to them (though you can ask the reader to explain more fully what they are saying).

But the writer gets to decide what to do about the feedback they get: what changes to make, if any. They don’t have to follow the reader’s advice. They should listen openly–swallow it all. They can do that better if they realize that they get to take their time and make up their own mind–perhaps making no changes in their writing at all.

Second Paradox: the writer must be in charge; the writer must sit back quietly too.

The writer must be in control. It’s their writing. They should not be passive or helpless. They need to decide what kind of feedback (if any) they need for this particular piece of writing. Is their main goal to improve this piece of writing? Or perhaps they don’t really care about working more on this piece–their main goal is to work on their writing in general. Or perhaps they don’t want to work on anything, but instead just enjoy sharing this piece and hearing what others have to say. They need to make decisions about what kind of feedback can help them and not let the reader make those decisions.

Types of Responses

From Peter Elbow and Patricia Belanoff, A Community of Writers: A Workshop Course in Writing , McGraw Hill

Here is an overview of different and valuable ways of responding to writing, and a few thoughts about when each kind is valuable. Try to incorporate some of them into your sessions. Always be explicit in discussing with the writer what type of response would be most helpful. Never assume.

Sharing; no response

The writer reads the piece aloud to listeners to simply listen and enjoy. Simple sharing is also a way for a writer to listen better to their own responses to their own piece, without having to think about how others respond. They can learn an enormous amount from hearing themselves read their own words–or from reading them over when they know that someone else is also reading them.

No response is valuable in many situations: when they don’t have much time, at very early stages when they just want to try something out or feel very tentative, or when they are completely finished and don’t plan to make any changes at all–as a form of simple communication or celebration. Sharing gives a writer a no pressure setting for getting comfortable reading their own words out loud and listening to the writing of others.

This method can provoke some anxiety from tutors, who think they’re wasting the writer’s time or not doing enough by just listening. Ultimately, the writer may just be looking for encouragement or validation.

Pointing and center of gravity

  • Pointing : which words or phrases or passages somehow strike you? stick in your mind? get through?
  • Center of gravity : which sections somehow seem important or resonant or generative?

You are not necessarily looking for the main points, but rather for sections or passages that seem to resonate or linger in your mind or be sources of energy to continue improving the project.

These quick, interesting forms of response are good for early drafts and writers who are struggling or who lack confidence. It helps a writer establish a sense of contact with readers. A center of gravity response is particularly interesting for showing a rich and interesting part of a writer’s project that they might have neglected, but which might be worth exploring and developing. Center of gravity can also help a writer see their piece in a different light and suggest ways to make major revisions.

Summary and sayback

  • Summary : summarize what you have heard. Tell the writer what you hear as the main and almost-main things.
  • Sayback : summarize what you have heard in a somewhat questioning or tentative way as an invitation for the writer to reply with their own restatement of what you’ve said.

These are both useful at any stage in the writing process in order to see whether readers “got” the points the writer is trying to give. But sayback is particularly useful at early stages when the writer hasn’t yet been able to find what they really want to say. When readers say back to writer what they hear–and invite the writer to reply–it often leads the writer to find exactly the words or thoughts or emphasis the writer was looking for.

What was almost said?

This kind of response is particularly useful when the writer needs to develop or enrich their piece, when you sense there is more here but you haven’t been able to find it yet. It gives the writer concrete substantive help because you can give them ideas to add to theirs. This is not a bad thing, as expressing your interpretation and where you think the piece is going can help spur the writer into generating more idea. What the writer implies but doesn’t say in the writing is often very loud to you, but unheard by the writer.

Simply explain what your thoughts are on the writer’s topic after you’ve heard what the writer has to say. This kind of response is useful at any point, but especially at early stages when the writer hasn’t worked out their thinking yet. This can even work in brainstorming. This is actually the most natural and common response in any human discourse. You can have a small discussion about the topic, and the writer can choose what to move forward with.

You can comment on the following:

  • How much voice do you hear in the writing?
  • What kind of voice(s) do you hear in the writing? Timid, confident, sarcastic, pleading?
  • Is the language alive and human, or is it dead, uninteresting?
  • What kind of person does the writing sound like? What side(s) of the writer come through?
  • Do you trust the voice or person you hear in the writing?

This kind of feedback can be useful at any stage. When people describe the voice they hear in writing, they often get right to the heart of the subtle but important matters of language and approach. You don’t have to talk in technical terms (passive vs active verbs, nominalized phrases, etc.); instead, you can say, “You sound a little unsure in what you’re saying. Can you tell me about that?”

Movies of the Reader’s Mind

Tell the writer honestly and in detail what is going on in your mind as you read or listen to the writer’s words. There are three powerful ways to give a writer this kind of response. Make sure you ask the writer which way (if any) they prefer.

  • Interrupt the reading a few times to describe what’s happening in your mind. (If the writer is reading aloud, make sure they know you’re going to do this.)
  • Tell the writer your reactions in the form of a story or an experience you might have had related to the topic
  • Use “I” statements. Instead of saying “it was confusing,” say, “I felt confused about.”

Movies of the reader’s mind make the most sense when the writer has a fairly developed draft, and they want to know how it works on readers, rather than when they’re still trying to develop their ideas. Movies are the richest and most valuable form of response, but they require that the writer feels some confidence in themselves and support from you as a reader, because when you tell them honestly what is happening while you read their piece, they may hear that you don’t like it or even that you’re mad at it (even if that’s not true).

Metaphorical descriptions

Describe the writing in terms of clothing (e.g., jeans, tuxedo, yoga pants), weather (e.g. foggy, stormy, sunny, humid), animals, colors, shapes. This kind of response is helpful at any point. It gives the writer a new view, a new lens. It’s particularly helpful when the writer feels stale on a piece, perhaps because they have worked so long on it.

Believing and doubting

  • Believing : try to believe in everything the writer has written, even if you disagree or find it crazy. At least pretend to believe it. Be their friend and ally and give them more evidence, arguments, and ideas to help make their case better.
  • Doubting : try to doubt everything they have written, even if you love it. Take on the opposing role and find all the arguments that could be made against the writer. Pretend to be someone who completely disagrees with their message. What would that person notice?

These forms of feedback obviously lend themselves to persuasive essays or arguments, though the believing game can help writers flesh out and enrich the world of a story or poem. Believing is good when the writer is struggling and wants help. It is a way to give a writer new ideas and arguments and improve their piece in all sorts of ways. Doubting is good after the writer has gotten the piece as strong as they can get it and they want to send it out or hand it in but first find out how hostile readers will fight them.

Skeleton feedback and descriptive outline

  • Skeleton feedback : lay out the reasoning you see in the paper: main point, subpoints, supporting evidence, and the writer’s assumptions about their topic and audience.
  • Descriptive outline : write “says” and “does” sentences for the whole project and then for each paragraph or section. A “says” sentence summarizes the meaning or message, and a “does” sentence describes the function.

Obviously, you can also do this in verbal discussion. Because they take time, you may only get through part of the paper, or you may need to have more than one session. These methods can give the writer the most distance and perspective on what they have written. They can help on late drafts when the writer wants to test out their reasoning and organization. Skeleton feedback can also be useful on early drafts when the writer is still trying to figure out what to say or emphasize and how to organize their thoughts.

How to use these kinds of responses in the Writing Center

You can absorb this list as a writer and as a reader/tutor. When in a session, ask the writer what kind of feedback they want most. You could even share this list with them and negotiate what would be most useful. Respect that choice. It’s important to realize that the writer will be more satisfied, and you’ll have an easier time, by not imposing your own preferred type of response or your own agenda on the session.

Things to think about

Think back to your previous experiences, especially if you have regulars. Under what circumstances could you use these kinds of feedback? What could you do if the writer really doesn’t know what type of response they want or need? What could you do if you and the writer disagree about the type of response that would be most productive?

Consultant Handbook

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Literacy Ideas

How to write a text response

How to write a text response

WHAT IS A TEXT RESPONSE?

how to write a text response,text response | WHAT IS A TEXT RESPONSE | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about writing a text response. Let’s start at the beginning.

A text response is a style of writing in which you are sharing your reaction to something.  It is an opportunity to let the world know how you feel about something.

A text response can also be referred to as a reader response which is accurate, but you may also confuse them with a literacy narrative. This is not an accurate comparison, as a literacy narrative is more an assessment of how you became literate. In contrast, a text response is a specific response to a specific text.

A text response is specifically a response to a book you have read. Still, it can also be a response to a film you have just seen, a game you have been playing, or for more mature students; it could be a response to a decision the government is making that affects you or your community that you have read from a newspaper or website.

When writing a response, it is vital that you get the following points across to your audience.

  • How do you feel about what you are reading / saw / heard?
  • What do you agree or disagree with?
  • Can you identify with the situation?
  • What would be the best way to evaluate the story?

Some teachers get confused between a book review and a text response. Whilst they do share common elements, they are unique genres. Be sure to read o ur complete guide to writing a book review for further clarification.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A TEXT RESPONSE?

Often when we talk about the development of language skills, it is useful to discuss things in terms of four distinct areas. These are commonly grouped into the two active areas of speaking and writing and the two so-called passive areas of listening and reading. Learning to write a text response bridges this gap as it requires our students to not only develop high-level writing skills but also to consider reading as much more than a mere passive activity.

Writing a text response hones the student’s critical thinking skills and ability to express their thoughts in writing. It gives students an opportunity to engage in reading as an active exercise, rather than something that is analogous to watching TV!

A COMPLETE TEXT RESPONSE BUNDLE FOR STUDENTS

how to write a text response,text response | TextResponseBundle 1 | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

2 in-depth units for students and teachers to work on as a class or independently. Packed with teaching resources and lesson ideas.

160 PAGES of high-quality teaching units for all ages and abilities. NO PREPARATION IS REQUIRED. DIGITAL and PRINT to DOWNLOAD NOW.

TEXT RESPONSE STRUCTURE

KEEP IT FORMAL This is a calculated and considered response to what you have read or observed.

USE EVIDENCE Frequently refer to the text as evidence when having an opinion. It becomes the reference point for all your insights within your text response.

HAVE AN OPINION This is not a recount. This is your OPINION on what the author or film producer has created. Don’t shy away from that.

TENSE & STYLE Can be written in either past or present tense. Feel free to use your own style and language but remember to keep it formal.

TEXT RESPONSE FEATURES

YES or NO? Essentially you are making a recommendation. Ensure your audience know where you sit.

LET US INSIDE YOUR MIND How did it make you feel? What did you learn from it? Did you engage with the characters?

SHOW SOME BALANCE Even if you passionately loved or hated the text your audience will view you as biased if you solely focus on one angle. A little balance will give you credibility.

GETTING STARTED: THE PREWRITING STAGE OF A TEXT RESPONSE

As with much of the formal school experience, students can greatly benefit from undertaking a methodical approach in their work. The following process outlines step-by-step how students can best approach writing their text responses in the beginning.

The keyword in the phrase writing a text response is not writing but response . The whole thing starts with the reading and how the student considers the text they are engaging with. Whether the text they are being asked to respond to is an unseen piece in an exam situation or a piece of coursework based on something studied over a semester, the structure remains the same. This is true, too, regardless of age and ability level. Younger students should be taught to approach writing a text response using the same concepts but in a simplified and more scaffolded manner.

Read for Understanding:

Students should read the text they are responding to initially for a basic comprehension of what the text is about. They should read to identify common themes and narrative devices that will serve to answer the question. Often, the question will demand that the student consider and explain the author’s use of a specific literary device or how that literary device develops a central idea and the author’s purpose. In preparing our students to write competent text responses they must first be familiar with the literary devices and conventions that they will be asked to discuss.

Students may instinctively know what they like to read, but what is often not instinctive is the expressing of why they like to read it. They may acknowledge that the writing they are reading is of a high quality, or not as the case may be, but they may lack the vocabulary to express why the writing is successful or unsuccessful. Take the opportunity in class when reading, regardless of the genre, to point out literary devices , techniques, and stylistic considerations that will help your students when it comes to writing a text response.

As humans, we are hardwired to understand the world around us in terms of the stories we tell ourselves and others. We do this by employing comparisons and drawing parallels, we play with words in our everyday use of idiom and metaphor, alliteration and rhyme. Encourage students to keep an ear out for these techniques in the music they listen to, the comics they read, and the TV they watch. Even in the advertising they are exposed to.

how to write a text response,text response | anne frank text reponse | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

Be sure too to offer your students opportunities to practice writing their own metaphors, similes, alliterative sentences etc. There is no better way to internalize an understanding of these literary techniques than by having a go at writing them yourself. And, it doesn’t have to be a dry academic exercise, it can be a lot of fun too.

Teaching alliteration? Have the students come up with their own tongue twisters. Want them to grasp simile? Have them produce Not! similes, for example, give them an adjective such as ‘cuddly’. Tell them you want them to write a simile using the simile structure employing ‘as’. Tell them too they must use the word ‘cuddly’ about someone who is not cuddly at all. Offer them the example He is as cuddly as a cactus to get the ball rolling. They can do this for any adjective and they will often achieve hilarious results!

