Please read and follow the directions EXPLICITLY.
INSTRUCTIONS
Choose ONE of the 4 course readings below and write a reading response.
In this response, you must: draw on and cross-reference at least THREE other readings and/or lectures from across weeks 1-5 of the course (i.e., draw on material that is not only from the same week as the reading you choose)
In this response, you must: draw on and cross-reference at least THREE other readings and/or lectures from across weeks 1-5 of the course (i.e., draw on material that is not only from the same week as the reading you choose)
A reading response is a specific kind of essay that asks you as a reader to engage critically with an assigned
text. It is not asking you to state whether you like or dislike the text in question—instead, a reading
response should:
• Demonstrate to the instructor that you have both read and understood the text
• Identify the main argument and the purpose of the text
• Engage critically with the text by using evidence from the text to support your perspective about
the work
Although the length of a reading response may vary based on the assignment or on the text to which you
are responding, but nonetheless, the reading response is still a kind of essay; as such, it should have a
working thesis statement that guides your argument about the text as well as a clear organizational
scheme that makes it easy for the reader to understand.
Ultimately, the reading response is more about your argument regarding the strengths and weaknesses of
the text in question. You are making a claim about the text, and that claim needs to be supported with
evidence from the text—whether you are agreeing or disagreeing, you need to include the pertinent text.
text. It is not asking you to state whether you like or dislike the text in question—instead, a reading
response should:
• Demonstrate to the instructor that you have both read and understood the text
• Identify the main argument and the purpose of the text
• Engage critically with the text by using evidence from the text to support your perspective about
the work
Although the length of a reading response may vary based on the assignment or on the text to which you
are responding, but nonetheless, the reading response is still a kind of essay; as such, it should have a
working thesis statement that guides your argument about the text as well as a clear organizational
scheme that makes it easy for the reader to understand.
Ultimately, the reading response is more about your argument regarding the strengths and weaknesses of
the text in question. You are making a claim about the text, and that claim needs to be supported with
evidence from the text—whether you are agreeing or disagreeing, you need to include the pertinent text.
- DO be sure to cite any quotes or paraphrase, conforming to the appropriate style of
documentation (when in doubt, ask your instructor). - DO include a works cited/ bibliography page!
- DO include brief quotes that are relevant to your analysis.
- DO be sure to include a thesis statement!
- DO consider the context of this piece—does it relate to other things you’ve read in the course?
- DON’T rely too heavily on long or block quotations from the text—one or two short quotes are
okay, but more than that may signal an inability to summarize ideas efficiently. - DON’T forget to use textual evidence to support the argument you are making.
- DON’T just say you like or dislike an aspect of the text—if you do, you must explain why and
support your claim well. - DON’T forget to properly cite quotes and paraphrasing, and don’t forget a works cited/
bibliography entry! - DON’T forget to leave time for revision and proofreading!
Attached below are sources that can be cross-referenced and drawn on in this reading response. Thank you. Also Attached below is the chosen editorial article.
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZvEUbtTBes (Sanism: Ted Talk Dr. Jennifer Poole)