WR 115Summary/Response Assignment

Kaely Horton

For this assignment, you will choose one of the essays we have read in class and write two well-developed paragraphs about it. One of these paragraphs will be a summary and the other will be a response. Each paragraphs should be 10-12 sentences long. Your audience is someone who has not read your chosen essay, but is interested in its ideas.

Summary Paragraph Requirements

  • 10-12 sentences long
  • Include a topic sentenceat the beginning of the paragraph that states the title, the author, and the main idea of the essay in your ownwords.
  • For example: In his essay “Superman and Me,” Sherman Alexie illustrates theimportance of reading in all our lives.
  • Describes how the author of your essay supports his/her main points (using evidence, reasoning, examples, personal experience, etc.)
  • Paraphrases (restates in your own words) the main points of your essay
  • Includes at least one relevant, well-chosen quote
  • Provides an accurate overview of the essay for someone who has not read it.
  • Includes a strong conclusion sentence

Response Paragraph Requirements

  • 10-12 sentences long
  • First sentence provides a smooth transition between the summary paragraph and your own response (you can think of them as two parts of the same whole)
  • For example: Like Alexie, I have also felt a very strong connection to reading from a young age.
  • Is focused on one main idea or opinion. Shows how that idea compares to the idea(s) put forth in the essay you are responding to.
  • Includes your own detailed, relevant experience to support or develop your opinion. Shows how your experience compares with the experience described in the essay.
  • Includes a strong conclusion sentence

Tips for Success:

  1. Choose an essay that you are genuinely interested in writing about.
  2. Use signal phrases like “According to Lederer…” or “Lederer claims…” to make it clear when you are writing about the author’s ideas (rather than your own).
  3. Always use the author’s last name! (i.e., Lederer instead of Richard)
  4. Go into plenty of detail with your personal experience in your response paragraph. Make as many connections between your experience and the author’s experience as you can.
  5. At the same time, keep your response paragraph focused on one main idea. Don’t try to tackle every possible thing you could say about the essay.
  6. Expect to write multiple drafts.