Read Directions Carefully:

It should go without saying to read the directions carefully, but experience teaches us otherwise! Often it is not the best writers among our students who receive the best grades, but those who diligently respond to the directions of the task that has been set. Students should be sure to check that they have read the directions for their text response question closely. Encourage them to underline the keywords and phrases. This will help them structure their responses and can also serve as a checklist for them to refer to when they have completed writing their text responses.

Have students pinpoint exactly what the question is asking them. For older or stronger students, these questions will likely comprise several parts. Have the student separate the question into these component parts and pinpoint exactly what each part is asking them for.

A good practice to ensure a student has adequately understood what a question is looking for is to ask the student to paraphrase that question in their own words. This can be done either orally or as a written exercise. This helpful activity will inform the student’s planning at the prewriting stage and, as mentioned, can provide a checklist when reviewing the answer at the end.

The Process:

  • To ensure students fully understand the question, have them underline or highlight keywords in the sentence or question. Distribute thesauruses and have students find synonyms for the keywords that they have highlighted.
  • Have them rewrite the question as a series of questions in their own words. This will allow the teacher to assess their understanding of what they are being asked to do. It can also serve as a structured plan for writing their response.
  • Allow some time for students to discuss the question together, either in small groups or with talking partners. After the allotted time, students must decide on a yes , no , or maybe response to the central question.
  • Their response to Step 3 above will formulate their contention, which will serve as the driving force behind their text response as a whole.
  • On their own, students brainstorm at least three arguments or reasons to support their contention.
  • For each of the reasons, students should refer to the text and choose the best evidence available in support of their contention.
  • Students should not be overly concerned with forming a logical order for their notes gathered so far. This activity aims to let ideas flow freely and capture them on paper.

When completed, it is at this point that they are ready to begin the writing process in earnest.

HOW TO WRITE A TEXT RESPONSE

As with writing in many other genres, it is helpful to think of the text response in terms of a three-part text response essay structure. It is a simple process of learning how to write a response paragraph and then organizing them into the ubiquitous beginning, middle, and end (or intro, body, and conclusion) that we drill into our students will serve us well again. Let’s take a look:

The Introduction:

The first paragraph in our students’ text responses should contain the essential information about the text that will orientate the reader to what is being discussed. Information such as the author, the book’s title or extract, and a general statement or two about the content will provide the reader with some context for the discussion.

The SOAPSTONE acronym is useful when considering which information is essential to include in the intro: Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and TONE. Students should reflect on which aspects should be addressed in the introductory paragraph. The genre of the text will largely determine which of these should be included and which are left out. However, it is important the student does not get too bogged down at this stage; these orientation sentences usually require only three or four sentences in total.

Be sure to check out our own complete guide to writing perfect paragraphs here .

The tone of a text response should be such that it assumes the reader does not understand the text that the writer does. It is useful to tell them here to picture one person in their life they are writing to. Someone that would not be familiar with the text, perhaps a family member that they are explaining what they read. Remind them, though, the language should be formal too.

Once the student has established some context in the reader’s mind, they will need to address the central idea forming the ‘eye of the storm’ of their argument.

how to write a text response,text response | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

When learning how to write a text response body paragraph, one of the most common pitfalls students fall into is engaging in a straightforward retelling of the text. Discussion of the text is the name of the game here. Students must get into the text and express their opinions on what they find there. It is quickly apparent when reading a student’s response when they are merely engaging in a retelling and delivering a thoughtful response. Be sure students are aware of the fact that this fools nobody!

The notes students have made in the prewriting stages will be extremely useful here. Each of the arguments or reasons they have produced to support their contention will form the basis for a body paragraph. The TEEL acronym is useful here:

Topic Sentence : Students should begin each paragraph with a topic sentence. This sentence introduces the point that will serve as the main idea of the paragraph – the central riff, if you like. It will engage directly with an aspect of the question or writing prompt .

Expand / Explain: The purpose of the next few sentences will be to narrow the focus of the topic sentence, often by referring to a specific character or event in the text and offering a further explanation of the central point being developed in the paragraph.

Evidence / Example: At this point in the paragraph, it is essential that the student makes close reference to the text to support the point they have been making. Having an opinion is great, but it must be based, and be shown to be based, on the actual text itself. Evidence will most often take the form of a quotation from the text – so make sure your students are comfortable with the mechanics of weaving quotations into their writing!

Link: The end of each body paragraph should link back to the student’s central contention. It restates the argument or reason outlined in the topic sentence but in the broader context of the central contention which usually is the yes , no , or maybe uncovered at the prewriting stage.

As the student moves through their essay, it is important that they reference the main theme of the text in each and every paragraph. The structure of the essay should illustrate an evolution of the student’s understanding of that theme.

References should be made to how the writer employs various literary techniques to construct meaning in his or her text. However, reference to literary techniques should not be made merely in passing but should be integrated into a discussion of the themes explored in the essay.

Writing a text response conclusion:

how to write a text response,text response | Social INFLUENCERS are frequently paid TO provide their opinions on books films and products as people value THEIR opinion 1 | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

Writing the conclusion involves essentially restating the contentions made already, as well as summarizing the main points that were discussed. Though the conclusion will inevitably have much in common with the introduction, and some repetition is unavoidable, make sure students use different wording in their conclusion. The paraphrasing exercise in the prewriting stages may be helpful here.

Encourage students too to link back to their reasons and arguments developed to support their contention in the body paragraphs. The conclusion is no place to introduce new ideas or to ask rhetorical questions. It is the place for gathering up the strands of argument and making a statement about the relevance of the text in relation to the wider world.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT TEXT RESPONSE

●     In essays of this type, students should mostly write in the present tense.

●     Encourage students to vary the length of their sentences to maintain the reader’s interest. But be careful too, students should avoid using overly long sentences as longer sentences can be more difficult to control. A good rule of thumb is that when expressing complex thoughts use several short sentences. Simpler thoughts can be expressed through longer, more complex sentences.

●     Tie everything back to the question. The dissection of the question during the prewriting stage of the text response should remain at the forefront of the student’s mind at all times. If what the student writes doesn’t link back to the original question then it is deadwood and should be discarded.

●     Writing a text response requires the student to analyze the text and responds personally with their own thoughts and opinions. They should not be afraid to make bold statements as long as they can make references to the text to support those statements.

●     The prewriting stage is essential and should not be skipped. But, even with a well thought out prewriting session, where time allows, opportunities should be given for students to draft, redraft, and edit their writing.

We often teach our students that writing is about expressing our thoughts and ideas, but it is also about discovering what we think too.

TEXT RESPONSE TASK FOR STUDENTS

In a response paper, you are writing a formal assessment of what you have read or observed (this could be a film, a work of art, or a book), but you add your own personal reaction and impressions to the report.

The steps for completing a reaction or response paper are:

  • Observe or read the piece for an initial understanding
  • Record your thoughts and impressions in notes
  • Develop a collection of thoughts and insights from
  • Write an outline
  • Construct your essay

Once you have established an outline for your paper, you’ll need to respond using the basic elements of every strong essay, a strong introductory statement.

In the case of a reaction paper, the first sentence should contain the title of the object to which you are responding and the name of the author/creator/publisher

The last sentence of your introductory paragraph should contain your stance or position on the subject you are writing about.

There’s no need to feel shy about expressing your own opinion in a response, even though it may seem strange to write “I feel” or “I believe” in an essay.

USEFUL STATEMENTS TO INCLUDE IN A TEXT RESPONSE

how to write a text response,text response | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

  • I felt that
  • In my opinion
  • The reader can conclude that
  • The author seems to
  • I did not like
  • The images seemed to
  • The author was [was not] successful in making me feel
  • I was especially moved by
  • I didn’t get the connection between
  • It was clear that the artist was trying to
  • The sound track seemed too
  • My favorite part was…because

how to write a text response,text response | LITERACY IDEAS FRONT PAGE 1 | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

TEXT RESPONSE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS TEMPLATE

TEXT RESPONSE WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

writing checklists

VIDEO TUTORIALS FOR TEXT RESPONSE WRITING

how to write a text response,text response | text response tutorial video 1 | How to write a text response | literacyideas.com

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how to write a text response,text response | 1 reading and writing persuasive advertisements | How to Write an Advertisement: A Complete Guide for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

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how to write a text response,text response | how to write a 5 paragraph essay | How to write a perfect 5 Paragraph Essay | literacyideas.com

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The content for this page has been written by Shane Mac Donnchaidh.  A former principal of an international school and English university lecturer with 15 years of teaching and administration experience. Shane’s latest Book, The Complete Guide to Nonfiction Writing , can be found here.  Editing and support for this article have been provided by the literacyideas team.

How to Write a Response Paper

  • Writing Essays
  • Writing Research Papers
  • English Grammar
  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Most of the time when you are tasked with an essay about a book or article you've read for a class, you will be expected to write in a professional and impersonal voice. But the regular rules change a bit when you write a response paper.

A response (or reaction) paper differs from the formal review primarily in that it is written in the first person . Unlike in more formal writing, the use of phrases like "I thought" and "I believe" is encouraged in a response paper. 

You'll still have a thesis and will need to back up your opinion with evidence from the work, but this type of paper spotlights your individual reaction as a reader or viewer.

Read and Respond

Grace Fleming

For a response paper, you still need to write a formal assessment of the work you're observing (this could be anything created, such as a film, a work of art, a piece of music, a speech, a marketing campaign, or a written work), but you will also add your own personal reaction and impressions to the report.

The steps for completing a reaction or response paper are:

  • Observe or read the piece for an initial understanding.
  • Mark interesting pages with a sticky flag or take notes on the piece to capture your first impressions.
  • Reread the marked pieces and your notes and stop to reflect often.
  • Record your thoughts.
  • Develop a thesis.
  • Write an outline.
  • Construct your essay.

It may be helpful to imagine yourself watching a movie review as you're preparing your outline. You will use the same framework for your response paper: a summary of the work with several of your own thoughts and assessments mixed in.

The First Paragraph

After you have established an outline for your paper, you need to craft the first draft of the essay using all the basic elements found in any strong paper, including a strong introductory sentence .

In the case of a reaction essay, the first sentence should contain both the title of the work to which you are responding and the name of the author.

The last sentence of your introductory paragraph should contain a thesis statement . That statement will make your overall opinion very clear.

Stating Your Opinion

There's no need to feel shy about expressing your own opinion in a position paper, even though it may seem strange to write "I feel" or "I believe" in an essay. 

In the sample here, the writer analyzes and compares the plays but also manages to express personal reactions. There's a balance struck between discussing and critiquing the work (and its successful or unsuccessful execution) and expressing a reaction to it.

Sample Statements

When writing a response essay, you can include statements like the following:

  • I felt that
  • In my opinion
  • The reader can conclude that
  • The author seems to
  • I did not like
  • This aspect didn't work for me because
  • The images seemed to
  • The author was [was not] successful in making me feel
  • I was especially moved by
  • I didn't understand the connection between
  • It was clear that the artist was trying to
  • The soundtrack seemed too
  • My favorite part was...because

Tip : A common mistake in personal essays it to resort to insulting comments with no clear explanation or analysis. It's OK to critique the work you are responding to, but you still need to back up your feelings, thoughts, opinions, and reactions with concrete evidence and examples from the work. What prompted the reaction in you, how, and why? What didn't reach you and why?

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writing in response

How to Write a Response Paper: Understanding the Basics

writing in response

Writing a response paper is an important task for students. It allows them to critically analyze a text, express their thoughts and opinions, and improve their writing skills. In this comprehensive guide, our ‘ write my essay ’ experts will explore the basics of how to write a response paper, pre-writing steps, and crafting a winning introduction, body, and conclusion. So, let's dive in and discover a flawless response paper at the end!

Defining What is a Response Paper

A response paper is a written assignment that requires the student to read a text and respond to it by expressing their views on the topic. It can be a stand-alone assignment or part of a larger project. When writing a response paper, it is important to remember the audience you are writing for. Are you writing for your professor, classmates, or a broader audience? This will help you tailor your writing style and tone accordingly.

Moreover, this kind of academic assignment should not only summarize the text but also provide a critical analysis of its main arguments and ideas. It should demonstrate your understanding of the text and your ability to engage with it in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

Purpose of Crafting a Response Paper

Writing response papers aims to demonstrate your understanding of the text, give your opinions and thoughts, and provide evidence to support your claims. In addition, this type of paper can help you develop critical reading skills and formulate coherent arguments. By engaging with the text, you can identify its strengths and weaknesses, evaluate its claims, and form your own opinions about the topic.

Furthermore, crafting response paper examples can be a valuable exercise in self-reflection. It allows you to articulate your thoughts and feelings about a particular topic and can help you better understand your values and beliefs.

