Unit II: An Entrance to the Realm of Academic

Chapter 1: The Reaction Paper

Lesson 1: What is a Reaction
Paper?
writing
 Reaction Paper vs.
Some may consider a diary entry to be a Reaction Paper to

Diary
the world. However, diary entries are personal in their
significance, while the reaction paper's significance is
societal.
The Reaction Paper is written for the enlightenment of
one's fellow human beings; a Diary Entry is written for the
enlightenment of the self. Both have their significance;
however, only the Reaction Paper is considered significantly
valuable for the academe.
Reaction Paper vs.
There is also difference in form:

Diary
● Reaction Paper
- is more formal, more descriptive, and often uses the
rhetorical devices of description and narration in order to
prove apoint;

● Diary Entry
- is less formal, less descriptive, and does not
endeavor to persuade or to make another person
understand; hence, there is no real effort in using
rhetorical devices. Oftentimes, the diary entry is a way to
rage about petty insults and air out grievances.
 Reaction Paper
Purposes
When one reads a reaction paper, one expects to be informed and
amused. Reaction papers help us in our everyday decisions; from what
movie we should watch, to the clothing that we should wear, and the
cases that we should believe in.

Modern iterations of the reaction paper are the movie review, gadget
review, travel reviews, restaurant reviews, and essays that discuss a
social phenomenon or a common experience.
 Reaction Paper in the Modern
Although the Modern world can be a lonely and alienating place, the
World
reaction paper can reach out and tell us that we are not alone. It helps us
to know that another person is going through the same experience, and
that this person has something to tell you about how to survive, what to
avoid, and where to seek pleasure. A reaction paper, when done right,
can help us process our own experience and help us see things that we
were not able to see on our own.
Lesson 2: Reading
and Writing a
Review
 Reaction Paper
A reaction paper is an academic assignment urging
students to explain what they feel about something. When
crafting a good reaction piece, the student should aim to
clarify what they think, agree or disagree with, and how they
would identify with the object regarding their life
experiences. The object of your response may be a painting,
a book, an academic publication, or a documentary.

This task is not a simple summary of the text or film

you’re assigned to. Neither is it a research paper; you don’t
need to use external sources in a reaction paper. Thus, the
writing process may seem confusing to newbies.
 Format
Introductio Body
n• You present the subject and set the • This part is a detailed analysis of
context for the readers. your response to the subject. You
should list the main points and
analyze them, relating to your
Conclusion feelings and experiences.
• Here you recap all major points
and restate your opinion about the
subject , giving it a conclusive
evaluation.
 Format
Introductio • Background of the topic
• Thesis Statement
n
Body • Supporting details

Conclusion • Summary of discussion

• Recommendation
 How to Write a Good Reaction
Paper Step-by-Step
1. Study the prompt 2. Clarify all instructions.
inside out. • A grave mistake that students
• You should understand the prompt often make is assuming they have
to craft a revelant paper that your understood everything in one go.
professor will grade highly. Still, asking questions never killed
anybody. So, we are
recommending inquiring your tutor
about everything to be 100% sure
you're on the right path.
 How to Rite a Good Reaction Paper
Step-by-Step
3. Study the subjects 4. Make notes.
of your paper. • Your reactions matter, as they will
• Watch a movie, look at the become the main content of your
painting, or read the text - do written text. So, annotate all
everything you can to get to the feelings and ideas you have when
depths of the author's message studying the subject. You'll be able
and intention. to use them as writing prompts
later.
 How to Rite a Good Reaction Paper
Step-by-Step
5. Make a reaction 6. Compose the draft.
essay outline. • Use the outline as a structure and
• The outline is the backbone of your add details, evidence, and facts to
content, which will serve as your support you claims. Then, add an
compass during the actual writing introduction and a conclusion to
process. the final draft.
7. Edit and revise.
• To err is human; to edit is divine. Follow
this golden rule to submit a polished,
revised paper without errors and typos.
 Lesson 3: Reacting to a Social Event or

Social phenomena include

Phenomenon behaviors that influence
or are influenced by other organisms responding to one
another. Examples include racism, prostitution, marriage,
and weddings, which are social constructs.

Such knowledge and experiences are referred to as

social phenomena, which are the individual, external, social
constructions that influence our lives and development,
and are constantly evolving as we age.
 Requiring a Reaction
Paper
Think of a social phenomenon or current event that you deeply care
about. Research about it in newspapers and online news sources.

