1. An introduction. This first paragraph should clearly identify the author and article you’re
summarizing, provide some context, and give a general overview of what topic or issue
the source is addressing. The introduction must include the following:
a. a statement conveying what you believe to be the author’s thesis—i.e., the
central claim or main point of the article.
b. your own thesis statement, which presents your response to the article, and
which you will support in detail in the essay.
2. A summary of the source (one or two paragraphs). Be sure to accurately represent the
main ideas, supporting claims, and evidence from the source. Also be sure that you
remain objective here, conveying only the key information from the article that helps
support the author’s claim. Your summary should have a similar balance of information
as the original article and be a fair representation of it.
3. Your response to the source (one or two paragraphs). Be sure to include a clear
statement of agreement, disagreement, or modification. You should also include
evidence from the article, relevant examples, your own reasoning, and your own
experiences to support your ideas. Remember that the purpose of a response paper is
to add your own voice to the mix, to join the conversation. Take this opportunity to
develop your own voice.
4. A conclusion. This paragraph should reinforce the ideas you stated in the essay