Types of Response Papers

There are various types of response papers, each with its own unique characteristics and requirements. These include:

How to Write a Response Paper

  • Personal response : Here, you express your personal opinions, thoughts, and emotions about the text. This type of paper allows you to engage with the text more personally and explore your reactions to it.
  • Critical response : Involves analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting the text to provide a critique. This type of paper requires you to engage with the text more objectively and analytically, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses and providing evidence to support your claims.
  • Research-based response : Research-based response paper examples involve using external sources to support your claims. This type of paper requires you to engage with the text and supplement your analysis with evidence from other sources, such as scholarly articles, books, or interviews.

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How to Write a Response Paper: Pre-Writing Steps

Before diving into the writing process, laying a strong foundation through effective pre-writing steps is crucial. These initial stages not only provide clarity and structure but also enhance the overall quality of your response. And if you aren’t sure how to write a reaction paper , these steps can also be employed for your assignment.

How to Write a Response Paper

Carefully Read and Analyze the Text

The first step in response paper creation is to carefully read and analyze the text. This involves more than just reading the words on the page; it requires critical thinking and analysis. As you read, pay attention to the author's tone, style, and use of language. Highlight important points, take notes, and identify the author's main argument and themes. Consider the context in which the text was written and how it relates to contemporary issues.

For example, if you are reading a historical document, think about how it reflects the social and political climate of the time. If you are reading a work of fiction, consider how the characters and plot relate to larger themes and ideas. By carefully analyzing the text, you will be better equipped to write a thoughtful and insightful response.

Take Notes and Highlight Key Points

Another important step is to take notes while reading, as it helps you organize your thoughts and ideas. As you read through the text, jot down your reactions, questions, and observations. Highlight key points, evidence, and quotes that support the author's argument. This will make it easier to refer back to specific parts of the text when you are writing your response.

Additionally, taking notes can help you identify patterns and connections between different parts of the text. This can be especially helpful when you are trying to develop your thesis statement and outline.

Develop a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a central argument that you will be making in your paper. It should be clear and concise and provide direction for your essay. Your thesis statement should be based on your analysis of the text and should reflect your own perspective.

When developing your thesis statement, consider the main argument of the text and how you agree or disagree with it. Think about the evidence and examples that the author uses to support their argument and how you might use those same examples to support your own argument. Your thesis statement should be specific and focused and should guide the rest of your essay.

Create an Outline

If you want to unlock the most important tip on how to ace a response paper perfection, it lies in creating a well-organized outline. Identify key points, evidence, and arguments that you want to discuss and organize them into a well-written paper format. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Start by introducing the text and your thesis statement. In the body paragraphs, discuss your main points and provide evidence from the text to support your argument. Use quotes and examples to illustrate your points. In conclusion, summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement. In the following paragraphs, we'll delve deeper into writing each section with more details.

Actual Writing Process with a Response Paper Format

Now that you have completed the essential pre-writing steps, it's time to delve into the actual writing process of your paper. In this section of our comprehensive guide, we will explore how to start a response paper along with developing insightful body paragraphs and culminating in a powerful conclusion.

Engage the Reader In Your Introduction

The introduction is the first impression that your reader will have of your paper. It is important to make a good first impression, so you want to engage them right from the start. There are several ways to do this, such as providing context, using a hook, or starting with a rhetorical question.

For example, if you are writing a paper about the effects of social media on mental health, you might start with a hook like:

'Did you know that the average person spends over two hours a day on social media? That's more time than they spend exercising or socializing in person.' 

When working with your paper, this hook immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them interested in learning more about your topic.

Provide Context and Background Information

Once you have engaged the reader, it's important to provide context for the text you are analyzing. This includes information like the author's name, the title of the work, and the publication date. This information helps the reader understand the context of the text and why it is important.

For example, if you are analyzing a poem by Maya Angelou, you would want to provide some background information about her life and work. You might mention that she was a civil rights activist and a prolific writer and that the poem you are analyzing was written in 1969, during a time of great social and political upheaval in the United States.

Present Your Thesis Statement

Finally, it's important to present your thesis statement in the introduction. The thesis statement is the main argument of your paper, and it should be presented clearly and concisely so that the reader knows exactly what your paper is about.

For instance, if you are crafting a response paper example about the effects of social media on mental health, your thesis statement might be something like:

'This paper argues that excessive use of social media can have negative effects on mental health, including increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.'

By presenting your thesis statement in the introduction, you are setting up the rest of your paper and giving the reader a roadmap for what to expect. This helps them stay focused and engaged throughout your paper.

Meanwhile, you can find out more about how to write an essay format and set the right referencing style for your assignment!

Crafting the Body

One key aspect of ensuring a well-structured and articulate paper is to utilize your typical response paper outline as a reliable roadmap. By following it, you can maintain focus, coherence, and logical flow throughout your response. Moreover, keep the following points in mind as you proceed with crafting the body of your response paper:

  • Use evidence and examples from the text:
  • Incorporate relevant quotes, statistics, or other evidence that supports your opinions and arguments.
  • By using evidence from the text, you can strengthen your argument and demonstrate a deep understanding of the material.
  • Analyze and interpret the text:
  • Demonstrate your critical thinking skills by thoroughly analyzing and interpreting the text.
  • Explain how the text relates to your thesis statement and overall argument.
  • Provide a clear and concise response that showcases your knowledge and understanding of the material.
  • Address counterarguments and alternative perspectives:
  • Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to demonstrate your ability to consider different perspectives.
  • Explain why your argument is stronger than the opposing viewpoint.
  • Provide evidence to support your claim and solidify your stance.

Concluding Your Paper

In the conclusion of your response paper example, it is essential to consolidate your reactions, ideas, and arguments regarding the text. Summarize the key points discussed throughout your paper, drawing inferences whenever applicable. 

When uncertain about ​​ how to write a conclusion for a research paper , the first important rule is to refrain from introducing new ideas or reiterating information already presented in the introduction of your paper. Instead, provide a concise and coherent summary that encapsulates the essence of your response, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Response Paper Example

To show you how to write a response paper effectively, our essay writer has provided an amazing example below. It will inspire you and help you on your own learning journey. Get ready to explore new ideas and expand your knowledge with our response paper sample.

As we conclude this comprehensive guide on how to write a response paper, you have acquired the essential tools and knowledge to embark on your writing journey with confidence. With a firm grasp of pre-writing strategies, the art of crafting an engaging introduction, organizing a well-structured body, and understanding the significance of supporting arguments and addressing counter arguments with a good response paper example, you are poised to leave a lasting impression.

And if you ever find yourself struggling to find inspiration or facing challenges with any aspect of your essays, order essay online and take advantage of the opportunity to seek assistance from our professional writing service team. By trusting us with your college essays and ordering a response paper, you can confidently navigate your academic journey!

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How to Write a Concept Paper: Easy Guide for Students

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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.

Part 1: Summary

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How to Write a Response Paper

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 80,286 times. Learn more...

For a response paper, you must read a text, understand the point of the text, and determine what your own response to that point is. The response paper is more analytical than argumentative. Moreover, even though you need to write about your personal response, that response must be credible and not emotional. Keep reading to learn more about how to go about writing a response paper.

Understanding the Text

Step 1 Take thorough notes.

  • Highlighting draws your attention to words and passages you found significant in the text you read, but it does not allow you to record your initial thoughts regarding those passages.
  • Take notes on a separate piece of paper. Include paraphrases and quotes taken from the passage as well as your own thoughts about the information you write down.

Step 2 Develop your understanding of the reading by asking questions.

  • What is the main issue that the author or creator is attempting to address?
  • What stance does the author take on this issue? What is the author's main claim or point?
  • Are there any assumptions the author makes in forming his or her claim? Are these assumptions valid or biased?
  • What sort of evidence does the author offer in support of his or her point?
  • What points of the argument are strong?
  • What points of the argument are weak?
  • What are some possible counterarguments to the claims or arguments made by the author?
  • What, if anything, makes the main issue or author's main claim important?

Step 3 Consider the work within a larger body of works, when appropriate.

  • How does this work relate to others within a collection of works on the same topic, or with regards to another work on a similar topic written by a different author?
  • Do the authors of comparable works agree or disagree?
  • Do the authors of comparable works address the same part of the same issue or different aspects of it? Do they view the matter being discussed in a similar or different way?
  • Does the author who wrote the piece you're responding to have past works that address the same topic? How has that author's views become stronger or weaker in comparison to past works?
  • Does the information from one text strengthen or weaken the text you're responding to, and if so, how?

Step 1 Do not drag your feet.

  • Even if you think your ideas would benefit from simmering for a little while before performing a thorough analysis, you should still take the time to write down your initial reaction while it is fresh. In many ways, your initial reaction is the most honest. You can talk yourself into another reaction as time passes, and that other reaction may seem more “intellectual,” but your initial response was your true reaction to the text and should be kept in mind.

Step 2 Ask yourself about your own reaction.

  • How does the text relate to you personally, whether in the past, present, or future? How does the text relate to the human experience as a whole?
  • Does the text agree or disagree with your worldview and sense of ethics?
  • Did the text help you to learn about the topic or understand an opposing view? Were your opinions or previous assumptions challenged or confirmed?
  • Does the text directly address topics that you care about or consider important?
  • Was the text enjoyable or admirable for its genre? In other words, if the text was fictional, was it enjoyable as entertainment or art? If it was historical, was it admirable from the perspective of a historian? If it was philosophical, was it adequately logical?
  • What is your overall reaction? Would you recommend the work to another person?
  • As you progress through these questions, write your answers down. In addition to writing down your answers and reactions, also provide evidence from the text to support these answers. Evidence can be in the form of direct quotations and paraphrasing.

Step 3 Determine which reactions are the strongest.

  • Re-examining your notes
  • Recording new ideas as they come
  • Using pro/con analysis
  • Raising questions about your reactions and using your notes from the text to answer them
  • Comparing your reactions directly to your notes and determining which topics have the most overlap

Step 4 Choose an area of focus or organizing argument.

  • Depending on the requirements of the assignment, you may need to come up with one organizing argument or multiple arguments to discuss. Even when you have multiple points to bring up, however, they should still be somewhat connected to each other.
  • A key difference between a traditional thesis and an organizing argument is that a thesis usually exists to prove a point, fact, or thought. An organizing argument demands that the writer analyze the reading in an ongoing manner. [6] X Research source

Block Response Format

Step 1 Write your introduction.

  • For a four to five page paper, your introduction can extend to one or two paragraphs. For a shorter paper, though, restrict it to a short paragraph made up of three to five sentences.
  • Introduce the work by describing how the work to which you are responding fits in within the broader topic it addresses.
  • You could also introduce the work by explaining your own beliefs or assumptions about the topic the work agrees with before explaining how the work challenges or supports your beliefs.

Step 2 Summarize the work.

  • For a four to five page paper, this section should only take up about two to three paragraphs.
  • Describe the content of the work and present the author's main arguments, especially as they affect your response.
  • The summary should be somewhat analytical in nature instead of a strict retelling. As you present the details of the author's work and argument, you should use an analytical tone and discuss how well the author managed to get those points across.

Step 3 Present and discuss your organizing argument.

  • Note that this response format is best to use when you are focusing on a single major theme or argument in a work. It does not work as well if you are discussing multiple ideas presented by a work.
  • Back up your analysis with quotes and paraphrases. Make sure that each example is properly cited.
  • If you took the time to find textual evidence to support your responses during the prewriting stage, this portion of your paper should be fairly easy. All you really need to do is arrange your argument in a coherent manner and write in the details of the support you have already gathered.

Step 4 Write your conclusion.

  • Even for a four to five page paper, you only need one standard paragraph to accomplish this. For a shorter paper, make this paragraph only three to five sentences long.
  • State how this work has a broader effect on you and to the genre or community in which it is a part.

Mixed Response Format

Step 1 Write an introduction.

  • Your introduction can span one to two paragraphs for a four to five page paper, but for a short one to two page paper, keep the introduction down to a single short paragraph.
  • You can either introduce the work by describing how it fits into the topic it addresses as a whole or by explaining how it impacts your own beliefs on the topic.
  • By the end of the introduction, you should have mentioned your "thesis" or organizing argument.

Step 2 Summarize and agree or disagree with one point.

  • Note that this mixed response format is a better option when you have many loosely connected themes or ideas you want to react to instead of a single overarching one.
  • This method allows you to weave your summary and analysis together more naturally and more cohesively. As you bring up a point or example from the text, address your own interpretation of that point directly following your mention of it.

Step 3 Summarize and agree or disagree with a second point, and so on.

  • Continue on as you did with your first point. As you summarize a point or argument from the original text, immediately follow it with your own intellectual response to the argument.

Step 4 Wrap things up with a conclusion.

