Lesson 5: Writing a Review, Response, or Reaction Paper | EAPP

Summary

This lesson focuses on writing a review, reaction, or response paper. It defines these types of academic texts as expressions of one's thoughts and feelings about a piece of work, whether it's a book, film, or experience. The video covers key stages in writing, including pre-writing (understanding purpose, analyzing reactions), organizing ideas (forming thesis statements and topic sentences), and writing (summarizing the work and presenting a structured response). It also emphasizes objectivity, coherence, and connecting personal insights to larger societal and academic contexts.

Takeaways

• 📚 A review, reaction, or response paper is an academic text that reflects your thoughts and feelings about something you've read, watched, or experienced.
• 🤔 When writing this type of paper, consider how the work made you feel, whether you agree or disagree with it, and if you can relate to it personally.
• 📝 The process of writing includes three stages: pre-writing, organizing, and writing.
• 🎯 In the pre-writing stage, determine the purpose of your paper and reflect on your initial thoughts about the work.
• 🧠 Critical evaluation is key during the pre-writing stage—ask yourself questions like 'What did I just experience?' and 'How did it affect me?'
• 💡 Organizing your paper involves creating a thesis statement, identifying key points for each paragraph, and ensuring coherence throughout.
• ✍️ The writing stage follows a three-part essay structure: introduction (background and thesis), body (supporting details), and conclusion (summary and restatement of main points).
• 📖 Start with a summary or overview of the work, highlighting its key points without spoiling it for others.
• 🎬 In the reaction part, discuss your feelings, the work's relevance to broader societal issues, and your personal connection to the topic.
• 🔍 Evaluate the merit of the work—consider if it is worth recommending to others and explain why.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of a review, reaction, or response paper?

The main purpose is to carefully consider and articulate your thoughts and feelings about something you have seen, read, watched, or experienced.

What are the different stages in composing a review, reaction, or response paper?

The stages include the pre-writing stage, the organizing stage, and the writing stage.

What should you do in the pre-writing stage of a review paper?

In the pre-writing stage, you need to understand the purpose of your paper, figure out the type of response or content expected, and critically evaluate what you have read, watched, seen, or experienced.

How can you organize your initial thoughts when writing a review paper?

You can organize your initial thoughts by writing a thesis statement, deciding on key points or topic sentences for each paragraph, and ensuring coherence between your sentences and paragraphs.

What is important to include in the introduction of your review paper?

The introduction should include basic information about the topic, such as background information and a concise, focused thesis statement.

What should each paragraph in the body of your review paper contain?

Each paragraph should contain one main idea that is supported with examples, quotations, and other details.

How should you present your overall reaction in the conclusion of your review paper?

The conclusion should restate the main points and summarize your overall reaction without introducing any new information.

What are the two parts of the writing process for a review paper?

The two parts are giving a summary or overview of the work and then providing your reaction to the work.

How should you approach writing the summary of the work?

The summary should be objective and factual, highlighting the main points or key supporting details without spoiling the content for future readers.

What elements should you include in your reaction to the work?

Your reaction should relate the work to ideas and concerns discussed in the relevant course, the bigger societal picture, your personal experiences, and evaluate the merit of the work while supporting your recommendations.