REACTION PAPER #1

GOAL: To provide a personal, critical response to William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical

Ballads


METHOD: Actively read Wordsworth’s Preface, marking any section that catches your attention for any reason (e.g. it makes sense to you, it makes no sense to you, you strongly agree, you strongly disagree). As you read, if any ideas or specific reactions come to you, jot them down. The primary questions you should be focusing on are: First, what is Wordsworth “doing” (saying) in this work? What’s his point? Second, how does he go about saying it? (e.g. what are the key points of his argument? Third, do you buy it? Is his argument/position credible, or does it sound like a bunch of bull? If it doesn’t make sense to you, focus on why it
doesn’t make sense. You must create an argument out of your reaction, even if your reaction is confusion. Be sure to format your essay as you would any other academic essay, with an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs in which you handle one “reason” (that supports the opinion stated in your thesis) at a time—ideally, one “reason” per paragraph with supporting evidence in each paragraph.

FORMAT: MLA format must be followed, including a Works Cited page, even though we
are using only the Norton Anthology. Absolutely no outside research should be consulted or cited in your work. This is a reader response assignment (you being the reader). The format of your Works Cited page is the format for “A work contained in an anthology.” Remember to make use of the Purdue University OWL website (address is on your syllabus). 2 pages max (double-spaced pursuant to MLA format, not including Works Cited page!)

MY EMAIL: erin.latona@templejc.edu

DUE: Pursuant to our conversation during class today, you have two options as to when
you turn in your Reaction Paper.
Monday: You can turn in either a completed Reaction Paper OR a Smarthinking
receipt.
Wednesday: If you turn in a Smarthinking receipt on Monday instead of your

Reaction Paper, your paper is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday. Be

sure to attach everything you submitted to Smarthinking and the Smarthinking

tutor’s comments to the back of your paper.