How to Write a Reader Response

Co-authored by Diane Stubbs

Last Updated: March 14, 2023 References Approved

A reader response assignment asks you to explain and defend your personal reaction to an assigned text. Reader response papers can be difficult because they force you, the reader, to take responsibility for giving meaning to the text. Often these assignments feel open-ended and vague, but don't worry, a good reader response paper will follow a standard essay format that you can easily master. This guide will walk you through the creation of a well-crafted reader response paper that's sure to wow your instructor and earn you an awesome grade.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Writing the Reader Response

1
Write the introduction. Make sure that the introduction clearly specifies the name of both the text and the author. It should also include some description of the text, and what it's about. The Introduction should end with your thesis statement or argument.
2
Write the body paragraphs. You should write 3-4 paragraphs that discuss the text and the reading questions in depth. You don't necessarily have to answer each question in order. Multiple questions can be combined and addressed in a single paragraph, or reordered in a way that flows well and makes sense to you.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- It is often helpful to use the first body paragraph to include more information about the text, the plotline, major themes, etc., and then use the rest of the paragraphs to provide an analysis of how you felt about the text.
Advertisement
3
Remember to explain how, why, and what. As you write your paper, think about explaining not just how you felt about the text, but why it made you feel a certain way. ("Chapter 2 made me feel uncomfortable 3 because... ") Don't just state that the text taught you a lot, give an example of something you actually learned. ("I learned that sometimes we don't realize how our actions affect others... ")^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Remember that a reader response is meant to be personal, so it's OK to incorporate personal anecdotes and opinions into your analysis.
- Example: "Forcing Hester Prynne to wear the scarlet "A" reminded me of a time when I was cyber-bullied in eighth grade, and my "friends" spread rumors about me online where the whole school could see."
4
Incorporate specific examples into your analysis. Each body paragraph should include at least 1-2 specific examples from the text. These don't all have to be direct quotations. For example, you might simply describe a particular event or passage in the text.
- Example: "At the end of The Old Man and the Sea, Manolin promises to once again fish with Santiago, so the old man no longer has to be alone. This was Santiago's greatest wish, but it was a different kind of success than he initially set out to achieve."
5
Keep quotations short and sweet. Resist the temptation to string together multiple multi-line quotes, and make sure to include at least one sentence after each quote explaining how it relates to the point you are making.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Example: "'My big fish must be somewhere,' said Santiago. This is exactly how I felt after I received my third rejection letter, but like Santiago, I kept trying, and eventually I was accepted."
- Make sure and cite your examples per class directions. You will usually be required to note the page numbers of any quotations or specific examples in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
6
Write the conclusion. This should be one paragraph that summarizes your arguments so far, and brings the reader back to your thesis or main point.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- A great way to think of your conclusion is that it's one last chance to explain to your reader how you see all of your points fitting together.
7
Proofread, proofread, proofread!! Make sure and give your paper a thorough once-over, looking for typos, grammatical errors, and things that don't quite make sense.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
Purdue Online Writing Lab
Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines
Go to source}
- Sometimes it's hard to see our own mistakes, so it can really help to exchange papers with a friend, and proofread each other's work.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Drafting the Reader Response

1
Identify an angle you can take when talking about the text. A good reader response paper must have a clear thesis statement or overall argument. If the assignment specified a central question to focus on in your response, the answer to that question should become your thesis statement. If not, your thesis should address you overall impression of the book.^{[6]
X
Research source} An example thesis statement might look like the following:
- "Even though I found The Scarlett Letter hard to follow at times, Hester Prynne's story is still relatable, and made me think a lot about the effects of publicly shaming people online."
- "Some people believe the Old Man and the Sea is a book about failure, but it is really a story of perseverance that teaches us that success may not always come in the form we expect, and even disasters can lead to positive outcomes."
2
Outline the essay. You will need to follow the directions for your specific assignment, but most reader response papers are about 2-3 pages long, and use the following general outline:^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Introduction: 1 paragraph.
- Analysis/Body Paragraphs: 3-4 paragraphs. How you organize these paragraphs will depend on the parameters of the assignment.
- Conclusion: 1 paragraph.
3
Choose example passages to use in your analysis. These should support your thesis statement, and provide clear examples of the kinds of things you want to talk about in your analysis. Is there a key bit of dialogue that really captures the protagonist's personality? Is there a scene that reminded you of something from your personal life, or taught you how you might handle a specific situation?

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Reading the Text

1
Go over the assignment directions before you begin. The assignment should give you a list of specific questions that you need to answer in your response. Becoming familiar with the questions before you begin the assignment will help you know what to look for and think about as you read. If the questions are not specified, use the following questions to guide your reading:^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Do you like or dislike the text?
- Can you identify the author's purpose?
- Do you agree or disagree with the author?
- Does the text relate to you and your life? If so, how? If not, why not?
- Does the text agree with, or go against your personal world view?
- What, if anything, did you learn from the text?
2
Read the text. To write a good reader response paper, it is important to read the text fully and carefully. Take your time and think about how the text is making you feel and why. Take lots of notes. Bookmark important passages that you think you might use when you write your response, or write down page numbers of key sections.
- Taking a bit of extra time during this phase will save you a lot of time in the writing process.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
3
Contemplate what you have read. Before you begin writing, it is helpful to take some time to think about the text as a whole, and formulate an overall impression of the work. Did you love it? Did you hate it? Is there something about it that really bothered you, or really spoke to you? Completing some or all of these sample statements can help you with this process. After reading the text:^{[10]
X
Research source}
- I think that...
- I feel that...
- I see that...
- I have learned that...

Sample Reader Response

Community Q&A

Question

Is there a difference between a reading response and a book report?

Community Answer

Yes. A reading response provides a thesis statement of opinion that can be backed up with evidence from the work it reviews. It includes personal reflections that elaborate your connection to the written or artistic work (any type of media can be the subject of a response essay). By contrast, a book report simply summarizes the setting, characters, and/or the sequence of events in a book, and it could be of any genre. There is no thesis statement unless the instructor requires one that relates to the main subject, and it usually does not include personal stories as the response essay does in a reflective way.
Question

Is a reader response mostly a summary with the emotions you felt?

Community Answer

Rather than a summary, give more of an analysis - not what happened but WHY the author made it happen that way, and yes, feel free to include the emotions you felt.
Question

Is a reader response essay the same as a literary analysis essay?

Community Answer

A reader's response can be a short essay, graphic organizer or paragraph; it's a summary along with your reaction. A literary analysis essay is a structured five-paragraph work. Your introduction paragraph will include the hook, background information and your thesis statement. Your body paragraphs will include your topic sentence, introducing a sentence, a quote, your analysis and a concluding sentence. Your conclusion paragraph will include a final thought. You should also restate your thesis. Avoid using personal pronouns, contractions and abbreviations.