Writing a Reaction Paper You should create your own personal opinions,

not just as the overview or basic layout. You

What is a reaction paper? should always support your ideas with
- Reaction or response papers are designed so examples. Be careful with the examples that
that you'll consider carefully what you think or you showcase to support your evidence. Do not
feel about something you've read or seen. commit the mistake of producing examples
which are difficult to relate to the topic. These
Pre-writing for Your Reaction Paper are some simple and useful techniques. They
can help you to learn how to write the best
Keeping your responses to these questions in
reaction paper. You will be able to create a
mind, complete as many statements as possible
spectacular work!
about what you read or saw.
Reaction Paper Format
I think that , I see that , I feel that, Its seems
that, In my opinion, Because, A good quote is, Structuring the layout of the reaction paper
In addition, For example, Moreover, However, helps the student in creating an outstanding
Consequently, Finally, In conclusion, etc. paper. You can use previous scenarios and a
clear plot of actions. With the help of such an
The above statements become your rough
outline, you will be able to see how the paper’s
draft. Now it needs to be organized. Your paper
end result will appear. The reader’s interest
should have:
must be seamless while going through every
An introduction (no more than two paragraph of the paper. Basically, you will have
paragraphs), the prudent insight of the paper and the size of
the paper. So, planning everything can lead you
A body, and with sufficient help.

A conclusion. A reaction paper basically comprises of the

following parts

1. Introduction
Tips for writing a Reaction Paper
2. Body
1. Keep the first-hand knowledge of the article
on which you are making your response or 3. Conclusion
reaction paper. Contemplate the article, and
make a note of the areas of the article that 4. List of Citations and Source
amused you towards writing. Highlight the main
ideas and statements that you want to discuss.

2. Demonstrate your point of view and support

it with extra information where you feel it wise.
Evidence your article with enough examples.

3. Find enough resources to prove your article’s

authenticity and argumentative.
LESSON 2: STRUCTURE OF THE CRITIQUE PAPER

Writing a Critique 1. INTRODUCTION

Like an essay, a critique uses a formal, academic Typically, the introduction is short (less than
writing style and has a clear structure, that is, 10% of the word length) and you should:
an introduction, body and conclusion. However,
the body of a critique includes a summary of ➢ Name the work being reviewed as well as
the work and a detailed evaluation. The the date it was created and the name of the
purpose of an evaluation is to gauge the author/creator.
usefulness or impact of a work in a particular ➢ Describe the main argument or purpose of
field. the work.
WHY DO WE WRITE CRITIQUES? ➢ Explain the context in which the work was
Writing a critique on a work helps us to created. This could include the social or political
develop: context, the place of the work in a creative or
academic tradition, or the relationship between
A knowledge of the work’s subject area or the work and the creator’s life experience.
related works.
➢ Have a concluding sentence that signposts
An understanding of the work’s purpose, what your evaluation of the work will be. For
intended audience, development of argument, instance, it may indicate whether it is a positive,
structure of evidence or creative style. negative, or mixed evaluation.

A recognition of the strengths and weaknesses 2. SUMMARY

of the work.
Briefly summaries the main points and
objectively describe how the creator portrays
these by using techniques, styles, media,
characters or symbols. This summary should not
be the focus of the critique and is usually
shorter than the critical evaluation.

3. CRITICAL EVALUATION
This section should give a systematic and 4. CONCLUSION
detailed assessment of the different elements
of the work, evaluating how well the creator This is usually a very brief paragraph, which
was able to achieve the purpose through these. includes: ➢ A statement indicating the overall
For example: you would assess the plot evaluation of the work ➢ A summary of the key
structure, characterization and setting of a reasons, identified during the critical evaluation,
novel; an assessment of a painting would look
why this evaluation was formed. ➢ In some
at composition, brush strokes, color and light; a
critique of a research project would look at circumstances, recommendations for
subject selection, design of the experiment, improvement on the work may be appropriate.
analysis of data and conclusions.
5. REFERENCE LIST
A critical evaluation does not simply highlight
Include all resources cited in your critique.
negative impressions. It should deconstruct the
work and identify both strengths and Check with your lecturer/tutor for which
weaknesses. It should examine the work and referencing style to use. Include all resources
evaluate its success, in light of its purpose. cited in your critique. Check with your
Consider the examples of key critical questions lecturer/tutor for which referencing style to
that could help your assessment include. use.

Approaches in Literary Criticism

POINTS FOR EVALUATION
Literary theory offers varying approaches for
➢ Who is the creator? Is the work presented
understanding the role of historical context in
objectively or subjectively?
interpretation as well as the relevance of
➢ What are the aims of the work? Were the linguistic and unconscious elements of the text.
aims achieved? Literary theorists trace the history and
evolution of the different genres—narrative,
➢ What techniques, styles, media were used in dramatic, lyric—in addition to the more recent
the work? Are they effective in portraying the emergence of the novel and the short story,
purpose? while also investigating the importance of
formal elements of literary structure.
➢ What assumptions underlie the work? Do
they affect its validity? The definition of literary criticism:

➢ What types of evidence or persuasion are • is the study, discussion, evaluation, and
used? Has evidence been interpreted fairly? interpretation of literature.

