Reaction Essays

8/6/2019 Reaction Essays

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Student Number:______________________

In a reaction essay, you write your critical opinion about an article you have read or lecture

you have heard. The key to writing an effective reaction essay is to remain critical and develop

initial thoughts during the reading process. It is important to identify a set of points that you want toargue, discuss, or expand on. You can agree with a point the author is making but there may be just

something that you want to add to make the point even more interesting. Or you can completely

disagree with the author and explain why the point he or she brings up is erroneous. The thoughts

that will make up your reaction essay must be interesting and thought-provoking.

You will be writing a reaction essay next week in class based on an article you will be given to read.

Your reaction essay will include an introduction, summary of the article (summary

paragraph), your opinion (reaction paragraph) and a conclusion. But, before you begin

writing the reaction essay, you will need to do some short but important exercises. These will

train you on how to plan the summary and your opinion before eventually writing them.

A. Writing the reaction paragraph (your opinion) of the reaction essay

Read the table below and then do the exercise that follows.

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1.Below is an opinion, supporting points, and a concluding sentence, and theyare written as complete simple sentences.

Opinion: The government can take some important actions to control greenhouse gasemissions by companies.Supporting Points: 1. Stricter requirements can be implemented. The use of fossil

fuels can be limited. Taxes can be imposed on rule-breakers.2. Rewards could be offered to complying companies. Thesecould include certifications of environmental health and safety aswell as financial rewards such as subsidies.

Concluding Sentence: Companies will feel more obligated to reduce pollution.

2. The ideas above were then connected by turning simple sentences into

compound and complex sentences.

I firmly believe the government can take some important actions to controlgreenhouse gas emissions by companies. On the one hand, stricter requirements can

be implemented.For example, the use of fossil fuels can be limited andtaxes can beimposed on rule-breakers. On the other hand, rewards can be offered to complyingcompanies. These could include certifications of environmental health and safety aswell as financial rewards such as subsidies. Through these actions companies willfeel more obligated to reduce pollution.


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Exercise (*Look the example above before you do this exercise)

For each opinion, write supporting points and a concluding sentence. Then write a paragraph by

connecting all the ideas.

1)

Opinion: Children who like playing electronic games are at riskSupporting Points: 1.....

.......

2. .......

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3. .......

.......

Concluding Sentence: .......

Paragraph:

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2)

Opinion: One of the most obvious reasons for the increase in illiteracy is the television.

Supporting Points: 1.....

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2. ...........

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3. ...........

.......

Concluding Sentence: .......

Paragraph:

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B. Writing the summary paragraph of the reaction essay

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1. Below is the writing plan for the summary paragraph of a reaction essay. Itincludes the article author's opinion and his supporting points. They arewritten in simple sentences.

Article Author's opinion: He describes other parts of a job you can enjoy. You shouldnot only work for money.

Article Author's Supporting Points:

1. Reason: After graduating from college, you spend most of your time atwork. So, it is important to think more widely about what you can enjoy in

your job.2. Other job parts: Some examples of other parts of a job you can enjoyinclude the lifestyle, job duties, and work relationships connected with the

job.

3. Advice: Beginnerswill not find the perfect job immediately. Stay calm.Give yourself a chance to experience the work environment more.

2. The writing plan above was then turned into a summary paragraph byconnecting all the points above. Other small but important changes were alsomade.

The author describes other parts of a job we can enjoy, instead ofworking only formoney.He argues that,since we spend most of our time at work after graduatingfrom college, it is important to think more widely about what we can enjoy in our

job. Some examples of other parts of a job we can enjoy include the lifestyle, jobduties, and work relationships connected with the job. However, the author advises

beginners that they will not find the perfect job immediately.Nonetheless, he urgesthen to stay calm andgive themselves a chance to experience the work environmentmore.


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Exercise (*Look the example above before you do this exercise)

In each case, there is a writing plan for the summary paragraph of a reaction essay. The writingplan includes the article author's opinion and the supporting points he provides. Read it carefullyand then construct a summary paragraph.

1)

Article Author's Opinion: Satellite remote sensing techniques have made it easier to measure the

extent of global deforestation


1. The technique compares old infrared LANDSAT images with new images.

2. The method is accurate and cost effective

Paragraph:

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2)

Article Author's Opinion: Both cars have similar advantages, but car B is more suitable.


1. Similarities: Both cars incorporate similar safety features. Both cars fulfil the design criteria

of having low exhaust emissions and using environmentally friendly materials

2. Car B: Car B is recommended. It has slightly lower power consumption. It is more

economical to manufacture.

Paragraph:

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Reaction Essays