GLOSSARY – RESPONSE ESSAY

Response essay - is an essay that provides the reader with a better understanding of the essay writer's personal feelings, his personal points of view and ideas concerning a certain subject.

The majority of response essays are written in response to the watched movie or read book\article where the writer expresses his viewpoint. It is usually an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement that states this point of view and is further content supports this thesis. The response essay is written in the first person and has the same structures as typical essays: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.

Have you ever wanted to know how to write a response essay? Do you even know what is a response essay? Throughout college, you will encounter different types of essays. Each essay follows a certain path. In a response essay, your job is to give your opinion of a piece of work. It could be a book, a set of poems, a film, or art. You can only give an opinion over a piece of work that you clearly understand. Thus a response essay will often have two parts. We will take a look at how to write one.

How to Start a Response Essay

Do you know how to start a response essay? If you already know the process of writing any other essay, you will probably find this question easy. Like any type of essay, you have to first figure out the topic. Response essays tend to be open-ended – you can write about anything. You can check out different media, including art, music, or literature. The aim is to find something you are passionate about.

Beware, sometimes you will not have the freedom to choose a topic. Your teacher or professor may pick a topic for you. If you find a given topic too challenging, you can ask for help from a professional essay writer. Professional essay writers can write brilliantly about any topic.

When you choose a topic you are passionate about, you will find that writing the response essay becomes easier. That said, it’s still not easy to choose a topic. For instance, you may find that you have more than one topic you are passionate about. If this is the case, try picking a topic that you have read extensively about. Or one that has plenty of research material you can refer to.

How to Understand a Response Essay Topic

A response essay involves two parts: reviewing a piece of work and writing your opinion about it. Let’s say you have to give a response to a work of literature. How do you ensure you give an incisive opinion about it? For a book or a film, ensure you thoroughly examine the plot devices and the characters involved. Find out how they work cohesively to contribute to the plot. Once you have a clear view of the work, you can then begin to give your opinion of it.

Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement should be the header of your response essay. The statement provides an overview of the opinions you plan to give. It’s recommended that you write the entire essay first before you can write the statement. This is because you will have a clear picture of your opinions. If you write your statement too early, you may miss the mark – especially when your opinions change as you write.

Response Essay Outline

You don’t have to include a response essay outline as part of your paper. However, it helps to have an outline you can refer to. The writing becomes easier when you know what the plan is. Here’s what the outline of your essay will look like;

• The introduction: The introduction of a response essay contains the title of the work you are reviewing and the author or creator of the piece. You can write the thesis after writing the introduction. Again, we recommend writing your introduction after writing the meat of the essay. This is so you don’t skip important points that you may claim within the body of your essay.
• The summary of the work: This is the part where you write a review of the work you will talk about. Talk about its publication, the standout aspects, key points, any important quotes, and anything else worth noting.
• Reaction to the work: This is the body of your essay. This part will contain your main arguments about the piece you are talking about. Talk about your reaction to the work, how the piece related to you, or how it didn’t. Also, specify whether you agree with the owner of the piece or disagree with them. Your opinion must be concise and only talk about the points you specified in your work summary.
• Write a conclusion: Summarize the piece and your response to it, relating it to your thesis statement. If you don’t know how to write a summary response essay, you can ask a professional essay writer for help.

If you want to make the writing process even easier, write the outline in point form. You can use keywords that will help you plan your thoughts well. If you have to research the work before you write, ensure all the resources you use are credible.

Unlike any other essay, a response essay involves writing about your feelings toward a piece of work. Easy, right? Not necessarily. Writing a response essay takes a lot of work and planning. Ensure you take each step specified here seriously.