How to write a readers response free essay sample

How to write a reader response paper Prof. Margaret OMara What a reader response paper is: A critical essay that tells the reader what a historical monograph (book) means to you. It reflects a close reading of the work, contains specific examples drawn from the work (documented parenthetically with page numbers), and provides your well- considered opinion of the works strengths and/or shortcomings. The essay demonstrates that you have read the book, internalized and contextualized its arguments, and can articulate and substantiate your reactions to it. What a reader response paper Is not: A descriptive summary of the book or of the historical events it describes. Assume your reader has read the book and has a familiarity with the era under consideration. A research paper. You may consult additional sources (other studies of the same subject; other critiques of the book) if you like, but you are not required to do so. We will write a custom essay sample on How to write a readers response or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Use parenthetical documentation rather than footnotes. A classic thesis paper, In which you state a thesis argument at the front end and use the book to support this thesis, reiterating the argument in the conclusion. The essay must have an organizing argument (see below) but it should be more analytic han descriptive. Its intent goes beyond proving a certain point of fact. An opportunity for general opinionating (I thought It was really good, or l thought it was terrible) nor an opportunity to make statements of opinion that are not supported by evidence drawn from the text. A test of whether you had the right interpretation of the book. This is a venue for you to tell us what the book means to you. It should display thoughtful evaluation of the text and express of how it may have contributed (or not contributed) to your understanding ofa particular period, and why. Ask yourself the following questions as you prepare to write a reader response they can help you organize your thoughts and decide what youd like to write about in your response. What were the main arguments of the book (hint: historians often put these in the introduction, the conclusion, or both)? Did the author, in your opinion, do a decent Job of following through on those arguments? Why or why not? How is the book talking to other parts of the historical literature? Is the author styling him or herself as a particular type of historian (womens historian, social historian, political historian, etc. ? Who are their subjects? What is their purpose in writing this book? What parts of the book did you like the most, and why? How does this book relate to what interests you about American history? What did you learn from it? If you didnt learn much, why was that? What questions did this text leave you with? What would you like to learn more about? What about the authors style and methodology did you like or dislike? How are they using sources and how does this reflect on the integrity and validity of their arguments? For useful things to keep in mind as you read the book, consult