This document provides guidance on how to effectively respond to a text. It outlines four key steps: 1) Understand and examine the text by identifying the main idea, evidence used, and facts versus opinions. 2) Filter through initial gut reactions by thinking critically about what causes those reactions and finding credible evidence to support one's views. 3) Respond by making a personal connection, challenging ideas, explaining how one's thinking has changed, or extending the ideas to another topic. 4) Choose two of these response types and write two paragraphs following a template of a topic sentence, quote, response with examples, and concluding sentence.

1. Responding to a Text

2. Cartoon

3. First Step?
What is the first step in
responding to a text?

4. Understand and Examine the Text
• What is the main idea?
• How does the author support this idea?
• What kind of evidence is offered?
• Which ideas in the text are facts (ideas that objective,
cannot be disputed) and opinions (ideas that can be
argued)?

5. Filter through Gut Reactions
• Responding in an academic manner is deeper than a gut
reaction.
• Don’t focus on your initial impulse when formulating a
thoughtful response.
• Instead, think carefully through that reaction:
• What makes you feel this way?
• Is it the idea or the presentation that causes this reaction?
• What can you use to support your own view?
• Is your evidence credible or simply an opinion?

6. What is the main idea here?
• Student loans are
overwhelming.
• Parents don’t understand.
• Adult kids have to move
back home in order to pay
back the debt.

7. What are
the
facts??

8. What
are the
facts?

9. What are
the
opinions?

10. What are
the
opinions?

11. -Why did you
get upset or
stressed?
-Do you relate?
-How did you
connect with
the image?
-Can you prove
any of your
claims?

12. How to respond
There are several ways to write a response:
You might make a personal connection with the text.
You might challenge the ideas presented.
You might explain how you were changed.
You might extend the ideas to another topic.

13. Connections
• What connections can you draw between the text and
your own life or your previous learning?
• In other words, can you relate to the text or the
writer’s experience? How? Why?

14. Challenges
• What ideas, positions, or assumptions would you like
to challenge in the text?
• In other words, what might you disagree with or need
more information about?

15. Changes
• What changes in attitudes, thinking, or action are
suggested by the text, either for you or for others?
• In other words, does this text change any of your
assumptions or beliefs? How has the text changed
your thinking about the topic?

16. Extensions
• What new ideas did you get that extended or
broadened your thinking in new directions?
• Can you apply the ideas to a different topic? Can you
see how they might apply in a new setting?

17. Choose two to write your response
• Connections: What
connections do you draw
between the text and your
own life or your previous
learning?
• Challenges: What ideas,
positions, or assumptions
would you like to challenge in
the text?
• Changes: What changes in
attitudes, thinking, or action
do you have after reading the
text?
• Extensions: What new ideas
did you get that extended or
broadened your thinking in
new directions? Can you
apply the ideas to a different
topic?

18. Write two paragraphs of response
• A topic sentence that captures the main idea or claim you hope to
communicate in your response. Your topic sentence needs to reflect
the author’s ideas and your response. You might use the templates
provided to help you construct a strong topic sentence.
• At least one quote or paraphrase from the author’s piece that lets
your reader know precisely what you are responding to. Make sure to
introduce the author in your sentence, so your reader knows you are
sharing Reiter’s idea(s). You may begin like this: Reiter’s claims… or
According to Reiter…
• A response that includes at least one specific example, anecdote,
etc. of your own to explain why you believe the statement you made
in the topic sentence. This portion should be several sentences.
• A concluding sentence to wrap up the paragraph.