Writing a reaction

[Mema]

Writing a reaction

Reaction or response papers are usually assigned by teachers so that the students will carefully consider what they think or feel about some material presented. Most instructors in the social sciences and humanities require students to understand one or more texts, and evaluate how well each accomplishes its own objectives. In responding to multiple texts, the writer must discover how the texts relate to each other. In responding to a single text, the writer needs to consider it within the larger context of class discussions, readings, etc. Such a task requires more than just reading the text, understanding it, and expressing an opinion about it. The student must also be able to synthesize the intellectual work of others- thus, bring it together into an integrated whole. In short, it is critical reading combined with critical writing.

In prep classes, in an ESL teaching situation, we may not be able to aspire so high. However, we can approximate the situation and expect our students to produce simpler reaction pieces. This handout will focus on writing reactions as required by our prep syllabus.

What is reaction writing?

• Reactions can be about one point or many points in the text
  <
  Reactions may also include subjective evaluations
• Reaction writing may be formal or informal
• However, it is usually analytical

Reactions may be written in

• \Journal or personal writing,
  Film or book reviews,
  Critiques,
  Illustrations of ideas,
• Judgments of theories or concepts.

Here it is important to stress that a reaction is not a summary of the text read. The student must be reacting to or responding to the texts, not simply repeating what they say. If there is no analysis involved, then the writer has not responded but only “regurgitated”.

Prewriting

Reactions require close reading of the text the writer is reacting to. You may ask your students to read whatever they 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?

In class discussions facilitate students’ responding to texts. In the same way, discussing a topic in every aspect, asking the students to contribute to discussion by doing some extra preliminary reading on the topic, class debates followed by reaction writing are all working strategies.