ENGLISH FOR ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

MODULE 1 - FINALS

REACTION PAPER
Writing is hard, simply because one hopes to write using the best possible
words to articulate the best possible thoughts in the most creative way imaginable.

What is Reaction Paper?

It is a form of paper writing in which the writer expresses his ideas and
opinions about what has been read or seen.
This paper writing may be informal (subjective), two pages long. Use
language that fits your audience and matches purpose. Please do mind that using
inappropriate language can damage your credibility, undermine your argument, por
alienate your audience.
There are different aspects of using appropriate language in writing a paper:
1) Levels of formality: writing in a style that your audience expects and that
fits your purpose is key to successful writing. (Formal, neutral, informal)
2) In -group jargon: Jargon refers to specialized language used by groups of
like-minded individuals. You should never use jargon for a general audience
without first explaining it. (metonymy - a figure of speech consisting of the
use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or
with which it is associated. “Crown” in ‘lands belonging to the crown’
which is associated with the king)
3) Slang and idiomatic expressions: Avoid using slang or idiomatic
expressions in general academic writing. (eg. once in the blue moon)
4) Deceitful language and euphemism: avoid using euphemism (words that
veils the truth) and other deceitful language (passed away)
5) Biased language: Avoid using biased language including language with a
racial, ethnic group, or gender biased or language that is stereotyping

As all essays, a reaction paper comprises introduction, body, and

conclusion. In introduction, the writers states the main premise or background of
the topic, in a body he expresses his ideas or arguments, and in conclusion
summarizes the results.
 Despite the fact that you are writing about your reactions, thoughts, and
impressions, you still need too follow an appropriate structure. So make sure to:
● Read the material carefully
Whether it is a book, article, or a film, make sure to read or watch it very
carefully. Sometimes, you will need to repeat this procedure for a couple of times.
● Mark interesting places while reading or watching
This will help you focus on the aspects that impressed you the most and
come back to them after you are done with reading or watching.
● Write down your thought while reading or watching
● Come up with a thesis statement
Use your notes to formulate a central idea you will develop in your further
work. the n put in one sentence and make it your thesis statement.

Writing a Reaction Paper

In presenting ideas convincingly:
● Paper may include your subjective interpretations: you may even use the
first-person narration “I”
● Reactions can be about one or many of the author’s ideas
● However, as reaction paper focused on your own thinking, you can also
include summaries, paraphrases, or quotations
● You may use general-specific or specific–general structure.
● Reaction paper usually called for an expressive writing style
● It includes: Summary, analysis and synthesis

Summary
Reaction papers usually start with brief summary of the text(s) that will be
discussed in the paper. It is necessary to include the title and author(s) for each
text. A summary in a reaction paper should capture the thesis statement or main
argument/idea from the text within a few sentences. However, because the main
purpose of the reaction paper is to analyze and synthesize the discusssed texts, it is
important that the summary section is not too long; one paragraph is usually
sufficient. Also, make sure to keep the summary strictly factual by avoiding
opinion words such as ‘good’, ‘bad’ , ‘convincing’, ‘flawed’, etc.

Example:
 The Acta Psychologica, February 2010 article ‘When a Picasso is a
“Picassso”: the entry point in the identification of visual art’ describes a study
conducted by researchers to investigate whether or not art is distinguished from
‘real world objects’ in human cognition and memory. The study consisted of three
experiments which collectively indicate that ‘the artist’s name has a special status
in the memorial representation of visual art’.

Analysis
This part is where the writer explores. Way on how to write a paper:
describe a quote of an idea from the movie or story, then state your reaction. Your
reaction may be in the form of agreement, disagreement, qualified
agreement/disagreement. As well as questions, criticisms, and emotional
responses. It is important to provide an explanation for each of your reaction.

Example
Ullyat argues that reading Mary Oliver’s poetry through a Buddhist lens
shows the poet’s preoccupation with the concept of ‘midfulness’, while i was not
familiar with the idea of ‘mindfulness’, i found Ullyat’s arguments convincing. I
especially noted her discussion of ‘Nowness’ - which constitutes being fully
present in the here-and-now. This is a theme in Oliver’s poetry that i had also
noted in my reading of the collection ‘why i wake at dawn’.

Synthesis
The writer discusses how the text relate to each other. Comparing and
contrasting the texts can be useful way to begin thinking about how the text relate
to each other. The writer can bring outside information; class lecturers or previous
readings. As well as questions, criticisms, and emotional responses. Explains an
idea in a different way or contradicts the idea.
Example
While Tannen’s book Your just don’t understand argues that men and
women have inherently different communication patterns. James and Drakich’s
review of 56 studies on gender and communication found that 34 studies claimed
men talk more than women, and 20 studies either found no difference or no
conclusive results. This suggests that the divide between men and women’s
communication styles may not be a distinct as Tannen claims.
 Just for your information, reaction papers pare sometimes called response
papers, which are aimed at describing your impressions from any event that
happened. It can also be a film or book, for example.
● How do i feel about what i’m reading, watching, listening to or
seeing?
● What do i agree or disagree with?
● How do i estimate the situation?
● What is the best way i find to estimate the story i read, watched, or
experienced?

