Writing Response Paper after Reading

Categories: ReadingWriting

When you get the task to read a book for home reading, be ready that soon you may receive an assignment to write response paper. It is an interesting type of essay which aims at explaining reader’s feedbacks after reading. If you don’t know how to write a response paper that will bring you an A+, this article may be useful. Here you may also find sample reading response paper as well as phrases which you can use in writing.

Read the Book and Analyze

The task with the reader response paper consists of several steps which you have to complete. The amount of time which you need for finishing the essay may vary depending on the task requirements, the size of the book and the number of volumes. If it is a short story, you may prepare a composition within a day. If it is a novel, you will need to devote more time to studying. However, by learning how to write a response paper here, you will find out how to complete the assignment quicker and more efficiently.

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Let’s plan what each student has to do from the beginning until the end.

  1. Choose the text which will be under investigation.
  2. Take colorful stickers and a notebook.
  3. Read, underline, and stick pages where you find useful information (interesting quotes, character description, unexpected events, useful vocabulary, boring excerpts, ).
  4. Analyze how the text and its message reflected on you. Make notes.
  5. Focus on your overall impression of the novel.
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    Summarize it in one sentence. (It will be useful for the future thesis statement.)

  6. Choose the title the future essay may have. (You can brainstorm and select the best variant.)
  7. Reread the notes and pages with sticky flags.
  8. Prepare an outline for your composition.
  9. Write an essay in accordance with the previously created plan.
  10. Edit, proofread, revise, and improve the final article.

If the primary points are clear, the ones connected with writing itself can be challenging. That is why we have prepared a step-by-step explanation about how to create your response paper without mistakes.

Introduction with Hooks

Your introductory sentences should contain the information about the author and the title of the literary work. Furthermore, keep in mind that it is always significant to make the beginning of your composition engrossing. The introduction is where you meet with your future readers for the first time. You have to begin with hooks which will provoke interest to investigate your essay till the end. That is why you have to think over the overall message very clearly. Don’t choose topics which have become commonplace. Try to raise those questions which are not that frequently discussed about the subject. If you want to describe a character, choose his negative side instead of talking about how brave he is. Try to find in the content something that the author has hidden between the lines. This would make you essay unique and interesting both for you and your readers.

Voice your Opinion in the Main Body

Your essay should be penetrated with your thoughts and arguments. It is that type of writing where you are encouraged to add phrases like “I think that,” “I believe that,” “In my opinion.” Here you can analyze the text, compare chapters, characters, or other notions, and then state your viewpoint. It is why the task is called “the response paper.” It is you who should evaluate the text and explain your ideas.

Remember that teachers won’t examine your writing for the correctness of your opinion. There are as many thoughts as there are people. Therefore, don’t be afraid to raise controversial topics. Even if your teacher doesn’t agree with you, it won’t be a mistake. Furthermore, if you prove the idea that you use thoroughly, it will be counted as a plus for your final evaluation grade.

Phrases for Expressing Opinion

When writing each paragraph you should show your viewpoint by using key phrases. They will help the readers distinguish where you state your opinion and where you just compare or describe something. We have prepared a list of useful phrases which may come in hand for you.

  • From my perspective
  • As far as I am concerned
  • I feel that
  • The vocabulary used for describing the character seemed too
  • It made me feel that
  • I suppose
  • I cannot deny the fact that
  • The unfolding plot seemed to be very
  • This part appealed to me most of all
  • I didn’t like
  • I felt disappointed because

Bear in mind that even if you are criticizing the text, you have to be careful. Don’t ever insult or humiliate the author. You should explain your criticism logically and make it with respect.

Sample Reading Response Paper

Here you can examine an excerpt taken from a free sample essay. It investigates the book “Flowers for Algernon” written by Daniel Keyes.

“The value of true friendship is that theme which impressed me most of all. While being ill Charlie experiences more happiness from communicating with nearest and dearest than from learning how to read. He appreciates every day he spends with friends. I like the way the author describes Charlie’s true emotions towards his coworkers. He is ignorant but kind, and that what makes me feel sympathetic for him:“Their [sic] all my good frends [sic] and we have lots of jokes and laffs [sic] here” (Keyes 40). The author uses the word “jokes” to show the irony because friends made fun of the guy, but he thought it was just laughing with friends. From my perspective, these episodes where workers tease a poor boy show how significant it is to understand who your real friends are. It made me feel thankful for all people whom I trust and who has never betrayed me.”

One Last Work

Honesty should be your primary criteria while writing the response paper. If you reveal your true emotions and explain your ideas, your essay will get the highest grade. Try to get satisfaction during this creative process. Don’t forget that the more you express your real thoughts in this composition, the more perfect it becomes.

Updated: Oct 30, 2020
Cite this page

Writing Response Paper after Reading. (2018, Feb 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/writing-response-paper-after-reading-essay

Writing Response Paper after Reading essay
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