How to Write a Reaction Paper to Succeed

Just as the name goes, in writing a reaction paper, you are expected to give your opinion on particular work. You express what you feel about something you have seen or read and state whether you agree and disagree. This paper is all about bringing your experience and thoughts to the table in an authentic manner. You table your feelings and still maintain an academic tone. Below are some tips, recommendations, and notes on how to write a high-quality reaction paper:

Parts of a Reaction Paper

A reaction paper is divided into two main parts that need to be synchronized for you to come up with a great paper.

  1. Part One 

In the first part, you should provide information about the author and the topic you are dealing with. At this point, you give the reader adequate information for them to know what to expect in the next part.  Create an outline before writing your main paper so that you can get hold of the whole draft. To remain focused, use the source from your tutor since it is the main one. You are also allowed to make direct quotations where necessary.

  1. Part Two

In this section, state your own opinion concerning the main theme. This is the main part of the paper where you table your opinions and ideas about the main problem. If the main theme is divided into several sections, take your time to examine and give an opinion about each of them. Make your perspective and opinions clear. This is what a reaction paper is all about. Give your point of view and remember to compare it to the author’s opinion.

The Outline

From the two main parts of a reaction paper, we get three subsections that make the outline and also the structure of this paper. When outlining a reaction paper, you get to write the:

  • Introduction-The very first section where you introduce the author of the work that you are reacting to.
  • Body-Here you table your feelings and compare your opinions to that of the original author. 
  • Conclusion-In this section, you are expected to do a wrap up of everything that matters in this paper.

Mistakes to Avoid when Writing a Reaction Paper

  • Fearing to contradict the author. Do not be afraid to contradict the original author. A reaction paper is all about your feelings and opinions about a particular piece of work. Your perspective must not agree with that of the author.
  • Summarizing the content instead of analyzing it. A reaction paper is all about voicing your opinions about a theme after analyzing it. You are not expected to just give a summary of the original work. Allow yourself to independently feel the work you are analyzing and use reliable examples to support your opinions.

Bottom Line

Writing a reaction paper is not a technical or even hard task, but it requires you to get in deep touch with your feelings and personal opinions. The points discussed here will help you to successfully come up with a quality reaction paper. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *