Writing Homework Help

Reader-Response Essays

Reader-response suggests that the role of the reader is essential to the meaning of a text, for only in the reading experience does the literary work come alive. The purpose of a reader response essay is examining, explaining, and defending your personal reaction to a text.

Your critical reading of a text asks you to explore:

• why you like or dislike the text;
• explain whether you agree or disagree with the author;
• identify the text’s purpose; and
• critique the text.

There is no “right” or “wrong” answer to a reading response. In theory. Nonetheless, it is important that you demonstrate an understanding of the reading and clearly explain and support your reactions. Do not use the standard approach of just writing: “I liked this text because it is so cool and the ending made me feel happy,” or “I hated it because it was stupid, and had nothing at all to do with my life, and was too negative and boring.” This will earn a very low score.

In writing a response you should assume the reader has already read the text. I certainly have. Thus, do not use too much time when you summarize the contents of the text. There are prompts in a Template (linked below) for you to follow.  Be sure to take a systematic, analytical approach to the text.

Essay 3 Template (note this Essay 3 Template is different from the Essay 1 and Essay 2 Template)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X67k84vG3Cw7EqaXBDci4xnKoQ4-pH6G9SnqyA_GrMY/edit?usp=sharing

Write as a Scholar

When writing a reader-response write as an educated adult addressing other adults or fellow scholars. As a beginning scholar, if you write that something has nothing to do with you or does not pass your “Who cares?” test, but many other people think that it is important and great, readers will probably not agree with you that the text is dull or boring. Instead, they may conclude that you are dull and boring, that you are too immature or uneducated to understand what important things the author wrote.

Key Takeaways

In reader-response, the reader is essential to the meaning of a text, because readers bring the text to life. The purpose of a reading response is examining, explaining, and defending your personal reaction to a text. When writing a reader-response, write as an educated adult addressing other adults or fellow scholars. As a beginning scholar, be cautious of criticizing any text as “boring,” “crazy,” or “dull.” If you do criticize, base your criticism on the principles and form of the text itself. The challenge of a reader-response is to show how you connected with the text.