How to write a reaction paper

Dear insansapinas,

Before I write my reaction on the STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS of President Benigno Aquino III, let me give you some pointers on how to write reaction paper. I hate reading disorganized commentaries which are purely based on their opinions and not on what have been written or delivered.

* What do you think of what you are reading?
If it is a SONA  you expect that the speech is all achievements of the administration.

* What do you agree or disagree with?

Based on your observations (not the comments or remarks of the opposition or critics of the administration ) write if you agree or disagree with what have been said.

So you will be needing a lot of these phrases.

I think that

I see that

I feel that

It seems that

In my opinion,

Because

A good quote is

In addition,

For example,

Moreover,

However,

Consequently,

Finally,

In conclusion, 


Organizing your REACTION PAPER

The reaction paper has three main parts:

1. The INTRODUCTION (PASIMULA)

2. The BODY (ANG REAKSIYON)

3. The CONCLUSION (KONKLUSYON)

THE INTRODUCTION

The introduction should have at least two paragraphs.

The first sentence should include the TITLE, THE AUTHOR OR THE SPEAKER AND WHERE AND WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED:


So the first sentence in your Reaction on the SONA 2008 would be the title which is the STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS, 2008 (the date is very important because there have been past SONAs. The Speaker of course was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo although she may not be necessarily the writer of the speech. Indicate where and when it was delivered.

The following paragraph should give a short summary of the SONA.

The last paragraph should contain the thesis statement which is the purpose of the REACTION PAPER. Are in you agreement? Do you disagree with most of what have been said or you are just evaluating the validity of statements.

What is the thesis statement?

1. The thesis statement is not a fact or observation. It is an assertion.

Example:

Fact or observation: May politicians criticize the SONA
Assertion: The SONA failed to fully explain the government's plan on combatting the crisis faced by the nation.

2.
A thesis statement represents the position of the reactor to the content of the SONA and not just a announcement.

Announcement: The President enumerated the accomplishments and the plans of her administration.

Position: The accomplishments and plans enumerated are not adequate enough to save the country from the economic crisis.

3. A thesis is not a title. It is a complete sentence.

A title- Philippines and the economic crisis.
Thesis statement: The accomplishments and plans enumerated are not adequate enough to save the country from the economic crisis.

THE BODY

The body should contain Ssentences/paragraphs that provide support for your thesis. Make one paragraph for one idea or topic.

YOu can structure your thesis into:

What the speaker said and what do you think about it.

THE CONCLUSION:

A conclusion should

* stress the importance of YOUR THESIS statement on SONA.
* give the paper a sense of completeness, and
* creates a final impression on your reader.


You do not repeat what have been written in the body but you can mention the introduction to relate to your conclusion.

Or you can challenge the reader by asking what do they think?

Or you can look into the future and ask the reader if your idea still applies.

Pinaysaamerika