Writing in Response to a Text

You’ve demonstrated your understanding of a text through summarizing, but what do you have to say about it in your writing project assignment? Not to worry if you’re keeping double-entry notes for that text in your writer’s notebook. You’ll be recording your thoughts and ideas in the right-hand “respond” column all along. What should you be taking notes on in that right-hand “respond” column? That depends on your purpose as a reader-writer. If you’re reading a text because you need to use it to complete a writing project for a class, then you’ll want to respond to that text in accordance with the assignment—consider what you’ll need to do with that text as a writer. For example, you might respond by testing some of the author’s ideas or theories, applying some of the concepts, extending some of the definitions, etc. Maybe you’re asked to use a theory from that text to analyze another “text” or the other way around—using a theory from another text to analyze the text you’re reading. You can use your purpose in the writing project assignment to guide your responses while reading the text.

What is a Response? A response addresses the author's claims and considers the implications of his or her argument for your own understanding of the issues at stake. You may draw evidence that supports your position from personal experiences and observations, but also return to the text to provide illustration for the generalizations you make about this claim. Don't get stuck in the agree/disagree mode, as if all you're doing is venting already established positions. A response provides a serious engagement with the text by both “listening” to the text, as well as “talking back” to the author.

Read about the important distinction between responding and reacting to a text in Methods of Discovery – Online Writing Guide.

The specific nature of your response will depend on the type of assignment for which you’re using the text. For example, for a text analysis assignment, your response will predominately focus on how the text was written. For a summary and response assignment, you may be asked to respond personally to the text, comparing your personal experience with the topic to what is presented in the text. For an annotated bibliography, your response will focus on the source’s usefulness to your research project—what new information is gained and how it informs your understanding of the topic, as well as to what extent the text could be used in your project.

A Sample Response

If the writer’s purpose for reading the text summarized in the previous chapter section was to respond personally to the text, comparing their personal experiences, their right-hand “respond” column double-entry notes in their writer’s notebook might look something like this:

If the writer’s purpose for reading the text summarized in the previous chapter section was to respond by applying a concept or theory from the text, their right-hand “respond” column double-entry notes in their writer’s notebook might look something like this:

If the writer’s purpose for reading the text summarized in the previous chapter section was to respond by analyzing how the text was written (e.g. rhetorical analysis) their right-hand “respond” column double-entry notes in their writer’s notebook might look something like this:

In the following sample response to the text, the writer briefly analyzes the author’s stance on the topic and then examines how the text informs their own understanding of what’s at stake:

In this article Marin avoids the usual discourse surrounding those who are homeless—that they are lazy and solely responsible for their own situation. By first focusing on a group of homeless people who were part of mainstream culture until something forced them into homelessness (especially the tragic example of Alice whose rape caused her depression and loss of job and home), Marin easily garners sympathy from readers who imagine, “That could be me.” Yet, it’s the second group—those who choose to be homeless and live outside mainstream culture—that is the most interesting and probably hardest to wrap our heads around. How could someone choose not to strive for the “American Dream”? Why would someone choose to opt-out of a college education, a salary, a 401K plan, and a home? Of course, this assumes paying back student loans, salary deductions for taxes and health insurance and others, a 401K losing money in this economy, and, finally, a 30-year mortgage. The second group of homeless is beginning to sound more rational in the decades since Marin wrote the article. Marin suggests that an urge to exert order and control over all people is un-American and anti-democratic. People who choose to be home-ful in mainstream culture—even if that means giving up certain freedoms—need for the sake of our souls the ideal that we could drop out and be truly free.

This response may contain some good ideas worth developing for a writing project! No matter what the assignment is, if you’re using texts, you’ll need to do some amount of summarizing and responding to each one in your notes and possibly in your writing project. Get into the habit of first listening to a text—fully understanding it and demonstrating that in a summary—before you “talk back” and respond. Your own position will not only be better informed, but also you’ll have more credibility as an academic writer.