Reading Response Guidelines for
Assignments from Barnet and Bedau

To prepare the reading summary/responses for the assigned essays, begin by writing a brief paragraph that gives an overview or summary of the essay's content in your own words. (See B&B, bottom of p. 45, for an example of a summary paragraph.)  Include the title of the essay you are responding to and the name of the essay’s author in this summary paragraph.  Then, in an additional 2-3 paragraphs (not just in list form), respond to the questions below to analyze the argument's effectiveness.  For example, your answers to questions 1-4 might constitute one paragraph, questions 5-7 one paragraph, and 8-9 one paragraph.  Or you might form a paragraph that includes your evaluation of how effective the essay is (#8) based on the reasons the author gives, the strategies used, and whether this reasoning worked of not (5-7).  While your summary paragraph should always be the first in your reading response, you may organize your answers to questions 1-9 in the best way that works for you, as long as your paragraphs are unified and coherent.

1. What is the writer's purpose?
2. What is the writer's audience?
3. What is the question at issue?
4. What is the writer's central idea?
5. What reasons does the author give the reader to accept that idea?
6. What is the effect of this reasoning on you? Do you believe it? Why or why not? What does the author's argument mean to you personally?
7. What strategies or methods of argument does the author use?
8. How effective is the essay?
9. What unanswered questions has this essay left you wondering about? Why?

You need not use MLA format for the reading responses, but do be sure to put your name on your assignment.

The reading response should be approximately 250 words, or 1 page, 3-4 paragraphs, typed or word processed, double spaced.  Use a standard font, no smaller than 10 pt., no larger than 12.

Last Updated 01/27/08