How to Become a Professional in Response Paper Writing

Response paper writing is a specific type of scholarly task, and has very little in common with a review paper. Usually, this type of assignment is composed in the first person. There are several approaches to composing a response essay. First of all, the writer is supposed to provide a distinct explanation of the case. Besides, it is vital to include personal reactions. There is room for writer’s subjective opinion, but all the points should be supported with relevant evidence, especially if it is a reading response.

The writer should make a draft of the plan prior to starting the work. Make sure to prepare a list of all the readings needed for the response paper. Start the work by reading books, magazines, articles or texts related to the paper topic. There are no special secrets for writing a response paper. Just remember, do not start any work, unless you have a profound understanding of the data that you have studied.

What is a Response Paper?

A lot of people have no clue how to answer the question “what is a response paper?” Therefore, it is crucial to have the correct perception of what this assignment is about and how to start a response paper. Besides, there are some peculiarities about writing one. Some writers recommend making notes when going over the assigned book. These notes will serve as essential tips while writing the response paper outline. As in any other type of writing, the author must develop a thesis statement. Make a list of the most valuable points and texts that support them. Do not postpone this task till the last moment, as this assignment requires time.

The writer is recommended to use private experience in the essay. The use of complex sentences does not guarantee success. There is a wrongful perception that this assignment should be filled with long quotations and sophisticated analyses, thus people find this task more complicated than it really is.

There is no room for general discussions or any ideas, which are not related to the topic. The data should be relevant to the topic. The response essay has a typical essay structure. The introduction part should comprise the thesis statement as well as the title and writer’s name. Failure to include a thesis statement may result in a poor response paper. The core element of the response paper is the discussion of the attitude or overall reaction towards the article under discussion.

Make sure to state all the ideas in a clear manner. The main discussion should occur in the main body of the response paper. That is where the writer is supposed to provide the results of the analysis. Use citations to support your point of view. Besides the main source, it is recommended to study secondary sources, especially if you are writing a critical response essay.

One should be aware of how to complete this type of assignment, as it is a very popular task among professors. Every student is likely to be assigned one during the academic experience. So why is it that popular in various institutions? The task is aimed at checking students’ capability to gather and investigate information, analyze it and make a summary of the research. Even those, who are aware of this assignment, may find writing it a real challenge. We have prepared some key elements that are needed for a successful response paper. Following these simple tips will help a student get excellent results.

How to Write a Response Paper: from A to Z

Being assigned this task, many freshmen wonder how to write a response paper. But they have no clue what the response is. Therefore, one should understand that the main purpose of this assignment is to express one’s personal opinion after reading a book, an article, or a text. Unlike what many people assume, the opinion may be either positive or negative. Of course, in order to express an attitude towards the piece of writing, one has to study the primary source. The response paper should reflect readers’ level of comprehension. It is vital to find out what the writer was trying to communicate to the reader. Besides, it is necessary to highlight why the writer believes these ideas may be useful. Here are some of the points that will help you realize the purpose of the task or you may use a response paper example as well:

• choose whether in your paper you will or will not support the writer.
• support the opinion with real-life examples. Do not include any writer’s biographic information.

Four Stages of writing a response paper. These response paper guidelines will help you become an expert at this type of writing.

1. Planning and drafting
   Make a list of key issues you would like to discuss. Make a draft plan of the paper. Evaluate the draft and add or remove some of the points to end up with the final plan of the paper. The next steps include the identification of three to four arguments that you are going to support in the paper. A draft of the thesis statement is another element of the planning.
2. What to start with
   Introduce your topic; provide the final thesis statement and an overview of the ideas, which you will discuss in the body. Provide overall information about the case. Choose a proper response paper format.
3. Writing the body
   The opening sentence should demonstrate what you are going to discuss in the specific paragraph. Support your opinion with examples from real life or any other sources that may be relevant to the topic. Create a smooth transition from one paragraph to the other.
4. Conclusion
   Provide a brief summary of your arguments. Do not bring up any new ideas in this part of the essay.