How to Write a Reaction Paper on an Article

You have been asked to read an article and work on a reaction paper. “That should be easy,” you think to yourself. While writing a reaction or response paper might sound like a cakewalk, there is a lot more to this assignment than meets the eye.

The purpose behind reaction papers is to make you analyze a piece of work, be it a book, film, article, or TV show.

You are not just expected to share your views on the material but also explore the implications of the ideas stated, critique them and justify your statements. Remember -- by the end of the assignment, you will be judged on your critical thinking and writing skills.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to write a reaction paper to an article, along with a reaction paper example to get you started.

What are the Parts of a Reaction Paper to an Article

Every writing assignment should begin with creating an outline. It makes for good writing practice because it helps you organize your thoughts and ensure the paper flows in a logical manner.

The same holds true when writing a reaction paper to an article.

Typically, a reaction paper is a five-paragraph structure that includes the introduction, body, and conclusion. You’re expected to devote one paragraph to the introduction and conclusion each and at least three paragraphs to the body.

Before we talk about how to write a reaction paper to an article, let’s understand what the three key parts of a reaction paper are and what they should include.

1. Introduction

It’s safe to say that introductions lay the foundation for the rest of the paper. Being the first section that people will read, it needs to capture their attention and generate interest in them to read further.

Now, how do you start a reaction paper? The most effective way to start is with a good hook. Limited to one to two sentences, a catchy hook grabs attention and engages readers. It can be a quote, statistic, rhetorical question, or anecdote, among others.

The purpose of this section is to describe the article and author you are discussing or sharing your reaction on. It’s also a good idea to include the publication date for additional context.

You can then proceed to write a crisp summary of the article while highlighting the main points of the article. Don’t share your reaction in this paragraph because this section is meant to be informative and offer context to the reader.

The introduction needs to end with a brief thesis statement which includes the key points you will be analyzing and the core idea of the reaction paper.

2. Body

The body paragraphs are where you will start getting into the details and doing an elaborate analysis of the article.

It’s essential to structure the body well such that your reaction paper flows logically and transitions smoothly. A rule of thumb is to devote one idea to one paragraph. Each paragraph should tie back and reaffirm the thesis statement you formulated.

An excellent way to approach this is by making a list of the main points you want to include and working backward by mapping evidence in the form of quotations and examples for each of those points.

If your instructor has given a specific prompt, make sure the reaction paper covers it accurately in the given word count.

3. Conclusion

The analysis is done -- you’ve elaborated on your points and backed them up with supporting evidence. The purpose of the conclusion is to reinstate the thesis statement while summarizing the main points you analyzed in the body paragraphs.

While writing the conclusion for a reaction paper to an article, you’re expected to conclude with your opinion on the subject in question. Remember -- a strong conclusion ties the entire paper together without repeating the statements or introducing new details.

7 Useful Tips on How to Write a Reaction Paper to an Article

The best part about reaction or response papers is that they push you to pause, reflect and analyze an article or any other work. They give you a chance to express your personal opinions while doing deep analysis.

However, a common mistake students make while writing reaction papers on articles is that they end up summarizing them. This is a recipe for disaster and never goes down well.

So, how do you write a reaction paper to an article? Here are seven tips to help you write an outstanding reaction paper.

1. Understand the assignment

Not all reaction papers ask for the same thing. While some are open-ended and give students the flexibility to decide the course of the paper, there are reaction paper assignments surrounding specific questions. For instance, your professor might want your opinion on a particular issue in the article or might want you to critique the author’s work.

Hence, before you begin reading the article, it’s crucial to wholly understand what is expected of you. If you are unsure, clarify your doubts so you don’t ramble on without purpose and stick to the guidelines and word count.

2. Make notes while reading

Reading the article once is never enough. The more thoroughly you are with the material, the more vital your reaction paper will be.

Every time you read it, it is a good idea to approach it with a purpose. The first time you get to it, you can focus on understanding the story, after which you can begin paying attention to factors related to your reaction paper question.

Read with the utmost attentiveness and make notes by the side – it can be your initial reactions, highlighting significant occurrences, or collating evidence.

3. Do a prewriting exercise

So you’ve read the article multiple times. Before you rush to begin writing the reaction paper, it’s a good idea to do a quick prewriting exercise.

This is a great way to brainstorm and generate ideas. It involves a brain dump and jotting down your initial reactions to the article. At this stage, don’t worry about polishing or organizing -- all that can wait.

What’s important is documenting every little idea, insight, or reaction that comes to your mind. Once you’ve listed them, you can group common ideas, create an outline, and categorize them.

This simple yet important exercise will help you think clearly while ensuring you don’t miss out on any crucial points.

4. Think critically

Reaction papers push you to think critically. To flesh out the material, you need to start by asking yourself pertinent questions such as:

• How do I feel after reading the article?
• Do I agree with the author?
• Do I relate to the main character?
• What do I disagree with?
• Has the article changed my perspective?
• What are the assumptions made?

These are just a few examples of questions you can consider while working on the paper. The more questions you ask, the better you will be able to evaluate the material, which will, in turn, get translated into your writing.

Here’s an informative video by Ted-Ed on how you can improve your critical thinking skills

5. Formulate the thesis statement

Once you establish your point of view and the route you want your paper to take, you must formulate the thesis statement – it forms the backbone of the reaction paper.

The thesis statement describes the central idea that you will be proving in the course of the paper. It needs to appear toward the end of the introduction and be crisp. It’s alright if you don’t have a final statement; even a working thesis statement is good enough for starters. You can always polish it later.

6. Emphasize analysis (not facts)

Another common mistake students make is stating facts and the obvious instead of focusing on their analysis and opinion on the article.

Not only is this a waste of word count, it indicates that you’ve missed the point of a reaction paper. Your instructor wants to know your personal opinion and evaluation of the article, not a summary of what the article comprises.

How do you make a difference?

Facts refer to objective pieces of information which are already proven. Opinions and analysis include your take on the subject. While there is no right or wrong opinion, what’s important is using strong evidence to back that opinion.

7. Include supporting examples

Statements like “I don’t agree with the author” or “I think the article could have focused more on XYZ” are certainly not enough while writing a reaction paper.

You need to justify every statement you make with the available evidence in the article. This can be in the form of quotes or statements that support your point of view. So, back your views up with strong examples in order to strengthen your paper and convince the reader.

The Takeaway

There is quite a lot of confusion surrounding reaction papers, which might get students confused about how to approach this assignment.

Whether it is a book, movie, article, speech, or any other academic paper, we at Writers Per Hour are experts at writing reaction papers for students.

We promise to deliver high-quality, original reaction papers custom-written to suit your needs and deadlines. So, contact us today and let us write your reaction paper for you.