How to Write a Response Essay - the Guide

Not all students like doing creative assignments because of the strict formatting, citation, and structure requirements. However, writing a response essay is regarded as one of the simplest tasks because your primary goal here is to come up with a response to a particular book, event, subject, video, etc. In this in-depth article, we'll analyze this assignment and help you figure out how to create a response essay structure meeting all the requirements.

What is a Response Essay Main Aim?

Having to write a response essay means that you should come up with a response to a book, article, event, etc. However, not just any book, article or event will come in hand - you should make sure that these subjects are fascinating, shocking, or sensational not only for you but your readers as well.

What is a response essay? That is a creative assignment based on your attitude toward a particular issue, and that is why you need to express your viewpoint only in the first person. In other words, you should provide some reasons for thinking the way you do, as well as let the reader know whether you agree or disagree with a particular statement.

The Detailed Response Essay Structure

Like any other task, this one also has a structure which you should comply with. The key purpose of this assignment is allowing the writer to respond to an idea in a formal way. Except for expressing your own opinion, you should also know the subject area well, understanding the situation and using factual information.

Response essay format is contingent on the subject area you are going to cover. Let's recall some features of any writing assignment. A typical response essay has the following structure:

• Introduction;
• Body paragraphs;
• Concluding sentences.

To make this task easier-to-cope-with, create a response essay outline which will help you organize your ideas efficiently. After investigating all resources, you should decide what factual information you'll use in your essay, creating a plan that will keep you from getting disoriented in this overabundance of facts.

How to Start a Response Essay?

Typically, when you write a response to an event, you should voice your own opinion, which is why your introductory part should have the response essay thesis statement. Its primary goal is to assert your own viewpoint, while all other arguments you mention will be simply supporting your thesis.

Apart from being short and informative, the introductory sentences should amaze or even shock your readers, thus grabbing their attention and increasing their number.

Writing a Response Essay Body Part

If your principal aim is to create a compelling essay which will trigger emotions, you should stick to the persuasive or even analytical writing style. When writing an introductory part, make sure to add a thesis statement to it, whose principal purpose is to voice your opinion regarding the topic. Once that is taken care of, you can proceed with explaining it in the body paragraphs.

The number of paragraphs depends on the subject area and your attitude to a problem. In your main paragraphs, you should develop the main idea by trying to answer the following questions:

• What makes you think this way?
• Can you prove this or that fact?
• Do you agree with the statement? Why?

You should also review your own ideas. If you have your original viewpoint, try to prove it by using other scholars' achievements, scientific facts, valuable documents, various concepts or ideas.

To prevent erratic writing, try dividing your paper into several paragraphs, conforming to the one idea per one paragraph rule.

Writing a Response Essay Conclusion

Since this type of writing is all about voicing your personal opinion, you should repeat it once again while creating a conclusion. Therefore, continue the discussion by letting the readers know your viewpoint once again.

Keep the last section short (no more than 5-6 sentences) and refraining from explaining new concepts here. The primary goal of the wrap-up part is to draw a conclusion allowing the readers to understand what you think about a book, movie, event, article, etc.

Response Essay Topics for University and College Students

Sometimes, students may have trouble picking an interesting topic to explore. Typically, it's the teacher's job to assign topics. However, students are required to do it by themselves. To make their task easier, we have created a list of the most exciting themes to write about:

• Are all people satisfied with their jobs? Does job satisfaction really matter to employees?
• There are quite a few working mothers nowadays. Does it influence the behavior of their kids in any way?
• There are prisons offering academic lectures to their inmates. Is there any point in doing this?
• Describe the influence of modern video games on young adults.
• What is more important - a good family or a prosperous business?
• What factors cause terrorism?
• Is it possible to stamp out corruption in the modern society?
• How do you feel about modern movies with special effects? Are they better than the films made 50 years ago?
• What situations can make you feel shy?
• Is it correct to judge the behavior of others?

Keep calm and remember that every "A+" is reachable with starting the preparation in advance!