Writing a reaction

Reaction or response papers are usually assigned by teachers so that you will carefully consider what you think or feel about some material presented. Assignments may require you to formulate your reaction to your readings, your professors’ lectures, and even to your classmates.

What is reaction writing?

Reaction writing may be

• Formal or informal, but it is
• Usually analytical
• Your reactions may also include your subjective evaluations
• Reactions can be about one point or many points in the text

You may be asked to write your reactions in

• your journal or personal writing,
• film or book reviews,
• critiques,
• illustrations of ideas,
• judgments of theories or concepts.

You will be asked to write your reaction to the material you read in humanities, social sciences or literature courses. Your reaction paper can be written in many ways. However, in this handout you will see how you can write a reaction for your prep English courses.

Prewriting

Reactions require close reading of the text you are reacting to. Read whatever you are asked to respond to and think about the following questions:

• How do you feel about what you are reading?
• What do you agree or disagree with?
• Have you learned or gained anything from reading the material presented?
• Did you like it? Why or why not?
• What is its purpose?
• Is it informative?
• Is it entertaining?
• Is it accurate?
• Do you recommend it to others?

How to write a reaction

Select one or two points from the following list and write a paragraph for each point.

• React to the idea or ideas presented

Are they clear and suitable? Compare and contrast with your own ideas on the subject.

• Discuss what you have gained from reading the material

Discuss each insight or fact you have learned from the text, giving examples from the text.

• Make a judgment

Did you like or dislike the text? Why? Write about your impressions, focusing on the points you particularly liked or disliked.

o       Analyze the material

What is its purpose? Does it achieve its goal?

Tell others what they may gain from the material.

Did you find the information in the text useful? Was it informative, entertaining, or accurate? Do you recommend it to others?

Organizing your reaction

The organization of a reaction varies according to the audience, purpose, and limitations for your assignment. You may use a structured format, such as those for an argument, or you may use an informal one.

In the first sentence, you usually give the title, author, and publication you read.

In a few sentences you give a very brief summary of what you read.

Then, you write your reaction/response to the material.

The following phrases may be useful in expressing your opinions/feelings about the material:

Copyright @ 2006 SFL, Bogazici University