While these papers are not as formal as your final paper or art project, they still require thought
and careful preparation. Unlike in most academic writing, in these papers you may use the first
person (I/we), however you still must cite your sources. Footnote and cite just like you would in
a term paper. (I prefer Chicago Manual of Style or MLA citations, but if you are accustomed to
APA, that is ok. Just be consistent).
In your response papers, you must engage with the texts we have read for class. That means
using the text to help you. When you quote, dont just insert the quote and assume your reader
knows why it helps advance your argument. Take the time to engage with the quote and show
your reader why its important.
Reflection/Response papers are normally two two and a half pages (not including
bibliography/works cited) of concise, accurate writing that shows reading comprehension, a clear
thesis, and your own evaluation. This can be tough. You must be both selective and thoughtful
about what you choose to include. Response papers should not be summaries of what you have
read, nor are they as informal as journal entries. Here are a few guidelines that might be helpful:
1. Develop a thesis. This is the core of your argument or insightwhat you want to say about
the text. Foreground that thesis as your first sentence.
2. 1-2 paragraphs: State in your own words what you perceive to be the authors main idea
advanced in the text. What central argument or insight is being presented? Do not simply
summarize the text. Rather, try to reconstruct the authors main idea and argument
convincingly.
3. 2-3 paragraphs: Are there are insights from other readings or from class discussion that
support, complement, or contradict this authors perspective? The goal here is to draw
larger connections among sources, bringing them into conversation. Utilize quotes from
your sources and always, always analyze the quotes you include. Dont just leave them
there without explaining why and how they relate to your argument.
4. 2-3 paragraphs: Offer your personal evaluation of these readings on the whole. Do you
find the author persuasive? Why/why not? What strikes you most in this weeks readings,
and why? What questions or insights stick with you? Focus your response on the authors
argument and ideas.
5. Conclusion: sum up your analysis and argument. Do NOT introduce new information in
your conclusion.
Use Times New Roman or Garamond 12-point font. Use double spacing and 1-inch margins. I
can spot filler a mile away. If youre struggling with a text, I would rather see your attempts to
work through your questions than meaningless filler. Also, please do a spelling and grammar
check.
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One of the terms you will hear me use frequently is close reading. This is a particular way of
engaging with a text in order to extract information and understanding. Its a technique that you
will hone as you move through your college career.
Here are some links that may help you in developing your close reading skills. Many are focused
on literature but the same principles may be applied to what we do in theology as well:
How to Do a Close Reading: https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/how-do-close-reading
Write a Close Reading: https://guides.lib.uoguelph.ca/c.php?g=130967&p=4938496
Close Reading a Text and Avoiding Pitfalls:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_fiction/i
ndex.html
Writing a Good Response Paper: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process1/invention/Writing-a-Response-or-Reaction-Paper.
For those of you considering grad school (you have time, breathe!), I highly recommend this site:
https://theprofessorisin.com. It gives concrete advice on how to write well, how to navigate
graduate school and academic life. The writing suggestions are useful no matter where one is in
ones academic life.
Finally, Wikipedia is NEVER an acceptable source to cite. EVER. EVER. EVER.
Last Completed Projects
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