  • For a four to five page paper, your conclusion should be a standard size paragraph. For a shorter paper, keep this paragraph down to about three sentences.
  • When appropriate, explain how the work has a widespread effect on the genre or community it fits into.
  • ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-response-paper
  • ↑ https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Writing-a-Response-or-Reaction-Paper
  • ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/response-paper.original.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.awelu.lu.se/genres/student-writing-genres/response-paper/
  • ↑ http://faculty.washington.edu/momara/Reader%20Response.pdf
  • ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-strong-response-essay.html
  • ↑ https://writing.colostate.edu/comparchive/rst/resource9.cfm
  • ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-reaction-paper
  • ↑ http://writing.colostate.edu/comparchive/rst/resource9.cfm
  • ↑ http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Writing-a-Response-or-Reaction-Paper

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If you need to write a response paper, read through the original texts, and take thorough notes, including paraphrases and quotes as well as your own thoughts. As soon as you finish reading the text, start drafting your ideas, since the thoughts will still be fresh in your mind. Open the paper with an introduction stating the major theme in the work you’re responding to, along with an overview of your reaction to it. Include a section briefly summarizing the original text, then go into detail about whether you agree or disagree with the work. Conclude by restating and defending the significance of your stance. For tips on writing a response to a work with multiple themes, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Start A Response: Step-by-Step Guide

How To Start A Response: Step-by-Step Guide

When you’re assigned to write a response to an article, a book, or even a restaurant review, it can feel overwhelming. Where do you begin? What should you focus on? How can you analyze the text effectively? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with this step-by-step guide on how to start a response. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be on your way to writing a great response in no time!

The first thing you need to do is read the article, book, or review carefully. Take notes along the way to help you remember key points and important details. Once you’ve finished reading, take a moment to think about what you’ve read. What stood out to you? What did you agree or disagree with? These initial thoughts will help you decide on the focus of your response.

Next, it’s time to create an outline for your response. Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly states your main argument. This will be the backbone of your response and will help guide the rest of your writing. Use your outline to organize your thoughts and plan out the structure of your response. Make sure to include examples, evidence, and counterarguments to support your points.

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As you move into the body of your response, make sure to take your time to explain your points and provide additional examples to support your arguments. Use strong and relevant evidence to back up your claims, and don’t forget to address any counterarguments that may arise. This will show the reader that you’ve thoroughly thought through your response and considered different perspectives.

When wrapping up your response, make sure to restate your thesis statement and summarize your main points. This will help to reinforce your argument and leave a lasting impression on the reader. Don’t forget to greet in a professional way and always ask if you can be of further help. Lastly, don’t forget to proofread your response for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-written and error-free response will make a much better impression on your teacher or professor!

Step-by-Step Guide on Starting a Response

Starting a response can sometimes be a daunting task, but with a step-by-step guide, you can easily break it down into manageable chunks. Here are some simple steps to help you get started:

1. Read and Understand the Prompt: Before you begin your response, make sure you thoroughly read and understand the prompt or question. Take note of any specific guidelines or requirements mentioned.

2. Identify the Main Points: Once you have grasped the key ideas of the prompt, identify the main points you want to address in your response. This will help you organize your thoughts and arguments.

3. Choose an Approach: Consider what type of response you want to write. Is it an academic essay, a report, or a personal reflection? Choose the approach that best suits the prompt and your writing style.

5. Provide Supporting Arguments: In the body paragraphs, present your arguments clearly and logically. Support them with relevant evidence, examples, and explanations. Use paragraphs to separate different ideas or points.

6. Avoid Brackets and Repetition: While it’s important to provide enough evidence and explanations, be cautious not to overuse brackets or repeat the same information multiple times. Keep the text concise and to the point.

7. Resuming the Arguments: In the concluding paragraph, summarize the main arguments you have made in your response. Restate your thesis statement and provide a brief concluding thought. Avoid introducing any new ideas or arguments at this point.

8. Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your response, make sure to proofread it for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Edit it for clarity, coherence, and flow of ideas. This will help you improve the overall quality of your paper.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more essays you write, the better you will become at starting your response. So don’t be afraid to seek feedback, ask for help, or think outside the box. Starting a response can be challenging, but the more you study, the more you work on it, the easier it will become.

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Step 1: Understand the Prompt

Before you start writing your response, it’s important to fully understand the prompt or question that has been given to you. Taking the time to analyze and comprehend the prompt will help you structure your response effectively and ensure that you address all the necessary points.

Here are some helpful steps to follow when trying to understand the prompt:

By following these steps, you’ll be able to determine the main focus of the prompt and decide how to best approach your response. It’s also important to consider any particular personal experiences or examples that may be relevant to the prompt.

For example, if the prompt asks you to write a reflection on a book you read, you may want to think about the main themes, characters, and events that stood out to you. Similarly, if you are asked to write an essay on a historical event, consider the context, causes, and consequences.

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Avoid making assumptions or overthinking the prompt. Stick to what is explicitly stated and ensure that your response directly addresses the question or task at hand.

By understanding the prompt thoroughly, you’ll be better equipped to start your response and provide a clear and concise summary of your thoughts and ideas.

Step 2: Analyze the Question

Take a moment to read the question carefully and identify the key words and phrases. Consider any specific conditions or examples that are mentioned. This will help you focus your response and ensure that you address all aspects of the question.

It’s also important to consider the type of writing you are being asked to do. Is it an academic essay, a personal reflection, or something else? Understanding the type of writing will help you choose the appropriate format and tone for your response.

Next, think about the arguments or ideas you want to include in your response. Are there any counterarguments that you need to address? What evidence or examples can you provide to support your points? Taking the time to brainstorm and plan your response will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow in your writing.

When analyzing the question, it’s also helpful to consider the audience for your response. Who will be reading it, and what are their expectations? This will help you choose the most appropriate language and tone for your writing.

Once you have analyzed the question and have a clear understanding of what is being asked, you can start writing your response. But don’t forget to refer back to the question periodically to make sure you stay on track and address all the necessary points.

Remember, analyzing the question is a key step in writing a good response. It helps you stay focused, organize your thoughts, and ensure that your response is complete and well-thought-out. So take the time to analyze the question and you will be well on your way to writing a successful and impactful response.

Step 3: Brainstorm Ideas and Key Points

Once you have a clear understanding of the prompt and have read or watched the article, video, or text that you need to respond to, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas and key points for your response.

Begin by jotting down any thoughts or feelings that come to mind as you reflect on the material. This can include your initial reactions, questions that arise, or any personal connections you make. Don’t worry about organizing these ideas just yet – the goal is to get everything down on paper.

Next, take a closer look at the prompt and identify the main points or key ideas that the author or creator is trying to convey. These may be explicitly stated or implied, so make sure to read between the lines. Consider the thesis statement or main argument, as well as any supporting evidence or examples that are provided.

As you analyze the text, try to put yourself in the author’s shoes. What conditions or experiences might have shaped their perspective? What message are they trying to communicate to the reader? Keep in mind that not everyone may have the same background or worldviews, so it’s important to consider different perspectives.

After gathering and analyzing these ideas, it’s time to decide on the focus of your response. What aspects of the material do you want to explore further? Are there any specific points or examples that you want to respond to? This will help you narrow down your ideas and create a more cohesive and focused response.

Once you have a clear focus, consider what evidence or examples you can use to support your points. Look for quotes, statistics, or specific examples from the material that can help strengthen your arguments. Remember to always cite your sources and provide proper attribution.

A helpful technique is to create a visual representation of your ideas. This could be in the form of bullet points, a mind map, or even a table. Use whatever method works best for you to organize your thoughts and establish the logical flow of your response.

When brainstorming, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Sometimes the most interesting and creative ideas come from unexpected connections or angles. Don’t forget to consider opposing viewpoints and anticipate counterarguments – this will make your response more thorough and well-rounded.

In summary, the brainstorming process is crucial for generating ideas and identifying key points in your response. By reflecting on the material, considering the author’s perspective, and organizing your thoughts, you’ll be better equipped to write a thoughtful and well-structured response.

Step 4: Craft a Clear Thesis Statement

A good thesis statement should be concise and specific. It should clearly state your position or claim on the topic you are writing about. This statement will be the main idea that you will support throughout your essay or paper.

When constructing your thesis statement, consider these simple steps:

Step 1: Analyze the prompt or topic

Read the prompt or topic carefully and make sure you understand it fully. Take some time to think about the key arguments or ideas that you want to address in your paper.

Step 2: Choose a position

Consider the arguments and evidence you have gathered and choose a position that you want to argue for. Remember, your thesis statement should reflect your main point of view.

Step 3: Summarize your main points

Consider your main points or arguments and think about how you can summarize them in one or two sentences. This summary will become your thesis statement.

Step 4: Craft a clear and focused thesis statement

Write your thesis statement, making sure it is clear, concise, and focused on your main argument. Avoid using vague language or general statements. Instead, aim for a specific and direct thesis statement that clearly states your position.

Remember, your thesis statement is not a summary or a personal feeling. It should be a strong and assertive statement that highlights the main point you will discuss in your essay or paper.

Here are some additional tips to consider when crafting your thesis statement:

  • Make sure your thesis statement is arguable. It should not be a statement of fact that everyone agrees with.
  • Consider including counterarguments in your thesis statement, as this shows a deeper understanding of the topic.
  • Avoid using vague qualifiers such as “somewhat,” “kind of,” or “sometimes.” Be clear and confident in your statement.
  • Think about the audience and the purpose of your essay or paper. Your thesis statement should address their needs and expectations.
  • Take your time to refine your thesis statement. It is okay to go through multiple drafts before you settle on the perfect one.

Crafting a clear thesis statement may seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a simple and straightforward process. Just remember to follow these steps and tips, and you’ll be on your way to writing a strong and effective thesis statement.

Step 5: Develop a Structured Outline

When creating your outline, first consider the main needs of your response. For instance, are you writing an academic paper where you’ll need to include a thesis statement and supporting arguments? Or are you writing a personal reflection where you can freely express your thoughts and feelings?

Next, break down your response into smaller sections or paragraphs. For example, you can choose to begin with a quick summary of the essay or article you are responding to, followed by an analysis of the author’s main arguments and evidence. Then, you can discuss your own thoughts and opinions on the topic.

Within each section or paragraph, think about what points you want to include. It may be helpful to jot down specific ideas or examples that support your main arguments. Don’t forget to include any important conditions or limitations that may affect your response.

Remember to keep your outline organized and logical. A well-structured outline makes it easier for both you and the reader to follow your thoughts and arguments. It also helps you avoid repeating information or going off-topic.

Here is an example of a structured outline:

  • Summary: Provide a concise summary of the main points in the essay or article.
  • Analysis: Analyze the author’s arguments, evidence, and any flaws or strengths in their reasoning.
  • Personal Response: Share your own thoughts and opinions on the topic, supported by examples or personal experiences.

By following these steps and developing a structured outline, you’ll be better prepared to write a cohesive and well-organized response. It will also help you ensure that you address all the necessary points and support your arguments effectively. So, take the time to develop a good outline before you begin writing and you’ll find that the writing process becomes much easier and more enjoyable.

What is a response paper?

A response paper is a form of written communication that allows you to express your thoughts, feelings, and opinions on a particular piece of literature or any other topic.

How do I start writing a response paper?

To start writing a response paper, you should first read the piece of literature or article that you want to respond to. Then, you can brainstorm your thoughts and make notes on what stood out to you. After that, you can organize your thoughts, create an outline, and begin writing your response.

What should I include in a response paper?

In a response paper, you should include a brief summary of the piece of literature or article you are responding to, your personal thoughts and opinions, and examples or evidence to support your claims. You can also provide a critique or analysis of the work, discussing its strengths and weaknesses.

Can I use personal pronouns in a response paper?

Yes, you can use personal pronouns such as “I” and “me” in a response paper. Since it is a personal reflection, it is expected that you will be expressing your own thoughts and opinions. However, make sure to back up your statements with evidence or examples to support your claims.

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How To Write A Response Paper

How to Write a Response Paper: A Comprehensive Guide

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Table of Contents

Are you struggling with how to write a response paper? Whether you’re a high school or college student, or simply someone who wants to improve their writing skills, crafting a well-written response paper can be a challenging task. However, with the right approach and guidance, you can learn how to write a response paper that demonstrates your understanding of the text and critical thinking skills.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of writing a response paper step by step. From understanding the prompt to editing and revising your paper, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create a compelling and well-written response paper that showcases your analytical skills.

Understanding the Prompt

Writing a response paper can be overwhelming. Let us help you break it down.

The first step in writing a response paper is understanding the prompt. Before you begin reading the assigned text, carefully analyze the prompt to identify the main ideas and arguments. This will help you stay focused while reading and taking notes.

When analyzing the prompt, pay attention to the following:

Analyzing the Prompt

  • What is the purpose of the response paper?
  • What are the main ideas or arguments you need to address?
  • What is the expected length of the paper?
  • Are there any specific formatting requirements, such as font size or spacing?
  • Are there any additional sources you need to use to support your response?

By answering these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of what is expected of you and can tailor your response accordingly.

Identifying the Main Ideas and Arguments

Once you’ve analyzed the prompt, identify the main ideas and arguments you need to address in your response. This will help you stay focused while reading the text and taking notes.

To identify the main ideas and arguments, read the text carefully and take notes on key points and quotes. Organize your notes by theme or topic to ensure that you cover everything required in the prompt.

By identifying the main ideas and arguments, you’ll be able to craft a well-structured response that addresses all the required points.

