Response to Readings

Good writing about readings requires good reading. A majority of college courses--especially those beyond the first year or the lower-division required sequences--expect you to develop your own thoughts about what you are learning.  Much of this learning occurs through texts, and at many colleges, you are required to write down your thoughts about those texts.  

A written response to a text is an opportunity to think: to process what you have read more thoroughly so that you can remember it and also make it your own.  Thoughts are not formed ahead of time and waiting in some kind of thought library in a person's head.  Rather, talking and writing are thoughts. Responding to texts is a primary method of thinking in college.

AN INTELLIGENT RESPONSE OFTEN IS

Knowledgeable:

It demonstrates familiarity with and understanding of the text by referring to it often.

Interesting:

It offers new or unusual insights about the text.

Thoughtful:

While it may contain some emotional response, it does so with balance and respect for the text.

Organized:

It uses an organizational plan to present its ideas about the text, step by step.

Rational:

It uses logic and reason in presenting its ideas..

Well Supported:

It offers reasonable supporting details for the ideas it develops about the text