Any history course at the secondary school and university level involves reading, ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred pages. Some instructors require reading response papers, also sometimes called reaction papers, as a component of the work students are expected to complete during the semester. In addition to speaking with the instructor about expectations for the paper, students can take the following information into account when preparing to write a response/reaction paper.
What is a Reading Response Paper?
A response paper is a (typically) short commentary on the assigned readings for a particular week or session. In addition to providing an indication that the student has read the assigned material, a response paper is meant to convey some or all of the following information to the course instructor:
- The student's overall reaction to the week's readings. Sometimes personal opinion and first-person language is acceptable, and sometimes instructors prefer a more distant approach.
- Questions about the topic that arose during the reading. Instructors are mostly interested in "how" and "why" rather than "who, what, where, when."
- An original interpretation of the readings, i.e., what is the meaning or intention of the texts (in the context of the week's themes, the course, and and in general)?
- Analysis of the author's writing. If it is a primary source, how reliable a source is it? If it is a secondary source, what is the argument? Does the author present that argument well? Is the article/book/chapter well-written? What could be changed or improved?
Why Do Instructors Assign Response Papers?
Here are some of the main reasons why some instructors require reading response or reaction papers in their courses:
- to ensure that students are actively engaging in the course through a critical reading of assigned texts
- to gauge how well students are understanding and interpreting the themes addressed in the course
- to provide students with an opportunity for helpful class discussion preparation. Response papers are a fantastic way for students to organize their thoughts on the week's readings, and prepare to contribute valid and insightful points to a class discussion.
Additional Tips for the Response Paper
If the instructor does not distribute official guidelines for the required response papers, either in the syllabus or as a separate handout, it may be a good idea to ask the following questions:
- Which voice is acceptable? Is writing in the first person preferred, or is it better to write with more of a distance?
- What kinds of citations should be used (footnotes, in-text parenthetical citation, etc.)?
- How long should the paper be? What are the formatting guidelines (font size, margins, etc.)? Is a title page required?
Of course, proofreading the paper is an essential step in the writing process: check for any typos, grammatical errors, awkward sentences, confusing arguments or points, or factual errors. Students should heed professors' comments on a graded paper. Writing a reading response paper is an essential skill for history students that improves with each assignment.
Suzanne Swartz - During college, Suzanne spent a semester in southwest Germany. After receiving her B.A. in History and German Studies, she went back to ...
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