reaction and response paper to “Dead world” by Hayword. Reflect on the idea of the “Dead World”- Consider what Hayward claims and think about the
ramifications of that assertion.
What is reader response?
It is a thoughtful reaction or response to what you have read. When you turn in a reader response
paper, it should be typed and proofread carefully. They should be 1-2 pages long. Reader response is
different from the kind of reading and writing that you normally do. It is important to develop your
essay by examining why you chose a piece of text or particular concept as well as your
understanding of how it relates to larger ideas. The process consists of four basic parts:
I Before You Start Writing
Read the material at least once to absorb the major points. You should try to underline or
mark key passages or words (use the page margins) to record your questions and reactions. By
doing this kind of active reading, you engage in a “dialogue” with the writer of the material and
the text itself.
II Response Introduction-Identify
Using complete sentences, give some basic background on the text or idea to which you are
reacting: name of the author, the title of the piece, the tradition represented, the main
message, or central idea of the piece. What is the point the writer or the text is making? This
section should consist of several sentences in which you establish and discuss the writer’s main
point or the idea you want to critique/discuss. If you are reacting to a more general question
posed in class, try to choose writers who might have something to say about the issue and
include a survey of their main points in this section. Be sure to include some notion of YOUR
take on whatever is being presented.
III Response Body-Analyze
This section should comprise the bulk of your reader response. Go back through the essay,
passage, or article you read and note the sections or ideas that you marked as significant. Pick
one or two that you “connected” with and focus your response on it/them. Copy part of the
passage into your paper, if appropriate, and use quotations when needed. You can then
continue by writing a fully developed commentary on why you think that passage or concept is
important. Respond to the idea or language of the passage, but do not simply summarize the
reading. You should think about how the passage you chose relates to the main point of the
author(s) that you identified in section II.
IV Response Body-Evaluate
React to the passage that you have analyzed in section III. Is it a point you agree with? Did it
remind you of something else you have read or heard? Does it remind you of any current
issues or problems? Do you have any personal anecdotes or observations that connect with
the ideas of the passage or the ideas of the author in general?