How to write a response

in
person typing a response

You’ve been asked to write a response to a book, story, or an article—or maybe even a movie. You will be expected to analyze what the author said compared to your view of the subject.

The principles for writing any paper apply here. Read the assigned material, take good notes, and journal your own reactions and opinions. Follow the steps below and you’ll learn how to write a response paper.

Preparation

Spend adequate time thoroughly reading the assigned material. Many students attempt to take shortcuts here. There is no substitute for a careful reading of the book. This will require management of your time so you spread the reading out over the allotted time. If you own the copy you are reading, be sure to annotate as you read. Underline, highlight, or write notes in the margins. This will help you internalize what you read. This kind of interaction will help to develop ideas you may not have come up with by a simple read-through.

If the book is not your own, take notes as you go along. These may be handwritten or word processed. The results aren’t quite as satisfactory as having your own marked copy, but it’s a good second best.

If you are responding to an article or short story, read it through two or more times. You pick up ideas on the second time that you may have missed before. If it’s a movie, it’s especially important to watch it again. It is very difficult to take good notes while viewing. Use the pause feature frequently.

Think it through

Look back over your notes and/or annotations. Make notes that express your own reactions to what you have read or viewed. Use the first person freely. Use phrases such as I think, I feel, It seems to me, and I doubt that . . . These sentence starters will get you on the right track to verbalizing what the material meant to you.

Be a critic

The words “critical” and “criticism” often have a negative connotation. In the case of a response paper, your critical eye can be a good thing. It indicates that you are not willing to believe everything you hear or read. A careful sifting of the flow of information into our lives is important to help us make decisions that affect our quality of life. Applying these critical thinking techniques to writing a paper is good practice for real life.

Here are some of the things to look for as you read and analyze.

  • Does the book have weak points? What are they?
  • Is the writing ambiguous or unclear?
  • Is the outcome logical? Why or why not?
  • Are there any holes in the plot? What are they?
  • Do the characters stay true to their beliefs? How can you tell?
  • Is the ending satisfying?
  • What would you change if you were the author?

Organizing

Before you begin to write, get your ideas down in a logical sequence. You can do this with an outline, a sketch, or a list on a separate sheet of paper. Or you may cut your previous notes into strips and rearrange them by topic.

Once you see a pattern emerging in your notes, you can develop a thesis statement. Don’t skip this step. Since most works have several themes, you need to focus on the one that stands out to you. Your thesis statement will help keep you on track as you work through the paper.

Physical format

Study your assignment carefully. Make sure you give your teacher what he or she wants. These are the sections that are generally required in a response paper:

Introduction
Get your reader’s attention with a point you plan to make. You may want to ask a question, speculate, or point out a contradiction. Identify the work you are analyzing. Give author and title for a written work, performers or director for a movie.

Summary
Give a brief summary of the work. Avoid starting a paper without laying this foundation. Assume that your reader is not familiar with the work you are discussing. The summary is essential to establish a common ground for presenting your ideas.

Thesis statement
This is usually a good place to position your thesis statement. It can serve as a bridge between the introduction and the body that follows. It also prepares your reader for what you have to say.

Body
A paper is generally expected to make from 3 to 5 points. Arrange these so your best one comes last. Add examples, quotes, and specific details. Tie in anything you have read recently that supports your points. In the body paragraphs, you will make a point and discuss it. You may be asked to relate what you have learned to your own life. Supply enough background on your experience for another person to understand how it relates to the subject at hand.

Conclusion:
This is where you bring it all together. Summarize the main point(s), ending with an emphasis that will impress your reader.

Citations and format

If you are asked to use quotes from your source(s), apply the appropriate format for citations. Your teacher will instruct you whether to follow MLA, APA, Chicago, or some other style sheet.

Submit your paper according to the specified format. This will usually be double spaced, with Times New Roman 12 or other standard font. Observe requirements for margins, title, and headings. Attention to detail in these matters can make a significant difference in your grade.

Examine your thoughts

Writing a response paper can be enjoyable. It is unlike other assignments that merely require you to report on what others have said or think. It allows you to present your own opinions. Follow the pointers given about how to write a response paper. Taking time to analyze the writing and relate it to your own life can be a rewarding experience.