REACTION PAPER IS A FIVE-PARAGRAPH

ESSAY FORMAT
•Paragraph One: Introduction
-This begins with a general statement to catch
the reader’s attention, briefly summarize the main
points of the essay, and end with a main idea
statement (thesis).
Body
• Paragraph Two: supporting detail #1
•paragraph three: supporting detail #2
•paragraph four: supporting detail #3
•Paragraph Five: Conclusion
-This restates the main idea, briefly
summarize the most important
evidence, tell the importance of this
essay, or how it connects to the world
 Elements
•Main issue
•Reacting issue section
•Proposal implementation
•Closure
diary vs. reaction paper
•DIARY
PERSONAL IN SIGNIFICANCE
ENLIGHTEN ONE’S FELLOW HUMAN
BEINGS
LESS
LESS DESCRIPTIVE
DOES NOT ENDEAVOUR TO
PERSUADE OTHER PEOPLE
•REACTION PAPER
SIGNIFICANCE IS SOCIETAL
ENLIGHTEN FOR THE SELF
FORMAL
MORE DESCRIPTIVE
PERSUADES READERS
I. SUMMARY/SYNOPSIS
II. ANALYSIS/EVALUATION
III . YOUR REACTIONS
 GUIDE IN WRITING A REACTION PAPER

I. SUMMARY/SYNOPSIS – what are you reacting

to? Goal: show that you understand the opinion,
main ideas, and supporting ideas in the
documentary piece you're writing about.
•Identify all of the basic information
about the piece, including: • the title
of the piece • the topic or subject of
the piece. in other words, tell what
the piece is about in a word or a
phrase.
II. ANALYSIS/EVALUATION – what are the
strengths and weaknesses of the
piece?
• ANSWER THE "W" QUESTIONS, LIKE
WHY, WHY NOT, WHAT, WHAT IF, WHAT FOR,
WHERE, WHY THERE, WHO, HOW, WHEN . . .
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
TAKE UP INCLUDE:
•Was the piece convincing? Why or why not, specifically?
is it well-researched? why or why not? • Did the piece
overlook or leave out anything important? what? • Did the
piece overemphasize or overprivilege anything? What? •
is the piece one-sided, or does the piece present a
balanced view?
III. Your Reactions – How do you react
to the piece on a personal level? How
does the piece relate to your
experience? Goal: share your own
impressions and your own
experiences with readers.
•Here are some questions you might consider
answering: • Did the piece hold your interest?
Why or why not? • Did the piece bother or annoy
you? Why or why not? • What did you realize as a
result of watching the piece? • What questions
does the piece raise for you – about the material,
about other things?
 When reading a reaction paper…
• one expects to be informed and amused
•helps us in decision making
•tells us that we are not alone in experiencing the world
•tells us about how to survive, what to avoid, and where to
seek pleasure
•helps us process our experience and see things that we
weren’t able to see on our own
Modern iterations of the reaction paper
•movie review
•gadget review
•book review
•travel review
•restaurant review
•review on essay/story
•some editorials
Write a reaction paper. Choose one from
the given topics.
1.SAME SEX MARRIAGE
2.MARTIAL LAW
3.POVERTY
4.K-12 CURRICULUM
5.CYBER- BULLYING
MAJOR POINTS IN THE ARTICLE (MUST BE
IN NARRATIVE FORMAT)
•MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE AN
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH.
•NO CITATIONS ARE NECESSARY (WITHIN
THE PAPER)
•THIS SECTION SHOULD INCLUDE THE
SUMMARY ONLY.
•EACH PARAGRAPH MUST HAVE A
MINIMUM OF 3 SENTENCES. THIS
IS A MUST! YOU MAY HAVE MORE
THAN 3 SENTENCES, BUT NOT
LESS THAN 3.
 •WRITE IN THIRD PERSON- DO NOT
INCLUDE PERSONAL OPINIONS OR THE
USE OF PERSONAL NOUNS SUCH AS “I”,
“WE” OR “ME”. “YOU, I, WE, US" BELONG IN
THE CRITIQUE SECTION WHERE YOU ARE
RELATING PERSONAL OPINIONS, NOT IN
THE SUMMARY.
 •THE REACTION
PAPER MUST BE
TYPED AND DOUBLE-
SPACED.
•THE REACTION PAPER
SHOULD BE AT LEAST
ONE PAGE, BUT NO MORE
THAN A PAGE AND A HALF.
 •PLEASE AVOID
CONTRACTIONS. SPELL
OUT SUCH WORDS AS
"CAN'T"(CANNOT).
•INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE SHOULD
BE USED IN THE REACTION
PAPER (FOR EXAMPLE: GENDER
REFERENCES SHOULD BE
WRITTEN AS “HE/SHE” WHEN
THE GENDER IN UNKNOWN.