Reading and Note-taking

After you’ve analyzed the prompt and identified the main ideas and arguments, it’s time to read the text thoroughly. When reading the text, take notes on key points and quotes that you can use in your response paper. This will help you remember important information and support your arguments.

When taking notes, consider organizing them by theme or topic. This will make it easier to structure your response paper and ensure that you cover all the required points in the prompt.

Writing the Response

Once you’ve read the text and taken notes, it’s time to start writing your response paper. Here are the steps you should follow:

Outlining the Response Paper

Before you start writing your response paper, create an outline. This will help you structure your paper and ensure that you cover all the required points in the prompt.

Your outline should include the following elements:

  • Introduction: This should include a brief summary of the text and your thesis statement.
  • Body paragraphs: These should address the main ideas and arguments in the prompt.
  • Conclusion: This should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement.

Writing the Introduction

Your introduction should be engaging and informative. It should include a brief summary of the text and your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should be clear and concise, and should identify the main ideas or arguments you will address in your response paper.

Developing the Body Paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should address the main ideas and arguments in the prompt. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea or argument, and should include evidence from the text to support your claims. Make sure that your paragraphs are well-structured, with a clear topic sentence and supporting evidence.

Crafting the Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement. It should also provide a final thought on the text or topic. Make sure that your conclusion is well-written and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

By following these steps, you can write a well-structured and compelling response paper that showcases your analytical skills and understanding of the text.

Editing and Revising

Once you’ve written your response paper, it’s time to edit and revise it to ensure it’s coherent, clear, and error-free. Editing and revising your paper is crucial to ensure that your ideas are effectively communicated and your arguments are convincing.

Here are some tips for editing and revising your response paper:

Reviewing the Response Paper

Begin by reviewing your response paper to ensure that it addresses all the required points in the prompt. Check that your paper is well-structured and that your arguments are supported by evidence from the text.

Checking for Coherence and Clarity

Make sure that your response paper is coherent and easy to follow. Check that your ideas flow logically and that there are no gaps in your argument. Ensure that your sentences and paragraphs are clear and concise.

Editing for Grammar and Punctuation

Edit your paper for grammar and punctuation errors. Check for spelling mistakes, run-on sentences, and other common errors. Use online tools such as Grammarly to help you identify and correct errors.

Revising the Paper

Finally, revise your response paper to make it more compelling and engaging. Consider adding additional evidence or examples to support your arguments. Reorganize your paper if necessary to make it more effective.

Tips for Writing a Strong Response Paper

To write a strong response paper, follow these tips:

Using Specific Evidence

Use specific evidence from the text to support your arguments. Quoting directly from the text is an excellent way to demonstrate your understanding of the material and to support your argument.

Analyzing the Text Critically

Read the text critically and analyze it in-depth. Consider the author’s style, tone, and intended audience. Think about the underlying themes and messages in the text and how they relate to the prompt.

Avoiding Personal Biases and Opinions

Avoid injecting personal biases and opinions into your response paper. Stick to the facts and evidence presented in the text and use them to support your arguments.

Offering Constructive Criticism

Offer constructive criticism when appropriate. If you disagree with a particular argument or point in the text, provide evidence to support your disagreement and offer suggestions for improvement.

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  • 17 Literary Response Writing

Literary Response Writing Chapter Opener

Start-Up Activity

Write the following sentence starters on the board:

A great novel is like . . .

My favorite movies are those that . . .

I love a story that . . .

Take answers from students, writing them down. Then review the answers, looking for commonalities. Most if not all of the responses should highlight a special connection that the literature makes with the reader or viewer.

Great literature naturally evokes a response, and students can formalize that response in writing. This chapter leads the way.

Think About It

“It's in literature that true life can be found. It's under the mask of fiction that you can tell the truth.”

—Gao Xingjian

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.10
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.10
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.4
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.5
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.A
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.B
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.C
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.D
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.E
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.F
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.5
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.10

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.1112.rl.1.1, lafs.1112.rl.4.10, lafs.1112.ri.1.1, lafs.1112.ri.4.10, lafs.1112.w.1.2, lafs.1112.w.2.4, lafs.1112.rl.1.2, lafs.1112.rl.1.3, lafs.1112.rl.2.5, lafs.1112.w.2.5, lafs.1112.w.3.7, lafs.1112.w.3.9, lafs.1112.w.4.10, teks covered in this chapter, 110.38.c.4.g, 110.39.c.4.g, 110.38.c.7.a, 110.38.c.7.b, 110.38.c.7.c, 110.39.c.7.a, 110.39.c.7.b, 110.39.c.7.c, 110.38.c.4.f, 110.38.c.5.c, 110.38.c.7.d.i, 110.39.c.4.f, 110.39.c.5.c, 110.39.c.7.d.i, 110.38.c.7.d, 110.39.c.7.d, 110.38.c.10.b, 110.39.c.10.b, 110.38.c.5.d, 110.38.c.6.a, 110.39.c.5.d, 110.39.c.6.a, 110.38.c.6.b, 110.38.c.6.c, 110.38.c.6.d, 110.39.c.6.b, 110.39.c.6.c, 110.39.c.6.d, 110.38.c.8.b, 110.39.c.8.b, 110.38.c.9.a, 110.39.c.9.a, 110.38.c.9.b.i, 110.39.c.9.b.i, 110.38.c.5.f, 110.38.c.9.b.ii, 110.39.c.5.f, 110.39.c.9.b.ii, 110.38.c.9.d, 110.39.c.9.d, 110.38.c.9.c, 110.39.c.9.c, 110.38.c.11, 110.39.c.11, 110.38.c.4.h, 110.39.c.4.h, 110.38.c.10, 110.39.c.10, page 212 from write for college, literary response writing: quick guide.

Use this page as a basis for discussing literary responses and warming up students to the possibilities in this chapter.

Students can respond to literature in many ways: book or movie reviews, play synopses, novel analyses, anthology recommendations, parodies, fan fiction, wikis, and so on. Page 213 includes many different starting points for literary analyses alone. Whatever the response, readers should start by thinking of the communication situation using the PAST questions.

Of course, responses in writing also benefit from attention to the traits, especially ideas . Literature allows one mind to briefly inhabit another mind, sharing its ideas.

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Page 213 from Write for College

Ideas for literary analyses.

Use this page to encourage students to find a unique inroad to whatever they are reading and responding to.

Fiction, history, and biography feature people (characters) in a particular place and time (setting) doing things (plot and conflict) for specific reasons (theme). These forms and all nonfiction also feature authors who write with a particular style. Any of these elements can provide a strong starting point for a literary analysis.

Page 214 from Write for College

Guidelines: writing a personal response.

Our favorite literature is very personal. We connect to a specific character or setting or author and can't get enough. That's why personal responses provide an excellent starting point for literary analyses.

Use the model on pages 216–217 to show one student's personal response to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Lead students through the prewriting guidelines and give them time to find and review the literature that they will respond to. Point them to page 215 for many possible starting points for personal responses.

Once students have read their selections and gathered their thoughts, lead them through the drafting guidelines. Emphasize that a personal response can freely use an "I" voice, showing the connection between reader and literature.

Provide students the Checklist for Revising and Editing Personal Responses to help them improve their work.

File

Page 215 from Write for College

Starting points for personal responses.

The questions on this page prompt students to find points of entry for their responses. Invite students to read through the list and pick out one or two questions they would like to explore. Then direct them to the bottom of the page and suggest that they freewrite responses to the question(s) they have chosen. After 5 to 10 minutes of freewriting, they will likely have a strong sense of where they would like their responses to head.

Page 216 from Write for College

Personal response.

Have students read the sample personal response on this page and the next. Then lead a discussion about it.

  • How does the writer connect with the story?
  • What words show the writer's enthusiasm for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ?
  • How does the writer use details from the story?

Page 217 from Write for College

Personal response (cont.).

After students have read this page and the last, have them respond to the reading by answering the "Reading for Better Writing" questions at the bottom of the page.

Page 218 from Write for College

Guidelines: writing a book review.

Students have written book reports from the time that they became readers. High school book reviews , however, need to demonstrate greater sophistication. Students should avoid the "I" voice from personal responses (pages 214–217), instead focusing on the elements in the literature itself. Also, the review should do more than chronologically list events, but instead should evaluate their significance and help the reader decide whether to read the work or not.

Review with students the sample book review on pages 219–220. Then lead them through the prewriting guidelines and give them time to work.

Once students finish prewriting, have them develop their drafts.

Provide them the Checklist for Revising and Editing Book Reviews to use as they improve their work.

Page 219 from Write for College

Book review.

Have students read the sample book review silently to themselves. Then use the side notes to lead a discussion about the parts of the review.

On this page, have students focus on the writer's use of quotations from the book and paraphrases of the action in the book. Have them determine why each quotation provides a significant insight stated in an especially effective way. Tell students they also should choose quotations carefully, paraphrasing most information.

Page 220 from Write for College

Book review (cont.).

Complete your discussion of the model book review.

Note how the review discusses the ending without ruining it (no spoilers).

Also, note how the final paragraph captures the theme of the book, broadening it out to connect to life in general.

Page 221 from Write for College

Guidelines: writing a limited literary analysis.

Instead of reviewing a whole work, students can dig in more deeply to analyze one part. They could select a physical part, such as a chapter or section, or they could choose one of the classic components of fiction: character, setting, conflict, theme, exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, dialogue, or description.

Have students read the sample literary analysis, which focuses on a specific scene in The Scarlet Letter .

Afterward, lead students through the prewriting guidelines. Give them time to work. Tell them to transition to drafting whenever they feel ready to do so.

Provide the Checklist for Revising and Editing Limited Literary Analyses to help students improve their work.

Page 222 from Write for College

Limited literary analysis.

Have a volunteer read aloud the excerpt from The Scarlet Letter . Then have students silently read the limited literary analysis beginning on this page.

Afterward, lead a discussion. Note how the writer identifies the passage, credits the source and author, and gives background leading up to the thesis statement.

Page 223 from Write for College

Limited literary analysis (cont.).

Continue your discussion of this analysis. Note the interplay of paraphrases and quotations of especially effective passages. Also note that the writer continually goes beyond both types of evidence to infer and interpret from the text.

With the definition of "foundered" (see the third side note), the writer brings outside evidence into the interpretation. Encourage students to connect the passage to other readings, historical events, definitions, and other types of external information. (Of course, the connection should illuminate the text.)

Page 224 from Write for College

Continue your discussion of the model, using the side notes for talking points.

Page 225 from Write for College

After completing your discussion of the model analysis, have students spend five minutes freewriting in response to the "Reading for Better Writing" prompt at the bottom of the page.

Page 226 from Write for College

Guidelines: writing an extended literary analysis.

An extended literary analysis treats a whole work just as a limited literary analysis treats a specific part.

To prepare students to write their own extended literary analyses, have them read and review the sample play analysis on pages 226–227.

Present to students the guidelines for prewriting and give them time to work. Have them transition to drafting whenever they are ready.

Provide the Checklist for Revising and Editing Extended Literary Analyses to help students improve their work.

Page 227 from Write for College

Extended analysis of a play.

Ask students to read the analysis. Then lead a discussion of the model.

Discuss how the writer describes the action in the play and provides quotations from it. Also, show how the writer incorporates comments from the playwright (on this page) and information about the playwright (on the next page) to flesh out the analysis.

Point out to students that this analysis is shorter because of the medium it addresses, while a novel-length extended analysis may need to be longer to adequately explore the work. (See pages 229–232.)

Page 228 from Write for College

Extended analysis of a play (cont.).

Complete your discussion of this analysis. Afterward, have students reflect by freewriting responses to the "Reading for Better Writing" feature at the bottom of the page.

Extended Analysis of a Book

Have students read the extended analysis to themselves. Afterward, use the side notes to discuss the work. Note that this analysis digs in more deeply than the play analysis had. It cites more sources and more rigorously reviews them.

Page 230 from Write for College

Extended analysis of a book (cont.).

Continue your discussion of the analysis. Note how adeptly the writer incorporates outside viewpoints, including insights from the author's mother, an author in her own right.

Also show how the writer does not simply "plunk" quotations from the literature and other sources, but seamlessly incorporates the quotations with explanatory text.

Page 231 from Write for College

Discuss the side note on this page, showing how the writer used the observation of a critic to add greater dimension to her analysis. The reference allows the writer to unpack one of the major themes of the literature.

Page 232 from Write for College

Complete your discussion of the extended analysis. Point out how the writer used MLA documentation style to provide in-text citations (in parentheses) and works-cited entries.

Page 233 from Write for College

Guidelines: responding to a literary prompt.

On many high-stakes tests, including the AP English exams, students will need to read a piece of literature and respond by writing an analysis essay.

An on-target response starts with analyzing the prompt using the PAST questions. After analyzing the prompt, students should closely read the literature. On a piece of scrap paper, they should write a thesis statement that names the literature, provides the subject, and creates a specific focus that answers the prompt. Students should jot supporting points below the thesis statement, creating a quick list to structure their responses.

Then students should draft their responses.

