A reaction paper is a written assignment that provides a personal opinion regarding a given piece of work. It is typically a 2-5 page document in which the writer responds to one or more texts. Reaction papers are often used as tools in a class-setting to encourage students to think critically about texts and how those texts are in conversation with each other or with a wider field of discourse. The skills used in a reaction paper include summary, analysis, and synthesis. A reaction paper may or may not feature a conclusion, and it is okay to use the personal "I" in a reaction paper.
Reaction papers usually start with a 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. The writer should then detail their reaction to the material, which involves their thoughts and feelings about the work and an analysis of its themes, characters, and other elements. The purpose of a reaction paper is to help the writer reflect on and critically evaluate the work and to communicate their insights and opinions to others.