Activity 1. Write what is Right.

Direction: Summarize your understanding of what you have read by filling in the
blanks. You can use additional sheet if necessary.

A reaction paper is__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
To write a good reaction paper, you must _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
When you write your reaction paper, remember these important points:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Activity 2. Read and Review

Now, that you know what a reaction paper is and how to write it, let us read
a review of a movie entitled, “Miracle in Cell no. 7” and evaluate whether it has
the characteristics of a good reaction paper or not.
But before you read it, let us define these words first. Get the meaning of
these words from any dictionary.

Words Meaning from dictionary

 1. handicap
2. forge
3. execution
4. exonerate
5. perplex
6. caricature
7. cronyism
8. undercurrent
9. compensate
10. instinct

Miracle in Cell no. 7: Film review

A mentally handicapped single father is wrongly accused, tried and

sentenced to death for the rape-murder of an elementary school girl in Lee Hwan-
kyung’s Miracle in Cell no. 7. The miracle of the title is the series of meeting the
man has with his daughter while in prison in the months that lead up to his
execution and the friendship she forges with his fellow inmates. Years later, the
girl grows into a woman set on exonerating her dad with their help. Oh, this is a
comedy.
But then there’s melodramatic, tragic aspect of the film that gives it its
jarring tone. The prison scenes are told in flashback as an adult Ye-Sung addresses
a court in an attempt to prove her father’s innocence. Her biggest ally in the quest
is Jang Min-hwan, warden at the time of Yong-gu’s detention. In 1997 Jang is a
grieving father whose experience and gut instinct tell hi Yong-gu may be innocent.
He does his part by looking the other way when Ye-sung sneaks in and by raising
the little girl later on. He also digs around police records and uncovers a pattern of
political prosecution, police ineptitude and corruption that supports their claims.
And Lee has a penchant for heavy-handed imagery and histrionics that could bear
judicious editing.
 It is this odd mix of broad comedy and issue-based drama that makes
Miracle so perplexing and logic-defying. It’s hard to tell if Lee zhas made a social
drama disguised as a goofy comedy or a comedy with an undercurrent of righteous
anger. Either wya, the film wouldn’t work at all if it wasn’t packed with engaging
performances by some Korea’s most reliable second-stringers. Ryu waffles
between caricature and affecting as the handicapped Yong-gu, and Gal
occasionally suffers an overabundance of cute, but the rest of the cast more than
compensate for their shortcomings, particularly Oh and Jeong. Miracle in Cell no.
7 is one of those films you don’t want to, one you know you shouldn’t, but you just
can’t help liking.

TERM PAPER
Now that you have learned how to write a reaction paper, you are ready to write
your own.
Write your own review about the movie entitled ‘The grave of the Fireflies’
1. Be sure to use appropriate language, manner and critical approach.
2. The language should be formal and easily to understood by the general
public. Use everything that you have learned in this module.
3. You can also refer to the texts you have read. Those were very good.
4. Format: Times New Roman, 12, short bond paper, 1.5 spacing. Are you
ready? Start writing! Good luck!

Post test
Let us check how well you have mastered the lessons in this module
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Encircle your answer.
1. Which of the following is NOT true about the reaction paper?
a. The writer expresses ideas and opinions about what has been read or
seen
b. It may be informal, two pages long
c. It has an introduction, body, and conclusion
d. It is a summary of the article
2. Which of the following should be included in the first part of the reaction
paper?
a. Personal thoughts
b. Information about the author
 c. Main problem
d. Sources
3. Which of the following are used to learn more about the structure of reaction
paper?
a. Examples
b. Opinions
c. Reactions
d. Traditions
4. Which of the following is NOT a form of reaction paper?
a. Appeal
b. Protest
c. Reflection
d. Report
5. Which of the following will help you avoid mistakes in writing a reaction
paper?
a. Give a summary of an article
b. Give an overview
c. Do not give your personal opinion
6. Which of the following is NOT included in the second part of your review?
a. Personal thoughts
b. Information about the author
c. Highlights of the main points
d. Main ideas
For numbers 7-10, please refer to the following statements:
I. Read of watch the material carefully
II. Come up with a thesis statement
III. Write down your thoughts while reading or watching
IV. Compose an outline

7. Which of the following must be done first when you are asked to write a review?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
8. Which of the given steps in number 7 be done next?
 a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
9. Which will be the third step?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
10. Which will be done last?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV

Prepared by:

Ms. Edeth P. Cafirma

Subject Teacher