Afterward, they need to quickly revise and edit their responses. Provide them the Checklist for Revising and Editing Responses to Literary Prompts. Students should ask themselves these kinds of questions as they revise. (Of course, they will not be able to use the checklist during an actual testing situation.)

Page 234 from Write for College

Literary prompt.

Ask students to closely read the literary prompt and analyze it using the PAST questions:

  • P urpose: Capture Poe's sense of being alone, with evidence from the text (meaning, imagery, symbolism; rhythm, rhyme, enjambment)
  • A udience: Test grader
  • S ubject: The poem "Alone" by Edgar Allen Poe and its major theme of isolation
  • T ype: Literary analysis essay

Then have students read the text. Ask them to practice prompt responses by jotting down a thesis statement and quick list of main points. Have students draft, revise, and edit their responses.

Afterward, review the student response on page 235.

Page 235 from Write for College

Prompt response.

After students have written their own responses to the prompt and text on page 234, have them closely read the sample student response on this page.

Ask students how their own responses differed from the sample response. Ask how the responses were similar. Then lead a general discussion of the sample, using the side notes to guide the conversation.

Afterward, ask students what they learned about responding to literary prompts in a timed situation.

Page 236 from Write for College

Evaluating literary response writing.

Provide students the Assessment Rubric for Literary Response Writing to help them evaluate their responses to literature. You also can use this rubric to assess student's writing, assigning a score of 1 (incomplete) to 6 (amazing) for each trait, and dividing by 6 to receive an overall score (6 = A+, 5 = A, 4 = B, 3 = C, 2 = D, 1 = F).

  • 01 One Writer's Process
  • 02 Traits of Writing
  • 03 Prewriting
  • 05 Revising
  • 07 Publishing
  • 08 Improving Sentences
  • 09 Building Paragraphs
  • 10 Mastering Essays
  • 11 Writing with Style
  • 12 Writing Terms and Techniques
  • 13 Personal Writing
  • 14 Narrative Writing
  • 15 Explanatory Writing
  • 16 Argument Writing
  • 18 Creative Writing
  • 19 Conducting Research
  • 20 Summaries, Paraphrases, and Abstracts
  • 21 Report Writing
  • 22 Writing the Research Paper
  • 23 MLA Research Paper
  • 24 APA Research Paper
  • 25 Writing in Science
  • 26 Writing in Social Studies
  • 27 Writing in Math
  • 28 Writing in the Workplace
  • 29 Reading Nonfiction
  • 30 Reading Literature
  • 31 Reading Graphics
  • 32 Listening and Note Taking
  • 33 Speaking Effectively
  • 34 Building Vocabulary
  • 35 Writing on Demand
  • 36 Answering Document-Based Questions
  • 37 Taking Exit and Entrance Exams
  • 38 Taking Advanced Placement* Exams
  • 39 Marking Punctuation
  • 40 Checking Mechanics
  • 41 Understanding Idioms
  • 42 Using the Right Word
  • 43 Parts of Speech
  • 44 Using the Language
  • 45 Student Almanac

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How to Write a Response Paper: Outline, Steps & Examples

response paper

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Response essays are a frequent assignment in many academic courses. Professors often ask students to share their thoughts and feelings about a variety of materials, such as books, articles, films, songs, or poems. To write an effective response paper, you should follow a specific structure to ensure that your ideas are well-organized and presented in a logical manner.

In this blog post, we will explore how to write a good outline and how it is used to develop a quality reaction essay. You will also come across a response paper example to help you better understand steps involved in writing a response essay.  Continue reading to explore writing tips from professional paper writers that you can use to improve your skills.

What Is a Response Paper?

It is vital to understand the meaning of a response essay before you start writing. Often, learners confuse this type of academic work with reviews of books, articles, events, or movies, which is not correct, although they seem similar.  A response paper gives you a platform to express your point of view, feelings, and understanding of a given subject or idea through writing. Unlike other review works, you are also required to give your idea, vision, and values contained in literal materials. In other words, while a response paper is written in a subjective way, a review paper is written in a more objective manner.  A good reaction paper links the idea in discussion with your personal opinion or experience. Response essays are written to express your deep reflections on materials, what you have understood, and how the author's work has impacted you.

Response Paper Definition

Purpose of a Response Essay

Understanding reasons for writing a reaction paper will help you prepare better work. The purpose of a response essay will be:

  • To summarize author's primary ideas and opinions: you need to give a summary of materials and messages the author wants you to understand.
  • Providing a reflection on the subject: as a writer, you also need to express how you relate to authors' ideas and positions.
  • To express how the subject affects your personal life: when writing a response paper, you are also required to provide your personal outcome and lesson learned from interacting with the material.

Response Essay Outline

You should adhere to a specific response paper outline when working on an essay. Following a recommended format ensures that you have a smooth flow of ideas. A good response paper template will make it easier for a reader to separate your point of view from author's opinion. The essay is often divided into these sections: introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs.  Below is an example of a response essay outline template:

  • Briefly introduce the topic of the response paper
  • State your thesis statement or main argument
  • Provide a brief summary of the source material you are responding to
  • Include key details or arguments from the source
  • Analyze the source material and identify strengths and weaknesses
  • Evaluate the author's arguments and evidence
  • Provide your own perspective on the source material
  • Respond to the source material and critique its arguments
  • Offer your own ideas and counterarguments
  • Support your response with evidence and examples
  • Summarize your main points and restate your thesis
  • Provide final thoughts on the source material and its implications
  • Offer suggestions for further research or inquiry

Example of an outline for a response paper on the movie

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Response Paper Introduction

The success of response papers is partly dependent on how well you write the introductory paragraph. As with any academic paper, the introduction paragraph welcomes targeted readers and states the primary idea.  Below is a guideline on how to start a response essay:

  • Provide a compelling hook to capture the attention of your target audience.
  • Provide background information about the material, including the name and author of the work.
  • Provide a brief summary of main points to bring readers who are unfamiliar with the work up to task and enable them to follow up on your subsequent analysis.
  • Write a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph to inform readers about the purpose and argument you are trying to relay.

Response Essay Thesis Statement

A thesis statement summarizes a paper's content within a sentence or two. A response essay thesis statement is not any different! The final sentence of the introductory paragraph of a reaction paper should give readers an idea of the message that will be discussed in your paper.  Do you know how to write a thesis statement for a response essay? If you follow the steps below, you should be able to write one:

  • Review the material you are responding to, and pinpoint main points expressed by authors.
  • Determine points of view or opinions you are going to discuss in the essay.
  • Develop your thesis statement. It should express a summary of what will be covered in your reaction. The sentence should also consider logical flow of ideas in your writing.
  • Thesis statement should be easy to spot. You should preferably place it at the end of your introductory paragraph.

Response Paper Body Paragraph

In most instances, the body section has between 1 and 3 paragraphs or more. You should first provide a summary of the article, book, or any other literature work you are responding to.  To write a response essay body paragraph that will capture the attention of readers, you must begin by providing key ideas presented in the story from the authors' point of view. In the subsequent paragraph, you should tell your audience whether you agree or disagree with these ideas as presented in the text. In the final section, you should provide an in-depth explanation of your stand and discuss various impacts of the material.

Response Paper Conclusion

In this section of a response paper, you should provide a summary of your ideas. You may provide key takeaways from your thoughts and pinpoint meaningful parts of the response. Like any other academic work, you wind up your response essay writing by giving a summary of what was discussed throughout the paper.  You should avoid introducing new evidence, ideas, or repeat contents that are included in body paragraphs in the conclusion section. After stating your final points, lessons learned, and how the work inspires you, you can wrap it up with your thesis statement.

How to Write a Response Paper?

In this section, we will provide you with tips on how to write a good response paper. To prepare a powerful reaction essay, you need to consider a two-step approach. First, you must read and analyze original sources properly. Subsequently, you also need to organize and plan the essay writing part effectively to be able to produce good reaction work. Various steps are outlined and discussed below to help you better understand how to write a response essay.

How to Write a Response Paper in 7 Steps?

1. Pick a Topic for Your Response Essay

Picking a topic for response essay topics can be affected either by the scope of your assignment as provided by your college professor or by your preference. Irrespective of your reason, the guideline below should help you brainstorm topic ideas for your reaction:

  • Start from your paper's end goal: consider what outcomes you wish to attain from writing your reaction.
  • Prepare a list of all potential ideas that can help you attain your preferred result.
  • Sort out topics that interest you from your list.
  • Critique your final list and settle on a topic that will be comfortable to work on.

Below are some examples of good topics for response essay to get you started:

  • Analyzing ideas in an article about effects of body shaming on mental health .
  • Reaction paper on new theories in today's business environment.
  • Movies I can watch again and again.
  • A response essay on a documentary.
  • Did the 9/11 terror attacks contribute to issues of religious intolerance?

2. Plan Your Thoughts and Reactions

To better plan your thoughts and reactions, you need to read the original material thoroughly to understand messages contained therein. You must understand author's line of thinking, beliefs, and values to be able to react to their content. Next, note down ideas and aspects that are important and draw any strong reactions.  Think through these ideas and record potential sequences they will take in your response paper. You should also support your opinions and reactions with quotes and texts from credible sources. This will help you write a response essay for the college level that will stand out.

3. Write a Detailed Response Paper Outline

Preparing a detailed response paper outline will exponentially improve the outcome of your writing. An essay outline will act as a benchmark that will guide you when working on each section of the paper. Sorting your ideas into sections will not only help you attain a better flow of communication in your responsive essay but also simplify your writing process.  You are encouraged to adopt the standard response essay outline provided in the sample above. By splitting your paper into introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs, you will be able to effectively introduce your readers to ideas that will be discussed and separate your thoughts from authors' messages.

4. Write a Material Summary

For your audience to understand your reaction to certain materials, you should at first provide a brief summary of authors' points of view. This short overview should include author's name and work title.  When writing a response essay, you should dedicate a section to give an informative summary that clearly details primary points and vital supporting arguments. You must thoroughly understand the literature to be able to complete this section.  For important ideas, you can add direct quotes from the original sources in question. Writers may sometimes make a mistake of summarizing general ideas by providing detailed information about every single aspect of the material. Instead of addressing all ideas in detail, focus on key aspects.  Although you rely on your personal opinion and experience to write a response paper, you must remain objective and factual in this section. Your subjective opinion will take center stage in the personal reaction part of the essay.

Example of a Response Summary

Below is a sample summary response essays example to help you better understand how to write one. A Summary of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

The classic film The Adventure of Robin Hood (1938), as directed by Michael Curtis and William Keighley, stars an infamous outlaw, Robin Hood, who "robbed from the rich and gave to the poor''. The charismatic and charming Saxon lord, Robin Hood (Flynn), becomes an outlaw and seeks justice for poor people by fighting Sir Guy of Gisborne (Rathbone), Sheriff of Nottingham (Copper), and Prince John (Rains), who were oppressing people. After assembling an outlaw group, Robin defies the excessive taxes imposed on poor people by stealing from wealthy individuals and redistributing wealth to the destitute in society. Robin Hood is eventually lured into an archery tournament and gets arrested, but survives an execution. He later helps King Richard to regain his lost throne and banish Prince John.

5. Share Your Reaction

After summarizing the original material, the second part of a response paper involves writing your opinion about author’s point of view. After a thorough review of the material, you should be able to express your perspective on the subject.  In this section, you are expected to detail how the material made you feel and how it relates to your personal life, experience, and values. Within the short response essay, you may also be required to state whether you agree or disagree with author's line of thinking. How does the material relate to current issues, or in what way does it impact your understanding of a given subject? Does it change your opinion on the subject in any way? Your reaction should answer these questions.  In addition, you may also be required to outline potential advantages and shortcomings of the material in your reaction. Finally, you should also indicate whether or not you would endorse the literal work to others.

Reaction in Response Body Paragraph Example

Below is a reaction in a response essay body paragraph sample to help you improve your skills in writing the response body paragraph: Reaction Paragraph Example

My main takeaway from watching The Adventure of Robin Hood (1938) is that society should prioritize good and justice over laws if the set rules oppress people. Prince John, Sir Guy, and Sheriff Cooper were cruel and petty and used existing laws to oppress and exploit poor people. In response, Robin Hood employed unorthodox means and tried to help oppressed people in society. I agree with his way of thinking. Laws are made to protect people in society and ensure justice is served. Therefore, when legislation fails to serve its purpose, it becomes redundant. Even in current society, we have seen democratic governments funding coups when presidents start oppressing their people. Such coups are supported despite the fact that presidency is protected by law. Although Robin Hood's actions might encourage unlawfulness if taken out of context, I would still recommend this film because its main message is advocating for justice in the community.

6. Conclude Your Response Essay

Do you know how to write a response paper conclusion? It should be the icing on the cake. Irrespective of how good previous sections were, your reaction essay will not be considered to be exceptional if you fail to provide a sum up of your reaction, ideas, and arguments in the right manner.  When writing a response essay conclusion , you should strive to summarize the outcome of your thoughts. After stating your final point, tell readers what you have learned and how that material inspired or impacted you. You can also explain how your perspective and the author's point of view intertwine with each other.  Never introduce new ideas in the conclusion paragraph. Presenting new points will not only disrupt the flow of ideas in the paper but also confuse your readers because you may be unable to explain them comprehensively.  You are also expected to link up your discussions with the thesis statement. In other words, concluding comments and observations need to incorporate the reaffirmation of the thesis statement.

