Essay 4: Response Essay Responding to Reading

Start by Reading Critically Not about finding fault with author Rather engaging author in a discussion by asking questions as you read an article or essay Requiring author to meet certain demands that employ good writing techniques: Take GOOD NOTES

Author’s Name and title of Article Summary: List main ideas, key features, examples, and evidence the author may provide Response: Log your reaction to each main point, record your comments, and questions

Purpose of this Essay To understand an author’s main idea and purpose for work To recognize the main points that support that main idea To be able to summarize(paraphrase) author’s main ideas To be able to respond or react to what the author has to say (to support or defend your point of view)

Preparing the Summary Cite the author and the title of the text Indicate the main ideas of the text Paraphrase and Quote main ideas; quote sparingly, use key words, phrases, and sentences Be objective

Response Your opinion of the author’s ideas Do you agree or disagree How well is the essay or article written?

Structuring Your response Requires your reaction to the text and your interpretation of the text A response of this nature will react to the ideas or the argument Simply, do you agree with the author? Why or why not? Provide evidence based on your experiences to support your reaction

3 ways to provide evidence to support your response Your response requires that you provide evidence to support your opinion, whether you agree or disagree with the author Consider what sort of evidence will best support your statements: personal experience, evidence from text, outside sources

1. Personal Experience Use personal experience as examples to demonstrate why you interpret the text the way you do, why you react the way you do, why you agree or disagree I strongly disagree with so and so’s first point based on my own high school experience, especially in my History class. Look at Abramowitz’s essay for examples of her personal experiences.

2. Evidence from the text Cite specific phrases or sentences from the text to support your: explanation of the text analysis of the effectiveness of the text response to the text (why you agree or disagree)

3. Evidence from other texts Acceptable to bring in ideas and information from other texts Your prior knowledge No research required for this assignment Cite sources if you do use borrow material from other sources Look at Abramowitz’s essay for examples of her using outside texts or sources.

Introduction Brief introduction that will state these items: Title of the article or essay; Name of author; Place of publication Any key information you might know about author to help establish author’s credibility State author’s main idea Thesis: a well thought out statement stating your main point about the article or essay.

Body Organization: Block Pattern 1 I. Introduction with thesis II. Summary of main point III. Points You agree with IV. Points you disagree with Conclusion

Body Organization: Point by Point I. Introduction with thesis Summarize point 1; agree or disagree Summarize point 2; agree or disagree Summarized point 3; agree or disagree Conclusion Note: you do not need to agree or disagree with all points

Conclusion End essay with a summary of your response You can add a new perspective about the article, author, or topic

Important things to remember Make sure to give reasons why you disagree Give examples, personal experience, facts, any previous experience or knowledge you can draw upon to support your opinion Based on my experience with boys in class in high school. . . . Try to avoid over using “I agree” and “I disagree”

Respond to major points: Points you agree with(Students will list) 1 2 3 Experiences or knowledge that support your agreement

Respond to major points: Points you disagree with 1 2 3 Experiences or knowledge that support your agreement