How to Write a Reaction Paper to a Lecture
To understand how to write a reaction paper to a lecture, it is imperative that you know what a response paper is. A reaction paper is a short essay that reacts or responds to the contents of a lecture. Reaction writing can be formal or informal and is basically analytical. What’s more, it can be used in illustration of ideas, reviews and critiques as well as judgements of theory, lecture or of a concept.
How to write a reaction paper to a lecture based on its three elements
A reaction or a response paper has different elements, mainly written in three paragraphs including;
- Summary
- Points of interest and
- Points of inquiry
Summary– in the summary of a response paper briefly summarizes the purpose of the lecture and its major points. Get to the center of it. Ask yourself what was the lecturer trying to accomplish here and what you were expected to learn from the session.
Points of interest- discuss the aspects and parts of the lecture that were mainly intriguing to you. This can be areas that are of interest to you because they relate to something you have learnt in the past or because they pertain to your professional or personal interest. Points of interest can also be as a result of their appealing effect and it is essential that you state them clearly in this paragraph.
Points of inquiry– this is the part of a response paper where you raise any issue or question left hanging by the lecturer. Consider what seems to be of great significance to you and has not been addressed. State anything that you wish had been mentioned in the lecture, what you want to talk about in regards to the lecture and ensure it generates a discussion.
It is imperative to note that the points of inquiry serves as an invite to other individuals to pick up or take on the questions you ask. Therefore, try to master how to write a reaction paper to a lecture that will provoke a discussion and address issues at hand. Most importantly,
- Include the evidence that you have clearly understood the author’s or lectures content
- Include your reaction to the ideas of the lecture and
- An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the lecture
The style of writing a reaction paper to a lecture
The rule of thumb when writing a reaction paper is to be informal but while following the correct style. The use of first person in the writing is highly recommended. Even so, focus on the fact that the lecture is your main subject hence the need to avoid being self-indulgent. Additionally, ensure to express your opinions in a pertinent manner. Therefore;
- Write a summary that fully captures the purpose and main points of the lecture or of the author
- Write points of interest and points of inquiry in a way that offer evidence of engagement with material as well as the reflection on its meaning
- When writing a response letter to a lecture, ensure to stick the appropriate length. The target length is mainly 250-300 words and
Keep in mind, matters of style by composing a good response, using the right grammar and punctuating the paper well. These are very significant in communication because they determine whether your paper is readable or note.
How to write a reaction paper to a lecture that stands out
Reaction papers to a lecture need close understanding of the lecture’s content. They go beyond a literal text context and you need to bring out the meaning of the text explicitly, elaborate and explore the implications of the lecturer’s ideas. It involves
Critical reading to identify the ideas, structure and purpose of the content of the lecture
Critical thinking to evaluate and analyze the ideas and text and a
Reaction in form of writing where you summarize main ideas, state your opinions on a given part of the text and support your opinions in form of summary of appropriate details only, use quotations or paraphrases from text examined.
When writing your reaction, keep in mind that responses are mainly focused on your thinking and you should always write using first person and start with the points you feel are more pressing to you.
Additionally, keep in mind that reactions vary depending on the limitations of your assignment, its purpose and target audience. In this case, a specific to general or a general to specific approach can be used. A structured format or an informal format can be used to organize the paper. However, to master how to write a reaction paper to a lecture easily is sure that the approach you use puts more emphasis and reflects on your analysis and major considerations of the lecture’s text.
Reaction or response papers enable you to closely examine the connection of ideas and different aspects of the lecture based on a given topic. You also examine relationship of ideas with what you already know and experiences about the subject. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the message of the lecture based on what you are familiar with. It is a guideline on how to reaction paper to a lecture that generates a discussion or helps you to engage in an academic conversation with the lecturer.
Similarly, it is imperative to use an expressive writing style for an effective reaction paper. Let your thoughts flow freely, experiment with language and be creative or imaginative. Organize your thoughts with a
- Thesis
- Introduction and
- A conclusion that includes supporting statements
Plan how to write a reaction paper to a lecture
With the above guidelines on how to write a reaction paper to a lecture, planning is very crucial. It enables you to draft a flawless and effective. For this reason, plan your writing by asking yourself
What is the topic and main issue or problem that the author or lecturer trying to address
What is the central argument, point or claim?
Are there any assumptions that the lectures made
What evidence is the lecturer presenting?
Once you have answered the above questions, start free writing the paper to speculate and expound on the ideas of the lecture
- Decide on the right thesis statement for the paper
- Choose and have priorities on particular or specific reactions and questions you want to include
- Decide on the format and organization of your paper (you can decide to write your response online or settle for formal assignment writing on paper
- Draft the reaction paper to a lecture
- Write your introduction and ensure it is catchy, the body and concluding paragraphs
- Revise the thesis of your response and draft and complete writing your response
Examples of reaction papers to a lecture
Example 1…..Reaction paper to a lecture by Sam Kean on the book, The Violist’s Thumb
I attended a lecture by Sam Kean, an author, on the 16th of April, 2015. The lecture was based on the book, The Violist’s Thumb. Kean through a funny and witty lecture session explains how genes affect out outcomes and abilities in life. He starts by explaining the difference between DNA and genes. Kean explains that the role of a DNA chemical is to store and pass information to the next generation. He further explains that genes are made of DNA but are abstract- terpconnect.umd.edu.
Example 2
Topic: reaction paper to a lecture by David Wilson on Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, religion and nature of society.
David Sloan Wilson, an author believes that societies operate as single organisms and that religion and morality culturally and biologically evolved adaptations that help human groups to operate as individual units as opposed to an allotment of individual unites. His lecture was a poor attempt to try and explain selection of group, which is often a selection for features specifically since characteristics enhance the reproductive excellence of a group as a whole, as opposed to an individual- on Darwin’s Cathedral, check out this link.
Example 3
Reaction paper by a student, on Religion Traditions and Democracy in America
In Democracy in America, Tocqueville is concerned about the disappearance of privileges, aristocratic ranks and emergence of democracy in the USA. Tocqueville states that the key to almost the entire work can be found in the first chapter of his work, on the ‘Point of Departure’’ for Anglo Leasing Americans (Tocqueville, p. 17)-faculty.quinnipiac.edu.
Having an idea of how to write a reaction paper to a lecture makes the writing process simple and effective. However, it can be difficult to draft a paper that earns you the desired grades. In this case, you can always seek professional assistance on your reaction paper to a lecture writing assignment.
Get in touch with us today for assistance in writing a reaction paper on a topic of your choice or visit our homepage for more information about our custom writing services. Alternatively you can continue reading more essay writing guidelines and samples on our blog.
Sources
http://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/libarts/polsci/reactionpapers.html
http://www.slideshare.net/usolmazlar/how-to-write-a-reaction-response-paper
https://www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/onlineguide/chapter8-14.cfm
http://historyrfd.net/isern/431/response431.htm