Example of Response Paper Conclusion

You can use the responsive essay conclusion sample below as a benchmark to guide you in writing your concluding remarks: Conclusion Example

There are a lot of similarities between the film's message and my opinion, values, and beliefs. Based on my personal principles, I believe the actions of the main character, Robin Hood, are justifiable and acceptable. Several people in modern society would also agree with my perspective. The movie has provided me with multiple lessons and inspirations. The main lesson acquired is that laws are not ultimate and that we should analyze how they affect people rather than adhere to them blindly. Unless legislation protects people and serves justices, it should be considered irrelevant. Also, morality outweighs legislation. From the movie, I gathered that morality should be the foundation for all laws, and at any time, morality and greater good should be prioritized above laws. The main inspiration relates to being brave in going against some legislation since the end justifies the means sometimes. My point of view and that of the movie creators intertwine. We both advocate for human decency and justice. The argument discussed supports the idea that good and justice is greater than law.

Proofread Your Response Paper

It is important to proofread your response paper before submitting it for examination. Has your essay met all instructional requirements? Have you corrected every grammatical error in your paper? These are common questions you should be asking yourself.  Proofreading your work will ensure that you have eliminated mistakes made when working on your academic work. Besides, you also get the opportunity to improve your logical flow of ideas in your paper by proofreading.  If you review your work thoroughly before submitting it for marking, you are more likely to score more marks! Use our Paper Rater , it is a tool that can help you pinpoint errors, which makes going through your work even simpler.

Response Essay Examples

If you have never written this type of academic paper before, responsive essay examples should help you grasp the primary concepts better. These response paper samples not only help you to familiarize yourself with paper's features but also help you to get an idea of how you should tackle such an assignment. Review at least one written response essay example from the compilation below to give you the confidence to tackle a reaction paper. Response essay example: Book

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Response paper example: Poem

Response paper sample: Movie

Example of a response paper: Article

Sample response essay: Issue

Response Paper Format

It is important to follow a recommended response essay format in order to adhere to academic writing standards needed for your assignment. Formats depend on your institution or the discipline.  A reaction paper can be written in many different academic writing styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, with each demanding a slightly different format.  The outlook of the paper and referencing varies from one writing style to another. Despite the format for a response paper, you must include introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs.

Response Essay Writing Tips

Below are some of the best tips you can use to improve your response papers writing skills:

  • Review your assignment instructions and clarify any inquiries before you start a response paper.
  • Once you have selected topics for response essay, reviewed your original materials, and came up with your thesis statement, use topic sentences to facilitate logical flow in your paper.
  • Always ensure that you format your work as per the standard structure to ensure that you adhere to set academic requirements. Depending on the academic writing style you will be using, ensure that you have done your in-text citation as per the paper format.
  • If you have never worked on this kind of academic paper, you should review examples and samples to help you familiarize yourself with this type of work. You should, however, never plagiarize your work.
  • You can use a first-person perspective to better stress your opinion or feelings about a subject. This tip is particularly crucial for reaction part of your work.
  • Finally, before submitting your work, proofread your work.

Bottom Line on Response Paper Writing

As discussed in this blog post, preparing a response paper follows a two-step approach. To successfully work on these sections, you need to plan properly to ensure a smooth transition from the reading and analyzing the original material to writing your reaction. In addition, you can review previous works to improve your writing skills.  So, what is a response essay that will immediately capture the attention of your instructor? Well, it should have a captivating introduction, evidence backed reaction, and a powerful conclusion. If you follow various tips outlined above and sum up your work with thorough proofreading, there is no chance that you can fail this type of assignment.

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FAQ About Response Paper

1. how long is a short response essay.

The length of a short response essay varies depending on topic and your familiarity with the subject. Depending on how long original sources are and how many responsive points you have, your reaction paper can range from a single paragraph of 150-400 words to multiple paragraphs of 250-500 words.

2. How to start a response body paragraph?

Use an argumentative topic sentence to start your responsive paper paragraph. Failing to begin a paragraph with an elaborate topic sentence will confuse your readers. Topic sentences give readers an idea of what is being discussed in the section. Write a responsive body paragraph for every new idea you add.

3. Is reaction paper similar to a response paper?

Yes. Reaction papers and response essays are used interchangeably. Responsive essays analyze author's point of view and compare them with your personal perspective. This type of academic writing gives you freedom to share your feelings and opinion about an idea. People also discuss how ideas, concepts, and literature material influence them in a response paper.

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How to write response essay: guidelines from expert team.

January 31, 2022

How To Write Response Essay

Response writing can be tricky, but if you follow our step-by-step guide, you’ll have no trouble coming up with a great one! We will walk you through exactly how to write a response paragraph, how to properly structure it, and even give you some helpful tips to make your essay shine!

So, let’s get writing!

Table Of Contents

What is a response essay, structure of a response essay, steps to write a good response essay, 5 key features needed in a response essay, tips to write a stellar response essay, response essay example.

First things first – what exactly is a response essay? A response essay is a type of writing that allows the writer to respond to a piece of work. It can be a text, image, or event. It’s essentially a reaction paper – you’re giving your thoughts and feelings about whatever it is you’re responding to.

Response essays allow you to freely communicate your thoughts and feelings about any topic. Unlike summary essays where you just restate what you read, response essays require you to genuinely understand the content and context of the work you’re assigned.

Once you have a strong grasp of the subject material, you have to concisely put forth your insights, opinions, and analysis.

Now that you know what a response essay is, it’s time to learn how to structure one. A good response essay follows a specific format, which allows your ideas to be conveyed clearly and concisely.

Here’s the basic essay response format :

  • Introduction
  • Summary Of The Work
  • Reaction, Response, and Analysis

Let’s take a closer look at each of these elements that form the response paper format.

  • Introduction Your introduction should introduce the work that you’re responding to and mention the name of the author. You should also include your thesis statement in this section – this is your position on the subject matter. Overall, this part should be about 1-2 paragraphs long and it should keep the reader interested to read the rest of the response paper.

For example : “Should America atone for its past sins against black people? This is the question raised by Ta-Nehisi Coates in his powerful article ‘The Case For Reparations’. The author strongly believes that America should make reparations to the African-American community, and after much contemplation, I wholeheartedly agree with him”.

  • Summary Of The Work In your summary, you want to give a general overview of the content without giving away too much. You’ll highlight the main points of the work, provide direct quotations, and keep the writing objective and factual.

For example : “Ta-Nehisi Coates makes many compelling arguments for why America should make reparations to the African-American community. He cites statistics, historical evidence, and personal stories to support his position. According to him, “To celebrate freedom and democracy while forgetting American’s origins in a slavery economy is patriotism à la carte.”.

  • Reaction, Response, and Analysis In this section, you’ll want to go into detail about your reaction to the work. What did you like or dislike? What were your thoughts and feelings? Be sure to back up your claims with evidence from the text.

For example : “I found Coates’ argument to be very convincing. He makes a strong case for reparations by providing ample evidence to support his position. I was also moved by his personal stories about the impact of slavery on African-Americans today. His writing is powerful and emotional, and it made me think about America’s history in a new light”.

Many students struggle with writing a good response essay simply because they’re confused about how to write response essay, where to begin, how to begin, and what to do next. Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of writing a fabulous response paper that is sure to get the attention of your teachers and professors.

  • Step 1 – Read and Understand the Work Before you can write a good response essay, you first need to read and understand the work that you’re responding to. Whether it’s a book, movie, article, or poem, the quality of your response paper is directly proportional to how well you’ve understood the source material. Take notes as you read and highlight important passages so that you can refer back to them later. This is an important step in learning how to start a response essay.
  • Step 2 – Brainstorm Your Ideas Once you’ve read and understood the work, it’s time to brainstorm your ideas. This is the part of the process where you let your thoughts flow freely and write down any and all responses that come to mind. Don’t worry about making sense or sorting them out yet – just get everything down on paper.
  • Step 3 – Write Your Thesis Statement Your thesis statement is your position on the subject matter – it should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. This is what you’ll be arguing for or against in your essay. Don’t be afraid to genuinely put forth your opinion, whether it’s positive or negative.
  • Step 4 – Support Your Thesis with Evidence Now it’s time to support your thesis statement with evidence from the text. Quote directly from the work and provide a brief explanation of how it supports your argument. Don’t forget to cite your sources! The summary of the work and your personal opinion on the matter will form the core content of your paper.
  • Step 5 – Write a Conclusion Once you’ve finished arguing for your position, it’s time to write a conclusion. Restate your thesis and summarize your main points. You may also want to leave readers with something to think about or a call to action. A solid conclusion can sometimes make all the difference between a great response essay and a mediocre one!

By following these steps, you’ll be able to write some of the best response essays that are well-organized, informative, and persuasive. All it takes is a little time and practice! On the contrary, you can choose buying custom college papers and be free of this assignment.

When writing a response essay, there are certain key features that you need to keep in mind. Whether it’s for school, college, or university, these five features will make your response essay unique and interesting.

  • Summarizing – This is probably the most important feature of writing a response essay. You need to be able to summarize the work succinctly, highlighting the most important points without giving away too much of the plot or story.
  • Paraphrasing/Quoting – In order to support your argument, you’ll need to quote and paraphrase the work extensively. Make sure that you always credit your sources!
  • Organization – Your essay should be well-organized and easy to follow. Start with a strong introduction, then move on to your main points. Wrap things up with a conclusion that reiterates your position. No professor likes reading a haphazardly put-together essay!
  • Transitions – To keep your essay cohesive, you’ll need to use strong transitions and connecting words between paragraphs. This way, the reader can move between different portions of your writing (e.g. Introduction > Summary > Thesis > Conclusion) without losing interest.
  • Argumentation – Last but not least, your essay needs to be filled with strong argumentation. Make sure to back up your points with evidence from the text, and don’t be afraid to state your opinion openly. This is what will set your response essay apart from the rest!

We’ll share with you a few of our tried and tested essay writing tips that will masterfully elevate your response essay.

  • Take your time and read the source material carefully.
  • Write a strong thesis statement that reflects your position on the matter.
  • When stating definitive opinions, cite instances from the text to strengthen your stand.
  • Argument your points persuasively and with conviction.
  • Proofread your essay for errors such as grammar, language, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Have someone else, like a trusted friend or teacher, read it over for you as well – fresh eyes can sometimes catch mistakes that you’ve missed.
  • Use the help of a reliable paper writing service to assist you in the process.

Now that you’ve read all our instructions, there’s only one thing left to do. You have a chance to ged extended response essay sample and see all our tips in practice.

Response Paper In his article “The Militarization of the Police”, James Bouie argues that recent traegy in Ferguson is only one symptom of the broad problem of increasing police militarization in the USA. The purpose of the author is to bring this question into light and warn American citizens about the danger it entails for the whole society, with a special emphasis being placed on racial minorities. Bouie addresses the general public who are concerned with political and social tendencies in the US. The author begins his article with discussion of the photographs from Ferguson demonstration, pointing out the signs of inadequate aggression of the police toward the citizens. He puts the Ferguson tragedy in the context of increasing militarization of the US police force, which he believes to be one of the major problems of the American society. Bouie asserts that this process began with the war on drugs in the 1980s and intensified after the 9/11 attacks and the wars in the Middle East. He estimates that the value of military hardware owned by U.S. police agencies increased at 450 times from 1990 to 2013, despite the falling crime rates. Bouie also discusses the issue of increased SWAT deployment, which is disproportionately utilized in black and Latino neighborhoods. The conclusion the author draws is that the availability of heavy military weapons and a long-standing tradition of punitive policing toward racial minorities are the major factors that are likely to cause repressive reactions of the police. The Ferguson tragedy has recently riveted the attention of the whole U.S. population. While we may lament the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, it is important to view these events in the broader context of police misconduct, as the author does it. Despite numerous changes and advancements in law enforcement over the last decade, such as community policing and recruiting more officers from racial minorities, the society is still staunchly opposed to the police force, and the negative sentiment has predictably grown after the Ferguson unrest. The frequent SWAT raids are definitely an overreaction, given that they are mostly deployed for low-level offenses, such as drug use. Repressive and punitive actions with the disproportionate targeting of racial minorities suggest that positive changes in the police were of purely decorative nature and were not effective to eradicate stereotypes, prejudices and aggression from the mind of law enforcement officers. While the author does not explore this perspective in detail, the increasing militarization of the police is often viewed as a logical consequence of the militarization of the whole US politics, which is obsessed with identifying and eliminating national enemies. Incessant employment of war rhetoric by the officials has the power to alter the mindset of the whole society, not only police officers. The article provides a comprehensive account of the author’s opinion. No doubts arise as to the appropriateness of his observations, largely because they are aligned with the common social reaction to Ferguson tragedy. However, the author does not explore any potential solutions to the problem, thus leaving this question open for the readers to consider. Another overlooked issue, which may interest the readers, is how the situation in the USA compares to other developed countries and what policies they implement to prevent the overreaction of police force. The author has achieved the purpose of persuading his readers that events in Ferguson are linked to a broader social problem, as his arguments appeal to the common sense and show clear causality between acquisition of military equipment and overreaction to offenses and unrest. The author made his article more persuading by referring to Ferguson photographs, statistics and authoritative specialists to support his argument.

