Helpful hints for Writing a Critical Response
Paper: See page discussing MLA Format (i.e. using proper header, etc. ) See page listing more specific hints for the Research Paper
First and foremost, remember that this is a Critical response
paper, NOT a Personal response paper.
You must maintain an academic perspective throughout your paper.
You are presenting an argument and supporting it with evidence
from the text or other sources. Therefore, AVOID the
following types of statements: "It seems to me," "I think," "I
believe," and "It is obvious that." In fact, try to avoid
using the first person altogether.
It must contain a strong thesis statement in a strong
introductory paragraph.
Be sure your first paragraph is an overview of the contents of
your essay. It's almost like an outline for your reader that is
written in complete sentences. Sometimes it's helpful to go back
and refocus your first paragraph after you've finished your essay.
Your thesis sentence should present a point that you will
prove. Do NOT make announcements ("This paper will
compare Coleridge and Wordsworth in terms of their portrayal
of nature").
You also need to make sure you introduce both the author
and work to be analyzed as early as possible.
Be sure to use quotation marks for titles of shorter
works, such as poems and short stories, and italics for
titles of longer works, such as plays, epic poems and
novels.
Avoid using references to the dictionary (Webster's
defines love as . . . ").
The body of the essay should be filled with information related
to your thesis.
Each paragraph has a topic sentence and a concluding
sentence. You should use evidence within your paragraphs
which further explains what your topic sentence introduced.
Don't forget to clearly express your own opinions. Avoid repeating
yourself.
Avoid plot summary! Use quotes from only those
sections of the text immediately relevant to your discussion!
Use past tense to discuss historical or biographical events, but
present tense when discussing literature.
Each time your read a text, the events "occur" all over again.
Therefore, as you describe these events, always use present verb
tense: "Wordsworth experiences ambivalnece about the French
Revolution." "Christabel lies down naked with Geraldine."
Evidence is needed in your paper.
Be sure to "back up" all your points with either examples from the
text, citations from the text or your outside resources.
Using proper MLA format, include parenthetical citations with
proper punctuation and a Works Cited page.
Be very careful when making references to the class
textbook. For example, William Wordsworth is the author
of The Prelude. Susan Wolfson and Peter Manning
are the editors of the text in which The Prelude
appears.
Sample Entry:
Wordsworth, William. "from The Prelude,
or Growth of a Poet's Mind. The Longman
Anthology of British Literature. 3rd Ed. Vol. 2A.
Ed. Susan Wolfson and Peter Manning. NY:
Longman, 2006. 452-516. Print.
(Note: only the first line is flush with the margin;
subsequent lines are tabbed over. It's called reverse
indent, if you want to look it up.)
Do Not Number the Entries in a Works Cited.
Also be careful when quoting verse--Use slashes to show
line breaks and cite by line (or act.scene.line for plays).
Introduce and explain all quotes. This means you
should avoid beginning or ending a paragraph with a quote and
you should never place quotes back to back without discussion
in between them.
Avoid plagiarism !! See Policy
DO NOT USE A COVER PAGE !!
Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are critical to your reader.
Good grammar will make your ideas clearer to your reader.
Don't use "in which" when you mean "that."
Don't use "that" when you mean "who" (i.e. when referring
to people)
Proofread your paper. Check for spelling errors. USE SPELL-CHECK
!
Do not use run-on sentences. Again, it's better to make shorter
clearer sentences than long confusing ones.
Commas are often needed when you do write a longer sentence (but
don't overuse them!).
Try to use smooth transitions between one paragraph and the next.
A strong conclusion leaves your reader fulfilled and your
paper complete.
Briefly sum up your thesis. Perhaps your final thesis has a little
more content than the thesis in your introductory paragraph
because the reader now knows where you are coming from.
Don't be afraid to make your final paragraph REALLY COUNT in some
way. Again, it gives the reader something to remember you by.
Possible Paper Topics:
Please!! Avoid making comparisons
to Present Day Society !!! Such comparisons almost never
have a basis in actual textual analysis !!
Comparison of views on French Revolution (Pick Two):
Burke, Wollstonecraft, Paine, Godwin
Portrayal of French Revolution in Wordsworth' s poetry
Characteristics of the Lyrical Ballads (as per Preface) in
Coleridge's Ancient Mariner or in one or two of
Wordsworth's poems from the collection
Relationship between Human and Nature in Coleridge,
Wordsworth, or Blake
Abolitionist portrayal of Africans: Equiano, Prince,
Wordsworth, Blake, or Southey
Wollstonecraft's principles as reflected in Maria, or
the Wrongs of Woman