➢ How is the work structured? Does it favor a • is the evaluation of literary works. This
particular interpretation or point of view? Is it includes the classification by genre, analysis of
effective? structure, and judgement of value."

➢ Does the work enhance understanding of key • asks what literature is, what it does, and what
ideas or theories? Does the work engage (or fail it is worth."
to engage) with key concepts or other works in
its discipline?
• is the method used to interpret any given
work of literature. The different schools of
literary criticism provide us with lenses which
ultimately reveal important aspects of the
literary work.

Why do we have to analyze everything????

• Talking about experiences enhances our

enjoyment of them

• Talking about experiences involves the search

for meaning which increases our understanding
of them

• Because Socrates said so: "The life which is

unexamined is not worth living."

Literary criticism has two main functions

1. TO ANALYZE, STUDY, AND EVALUATE WORKS

OF LITERATURE.

2. TO FORM GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE

EXAMINATION OF WORKS OF LITERATURE.

What is literary theory?

The capacity to generalize about phenomena

and to develop concepts that form the basis for
interpretation and analysis—in this instance, of
a “literary” text.
 Writing a Concept Paper

What is a Concept Paper?

A concept paper is about the in-depth

analysis regarding an intangible
thought, theory, or idea. Concept
examples include fear, authorship,
unemployment, education, etc.
(modified from Spickard 2005)

All research projects need a concept

paper: a short summary that tells the
reader what the project is, why it is
important, and how it will be carried
out. Even if no one else ever reads it,
the concept paper helps researcher
spot holes in her or his project that
might later prove fatal.

3 Ways in explaining the Concept

DEFINITION

It is the method of identifying a given

term and making its meaning clearer. It
can be presented in 3 ways: informal,
formal and extended

EXPLICATION

Method of explanation in which

sentences, verses, quotes or passages
 are taken from a literary or academic they are free to think and do whatever they
work and then interrupted and please.
explained in detailed way.
Writing Formal Sentence Definition
CLARIFICATION
Their components are the term being defined,
points are organized (general abstract the class it belongs to, and its distinguishing
idea to specific to and concrete characteristics that distinguish it from all others
example of its class. It is "formal" because it uses a
certain form. Not all words or concepts can be
defined using the formal definition.
DEFINITION Example: A Bicycle is a mode of transportation
INFORMAL that has two wheels which is driven using foot
pedals.
In an informal definition, the writer uses known
words or examples to explain an unknown term. Writing Extended Sentence Definition
These definitions may be synonyms or Generally have components of both informal
antonyms introduced by or, in other words, or and formal definitions. However, as the name
like. suggests, the author uses a number of other
FORMAL techniques to define a word, concept, or phrase

explains a term to be defined (species) general

category of the term (genus) and the quality
that makes the term different from other terms
in the same category (differentia)

EXTENDED

generally have components of both informal

and formal definitions. However, as the name
suggests, the author uses a number of other
techniques to define a word Explication
Writing Informal Sentence Definition

An informal definition, the writer uses known

words or examples to explain an unknown term.
These definitions may be synonyms or
antonyms introduced by or, in other words, or
like.

Example: Freedom, also referred to as liberty

or independence, is a state people reach when
Method of explanation in which sentences, Project Description- functioning as the solution
verses, quotes or passages are taken from a to the problem, the answer to the need, or the
literary or academic work and then interrupted investigation that will fill the knowledge gap. In
and explained in detailed way. t is neither a this section, the applicant addresses the unique,
summary, nor a rewording, nor a paraphrase, unusual, distinctive, innovative, and/or novel
but a commentary that reveals the meanings of aspects of the approach, showing why the
a literary work. It usually tells about figures of applicant’s team has the best solution and
speech, tone, setting, connotations, points of presenting a compelling case for funding. The
view, themes, contrasts, and anything else that project description also includes an overview of
could add to the meaning of a text. the project’s Methodology (sometimes called
Project Activities or Action Plan or Approach).
CLARIFICATION The goals, objectives, and methods (or
points are organized (general abstract idea to activities) will need to align closely with each
specific to and concrete example. other and will need to be accomplished within
the proposed Timeline, expressed in either
months or years. The methods or activities will
need to be congruent with or based on what
has been tried in the field in the past, they must
be based on empirical evidence, and they will
need to be both reasonable in cost and
5 Elements of a Concept Paper complexity and accomplishable within the
proposed timeline.
Introduction- The first section, the Introduction,
identifies how and where the applicant’s Support or Budget- contains either (1) an
mission and the funder’s mission intersect or outline of the main budget categories for the
align. It addresses the reasons why the funder requested project support or (2) a single
should support projects in the given general bottom-line amount of the request and a brief
area. It also introduces the applicant’s partners discussion of how that amount will be used.
and shows why the partners want to participate Some concept papers may not even include an
in the project. amount requested

Purpose or Need or Rationale- which outlines Contact Information- The fifth and final section
what others have written about the general provides the Contact Information of the
topic and focuses on the gap in knowledge to be applicant organization’s chief executive or
filled, the problem to be solved, or the need to his/her designee authorized to make funding
be addressed by the applicant’s proposed requests.
project. Similar to a literature review, this
section allows the applicant to state the
purpose or need in such a way that the
applicant’s project is the best possible solution
to the problem.