Want Someone To Write An Essay For You?

We hope this guide has taught you everything you need to know about how to write a strong response essay. Keep these key points in mind, and you’re guaranteed to produce a top-notch paper! If you want additional advice on how to write a response paper, simply hire someone to write an essay . Our team of professional, educated academic writers will write high-quality papers and essays that will get you in the good books of any of your teachers! It’s fast, affordable, and always 100% original. You won’t be disappointed! Good luck with all of your future academic endeavours!

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And so she did.

For roughly three hours on Thursday, Ms. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., engaged in the fight of her life from the witness stand to try to salvage the case of her life, the prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump.

In a raw performance, Ms. Willis, 52, presented herself as a woman in full — by turns combative and serene, focused and discursive (at one point she declared her preference for Grey Goose vodka over wine). Her language toggled between casual (a thousand dollars was “a G”) and precise: On numerous occasions, she prefaced her statements with variations on the phrase, “I want to be very clear.”

She upbraided Ashleigh Merchant, one of the defense lawyers questioning her, alleging that Ms. Merchant’s court filings — which accused Ms. Willis of having a disqualifying conflict of interest stemming from a romantic relationship with Nathan J. Wade, the special prosecutor on the case — were full of lies. At one point her voice approached a yell, prompting Scott McAfee, the mild-mannered judge, to call a five-minute recess in an apparent effort to cool things down.

Georgia Prosecutor Fani Willis Delivers Tense Testimony

The fulton county district attorney, who is overseeing the state’s prosecution of donald j. trump, was combative and accused the defense of spreading lies..

“You and Mr. Wade met in October 2019 at a conference?” “That is correct, and I think in one of your motions you tried to implicate I slept with him at that conference, which I find to be extremely offensive.” “Your office objected to us getting Delta records for flights that you may have taken when Mr. Wade.” “Well, no, no, no, look. I object to you getting records. You’ve been intrusive into people’s personal lives. You’re confused. You think I’m on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial no matter how hard you try to put me on trial. It’s interesting that we’re here about this money. Mr. Wade is used to women that, as he told me one time, the only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich. We would have brutal arguments about the fact that I am your equal. I don’t need anything from a man. A man is not a plan. A man is a companion. And so there was tension always in our relationship, which is why I would give him his money back. I don’t need anybody to foot my bills. The only man who’s ever foot my bills completely is my daddy.” “Mr. Wade visit you at the place you laid your head.” “When?” “Has he ever visited you at the place you laid your head?” “So let’s be clear, because you’ve lied and this – Let me tell you which one you lied in. Right here. I think you lied right here. No, no, no, no. This is the truth. And it is a lie. It is a lie.” “Ms. Willis.” “Mr. Sadow, thank you. We’re going to take five minutes. Be back in five.”

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Elsewhere, Ms. Willis chided Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Steven Sadow, when he asked if she had been in contact with Mr. Wade in 2020. Noting that Mr. Wade had cancer at the time, she said, “I am not going to emasculate a Black man.”

She spoke of giving Mr. Wade a trip to Belize for his 50th birthday — earlier in the day, Ms. Merchant had asked Mr. Wade about the couple visiting a tattoo parlor there. She also admitted, in a digression that the lawyers’ questions did not seem to prompt, that she thought Mr. Wade had a sexist view of the world, and said it was the reason they broke up last summer.

“Mr. Wade is used to women that, uh, as he told me one time: The only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich,” she said. “We would have brutal arguments about the fact that I am your equal. I don’t need anything from a man, a man is not a plan, a man is a companion.”

Her testimony unfurled in a courtroom that crackled with dramatic tension, and a peculiar mix of dread and titillation over the fact that a criminal case against a former president had taken a bizarre detour into a melodrama centered around questions about two prosecutors’ love lives — questions that Ms. Willis insists should have never been publicly aired in the first place.

The veteran prosecutor has been put on the defensive in the criminal election interference case she is leading against Mr. Trump and his supporters. Lawyers for Mr. Trump and his co-defendants say she has an untenable conflict of interest because she hired Mr. Wade to manage the case after their relationship began, and then went on fancy vacations with him that he paid for, at least in part.

The accusation that Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade had been romantically involved was first lodged on Jan. 8 in a court filing by Ms. Merchant, a lawyer for Michael Roman, a co-defendant of Mr. Trump who once worked for his campaign. Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade did not directly respond to the allegations for nearly a month, though they eventually did so in their own legal filing.

Ms. Willis’s performance Thursday was a different kind of response — shot through with pride, hurt and blustery verbal jousts. It was the antithesis of the buttoned-up approach taken by Jack Smith, the laconic special counsel leading the two federal criminal cases against Mr. Trump. And it was pitched not only to Judge McAfee, who will determine whether she should be able to keep the case, but also to the Fulton County voters who will decide whether to re-elect her later this year — and who would make up a jury in the case.

She may have also been speaking to a nation that is now entertaining doubts about the validity of her prosecution.

Whether her efforts will succeed is one of a number of questions left unanswered by Thursday’s hearing. Earlier in the day, a former friend and employee of Ms. Willis’s, Robin Bryant Yeartie, testified against her will, via videoconference, saying that Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade had begun their relationship before Ms. Willis hired him in November 2021.

Ms. Yeartie’s testimony contradicted Mr. Wade’s version of events, in which he claimed that the romantic relationship began later, in 2022. But Ms. Yeartie could not offer many details about her conversations with Ms. Willis, and it is unclear whether the judge will find her testimony credible.

Mr. Wade also took the stand, where he was subject to lengthy and sometimes hostile bouts of questioning from Ms. Merchant, as well as by Mr. Sadow and Craig Gillen, a veteran lawyer who represents a defendant who used to head the Georgia Republican Party.

Mr. Wade ran cool where Ms. Willis ran hot, answering questions carefully and with minimal emotion. Ms. Willis acknowledged the difference in her testimony, calling him a “Southern gentleman.”

She tartly added, “Me, not so much.”

Both Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade did their best to push back against the idea, which Ms. Willis deems to be preposterous, that they were prosecuting a former president to gain access to money and expensive vacations.

Mr. Wade said that Ms. Willis repaid him for “roughly” half the cost of the trips. He also said that she paid him back for tickets and other purchases, totaling thousands of dollars, in cash.

The defense lawyers found this difficult to believe, and asked both of them a barrage of questions about the practice. Ms. Willis said that she learned to keep a lot of cash on hand from her father, a retired lawyer and former Black Panther, who taught her that stockpiling cash was a practical way to assert one’s independence.

The hearing resumes on Friday at 9 a.m. Ms. Willis is expected to take the stand for more grilling. The defense lawyers will likely crowd, again, onto one side of the packed courtroom. They are, in aggregate, a sea of boxy wool suits and white male faces (with Ms. Merchant, a white woman, a stark exception).

The contrast with Ms. Willis, in glowing magenta, could not be more glaring.

Richard Fausset , based in Atlanta, writes about the American South, focusing on politics, culture, race, poverty and criminal justice. More about Richard Fausset

Our Coverage of the Trump Case in Georgia

Former president donald trump and 18 others face a sprawling series of charges for their roles in attempting to interfere in the state’s 2020 presidential election..

RICO Charges:  At the heart of the indictment in Georgia  are racketeering charges under the state Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act . Here’s why such charges  could prove to be a powerful tool for the prosecution .

Who Else Was Indicted?:   Rudy   Giuliani , who led legal efforts in several states to keep the former president in power, and Mark Meadows , the former White House chief of staff, were among the 18 Trump allies  charged in the case.

Plea Deals: Sidney K. Powell , Kenneth Chesebro  and Jenna Ellis  — three lawyers indicted with Trump in the case — pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors   against the former president.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones: Since the indictment of Trump and his allies, a question has gone unanswered: Would charges also be filed against the longtime Trump supporter? It is now up to a state agency to find a special prosecutor to investigate him .

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Statement from President Joe   Biden on Today’s Deadly Gun   Violence

The Super Bowl is the most unifying event in America. Nothing brings more of us together. And the celebration of a Super Bowl win is a moment that brings a joy that can’t be matched to the winning team and their supporters. For this joy to be turned to tragedy today in Kansas City cuts deep in the American soul.

Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting. What are we waiting for? What else do we need to see? How many more families need to be torn apart?

It is time to act. That’s where I stand. And I ask the country to stand with me. To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them.

We know what we have to do, we just need the courage to do it.

Today, on a day that marks six years since the Parkland shooting, we learned that three police officers were shot in the line of duty in Washington, DC and another school shooting took place at Benjamin Mays High School in Atlanta.  Yesterday marked one year since the shooting at Michigan State University. We’ve now had more mass shootings in 2024 than there have been days in the year.

The epidemic of gun violence is ripping apart families and communities every day. Some make the news. Much of it doesn’t. But all of it is unacceptable. We have to decide who we are as a country. For me, we’re a country where people should have the right to go to school, to go to church, to walk the street — and to attend a Super Bowl celebration — without fear of losing your life to gun violence.

Jill and I pray for those killed and injured today in Kansas City, and for our country to find the resolve to end this senseless epidemic of gun violence tearing us at the seams.

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Judge orders Des Moines police to turn over hundreds of use-of-force reports from protests

writing in response

The Des Moines Police Department must turn over hundreds of reports documenting officers' use of force in 2020, a judge has ruled in an open records lawsuit.

Harvey Harrison, a retired attorney and longtime racial justice advocate, sued the city in 2022 on behalf of his nonprofit group Just Voices to obtain the 2020 records, which include the police department's response to the chaotic and at times violent protests that broke out after the death that year of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The department put out a 2020 Use of Force Report summarizing 282 use-of-force incidents over the full year, but did not publish the 387 individual reports filled by officers for each encounter, including some by multiple officers for the same incident. After the city denied Harrison's request for the raw reports, he sued under Iowa's open records law.

The case landed before District Judge Coleman McAllister, who ruled on Feb. 15 for Harrison.

WATCH: Video shows 'inexplicable' police use of force during 2020 protest response

McAllister dismissed several arguments the city made to keep the reports sealed. State law shields personnel and disciplinary records from disclosure, and city attorneys suggested the use-of-force reports fall into that category because they can be reviewed by an officer's superiors and can trigger disciplinary action — although, as McAllister notes, this is very rare. Only four of the 387 reports filed in 2020 resulted in an internally generated complaint.

Because the reports so rarely result in discipline, and ask only for the facts of what happened rather than any kind of self-assessment by the officer, McAllister ruled they do not amount to performance reviews or disciplinary records under state law.

Judge: Accepting city's argument would mean withholding 'virtually anything' officers write

McAllister also rejected arguments under a separate state law that shield officers' statements in disciplinary proceedings, again finding that at the time officers file a report, no disciplinary proceeding exists.

"The city’s reading ... would mean that virtually anything authored by a police officer would be confidential at least until the officer was no longer employed and subject to discipline," McAllister wrote. "If the Legislature had intended this to be the rule, they could have clearly said so, but they did not."

And while the city argued disclosure might jeopardize investigations or "pose a clear and present danger to the safety of an individual," McAllister found the city has offered no evidence to back that assertion.

The judge's order gives the city 45 days to turn over the reports after redacting private information such as whether the officers were injured. The city also is on the hook for Harrison's attorney fees.

Harrison, via email, said his group plans to incorporate the reports in a study of the department's response to the first days of the Floyd protests.

"I am grateful for the Court’s analysis of the case and a ruling that insures that the public will have access to a more complete understanding of the actions of the Des Moines Police Department during the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s murder," he said. "...  Being able to review the Use of Force Reports that were contemporaneously prepared by DMPD will add additional depth to our work. It will help fill the gap created by the DMPD refusal to prepare an After Action Review of the police conduct during the protests."

The city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article has been updated to correct the date of Judge Coleman McAllister's decision.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at  [email protected]  or 715-573-8166 .

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    4. Write your conclusion. At this point, you need to restate your stance to the reader and briefly defend the significance of your stance. Even for a four to five page paper, you only need one standard paragraph to accomplish this. For a shorter paper, make this paragraph only three to five sentences long.

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    Identify the author (s) and the piece of writing that is being addressed. Give a brief summary that highlights the key parts, tone, arguments, or attitude. This may or may not include direct quotations. Critically evaluate the piece of writing. Depending on the task, this could include any sort of response, including but not limited to ...

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    Below is a sample summary response essays example to help you better understand how to write one. A Summary of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) The classic film The Adventure of Robin Hood (1938), as directed by Michael Curtis and William Keighley, stars an infamous outlaw, Robin Hood, who "robbed from the rich and gave to the poor''.

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