Write a reaction paper about that event. Make sure that you do the
following when writing the reaction paper.
1. Get readers interested in the event.
2. Summarize the event.
3. Try to look at the event from different angles.
4. Use words for effect, whether this is to emphasize what you want to say or
to be ironic about inconsistencies you notice.
5. Come up with original insights about the event.
 Requiring a Reaction
Paper
The rubric for evaluating your reaction paper is as follows:

● Content (50%) (45%): This includes the relevance of the event and your
reactions; the informative and entertainment value of your paper; and the
societal importance of your paper.
● Organization (20%) (17%): This includes the appropriate use of transitional
markers; the correct use of paragraphs; ad the logical flow of ideas.
● Language (20%) (17%): This includes the use of vocabulary words to
heighten the reader's experience and the use of wit, metaphor, simile, and
irony.
● Mechanics (10%) (7%): This includes the correct use of grammar, spelling,
punctuation, and sentence sense.
Thank
You
Chapter 2: The Concept Paper

Lesson 1: The Art of Defining

 Definition is a mode of paragraph development that
answers the questions: What is it? What does it mean?
What are its special features? The word to be defined may
be an object, a concept, a person, a place, or a
phenomenon.

Definition is important because it clarifies the meaning of a

word or a concept and also limits the scope of that particular
word or concept. Limiting the scope controls and avoids
misinterpretations, vague notions, and/or broad ideas, as
what was presented in the introduction.
 Techniques of Defining
1. Formal Definition
- A term will be given and it will be defined by giving the
class where the word/term belongs (the genus) and the
characteristics that distinguish the term from other terms,
known as the differentia.
For example:
Term Genus Differentia

Definition is a mode of paragraph that answers the

development questions: What is it?
What does it mean?
What is its special
features?
 However, not all words or concepts can be
defined using the formal definition For instance,
words like love, equality, democracy cannot be
defined by giving their genus and differentia.
You cannot say that love is an emotion that all
human beings feel because that definition would
be to vague.
 Techniques of Defining
1. Extended Definition
- Is needed to define to abstract concepts. It allows you to broaden your
definition by using analogy, metaphors, comparison and contrast,
description, analysis, functions, etymology, and semantic origin.

a. Definition by Analysis
- To extend a definition by discussing the idea's components and/or its
implications. Implications are the far-reaching consequences of a
conecpt.
Example:
Democracy encompasses social, economic, and cultural conditions
that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.
 b. Definition by Etymology
- It clarifies the origin and development of the concept or term.

Example:
Democracy originates from the Greek "demokratia" which means
"rule of the people" which was coined from "demos" means "people" and
"kratios" means "power" or "rule" in the 5th century BCE to denote the
political systems, then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens.

c. Definition by Comparison and

Contrast
- Word is defined by the use of opposites.

Example:
Democracy is an antonym to "aristokratia"which means "rule of an
elite."
 d. Definition by Example
- A parallel or closely similar cases especially when serving as a
precedent or model
Example:
The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted
democratic citizenship to a elite class of free men and excluded slaves
and women from political participation.

e. Definition by Metaphors
- A metaphor asserts a correlation or resemblance between two things
that are otherwise unrelated.
Example:
My brother was boiling mad.
 Lesson 2: Art of
Defining a Concept
Paper
 Abstract terms cannot be defined
through the formal definition.
Concepts are ideas or principles that
are associated with something
abstract.
 Concept Paper
- As defined by Dadufalza, concept paper defines an idea or a concept
and explains its essence in order to clarify the "whatness" of that idea or
concept. It answers the questions:
- What is it?
- What about it?

Concept paper cab be subjective because the writer can choose

what areas to emphasize, what explanations, and analysis to include and
exclude, and what complex ideas have to be simplified.

Even if the concept paper tends to be subjective, the writer still has
to make sure the concepts are clarified and explains in such a way that
the readers can understand and make sense of the connections.
 Features of a Conecpt Paper
1. Introduction

- covers the essential background needed for the

concept as well as the thesis statement.

- background-the definitions and other relevant

information about the concept.
 Features of a Conecpt Paper
2. Body

- main section of the concept paper

- elaborate on the specific claims made in your

thesis statement

- These topic sentences will then be used to be

the main idea of each paragraph to make up the
body of the essay.
 Features of a Conecpt Paper
3. Conclusion

- Re-emphasizes the thesis statement, provides

summary of the body of the paper and relates the
importance of the concept in a specific field or the
word in general.
Guidelines in Evaluating a Concept Paper
Content (50%)
- Is the thesis of the essay clear?
- Is there a reason for this essay? What is the
significance of the topic? Is the topic sufficiently
researched?
- Are the details relevant to the thesis?
- Does the writer exhibit a thorough
knowledge of his/her topic as shown in the
presentation of the ideas?
Guidelines in Evaluating a Concept Paper
Organization (25%)
- Is the lead interesting?
- Are the major points clear?
- Is there a coherent and logical sequencing of
ideas?
- Is the conclusion appropriate and satisfying?
- Is the focus clearly defined?
Guidelines in Evaluating a Concept Paper
Language Style and Mechanics (25%)
- Is the language consistent with the content
of the essay?
- Is the language consistent throughout?
- Who is the author: Can you see him/her? Can
you hear his/her voice as a writer?
- Are the sentences well-constructed?
- Are words used appropriately?
- Is grammar - agreement, tense, articles,
pronouns, prepositions - correct?