Response Writing: Guide Compiled & Adapted by: Ms.

Roopa Ram

Response Writing

 A response paper is your personal chance to explain and communicate

your personal point of view and understanding of a particular idea
through writing.
 Engage your critical thinking skills.

The purpose of Response Writing

To relate your To show your To demonstrate your To connect with

ability to validate your To communicate
observation personal reaction your personal
response your personal views
experience

QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS

1. What was the author trying to promote/ What is the meaning that the author wants me to
understand? (meaning, values)
2. What is my personal position relative to the author’s?
3. What do you agree or disagree with?
4. What is my personal vision and attitude to what the author has told?
5. How has it all affected my personal life and my daily interactions?

GENERAL STRUCTURE

1. KEEP IT FORMAL
This is a calculated and considered response to what you have read.

2. USE EVIDENCE
Frequently refer to the text as evidence when having an opinion. It becomes the reference
point for all your insights within your text response.

3. HAVE AN OPINION
This is not a recount. This is your OPINION on what the author has created.

4. TENSE & STYLE

Can be written in either past or present tense. Feel free to use your own style and language
but remember to keep it formal.
Response Writing: Guide Compiled & Adapted by: Ms. Roopa Ram

HOW TO WRITE A RESPONSE?

Introduction: Your thesis sentence should be your main response to the response writing. This
response can be positive (Agree), negative (Disagree) or a both (Partially
Agree).

Body/Content: The body of your essay will now give reasons for your thesis.

The TEEL acronym is useful here:

1. T – Topic Sentence:
Begin each of your paragraphs with a topic sentence. This sentence introduces the point
that will serve as the main idea of the paragraph. It will engage directly with an aspect of
the question or writing prompt.

2. E – Expand / Explain:
The purpose of the next few sentences will be to narrow the focus of the topic sentence,
often by referring to a specific character or event in the text and offering further
explanation of the central point being developed in the paragraph.

3. E – Evidence / Example:
At this point in the paragraph it is essential that you make close reference to the text to
support the point you have been making. Having an opinion is great, but it must be based,
and be shown to be based, on the actual text itself. Evidence will most often take the form
of a quotation from the text – so make sure you are comfortable with the mechanics of
weaving quotations into your writing!

4. L – Link:
The end of each body paragraph should link back to your central contention. It restates the
argument or reason outlined in the topic sentence.

Conclusion: Try to return to the ideas in the introduction as well as leaving with a final
thought.
Response Writing: Guide Compiled & Adapted by: Ms. Roopa Ram

Sample Excerpt & Answer

Excerpt

A zero waste lifestyle requires looking at your rubbish bin and asking if any of those discarded items
could be put to another use or replaced with something reusable. Is anything bio-degradable or will it sit
in a landfill for hundreds of years, polluting the environment?

Despite what some of us may think, recycling alone isn’t enough. Local statistics show that while
Malaysians produce 30,000 tonnes of waste every day, only five percent of it is recycled. Furthermore,
the website said that the country’s build-up of solid waste is resulting in tremendous land and air
pollution for the environment, health problems for communities and bottlenecks to economic growth.

Before even making a purchase, we should ask ourselves another question. Sancelot acknowledges that
“… the marketing gets us all the time and we want to buy those things,” before continuing: “But look at
what is already in your house and how many items you have in your bathroom. Ask yourself, do I really
need it? Was it out of stock and I needed it?” The impassioned zero waste advocate isn’t expecting
Malaysians to turn their lifestyle around 360 degrees the way she has done but she actively encourages
little changes so that we can be part of the solution — not keep contributing to the problem.

(Extracted from: New Straits Times, January 2019)

Link: https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/pulse/2019/01/446142/eco-shopping-conscience

Respond in about 150-200 words for EACH question.

Being a university student, you could do your part in achieving a more sustainable
environment. In your opinion, how could you make it possible? (25 marks)
Response Writing: Guide Compiled & Adapted by: Ms. Roopa Ram

Sample

Outline

Thesis statement (Claim/stand) : In my opinion, from my part as a university student, it is

possible to do more through campaigns and advocate 4R.

Reason/Point 1: We can push more Explanation: Through campaigns that are

campaigns from students on sustainable organised by students, the impact of peer
environments. influence can gain more awareness from
individuals to push a more sustainable
environment for the university and local
state.

Example: We can start small with

organising talk about sustainable
environment among hostels organisation to
official talks from student council
organisation, MPP.

Reason/Point 2: We can practise the 4Rs Explanation: The 4Rs encourages us to

as a community. reduce our use of non-biodegradable
items, reuse materials instead of throwing
them out, recycle non-biodegradable
items, and recover energy using leftover
waste.

Example: We should install more colour-

coded trash bins around campus to remind
students to sort their waste.

Example 2: We may make a collaborative

effort with recycling companies to ensure
waste is sent to a proper recycling station
instead of being dumped in landfills.

Conclusion: In summary, we as university students can achieve sustainable goals by

organising campaigns and motivating students to actively practise 4R.
Response Writing: Guide Compiled & Adapted by: Ms. Roopa Ram
In my opinion, from my part as a university student, it is possible to do more through
campaigns and advocate 4R. We can push more campaigns from students on sustainable
environments. Through campaigns that are organised by students, the impact of peer influence
can gain more awareness from individuals to push a more sustainable environment for the
university and local state. For example, we can start small with organising talks about
sustainable environment among hostels organisations, to official talks from student council
organisation, MPP, for a bigger audience. We can practise the 4Rs as a community, as
recycling alone is not enough. The 4Rs encourages us to reduce our use of non-biodegradable
items, reuse materials, recycle non-biodegradable items, and recover energy using leftover
waste. We should replace normal trash cans with more colour-coded trash bins around campus
to prompt students to sort their waste, and add reminders for sustainable habits near them.
Additionally, we may make a collaborative effort with recycling companies to ensure waste is
sent to a proper recycling station instead of being dumped in landfills. In summary, we as
university students can achieve sustainable goals by organising campaigns and motivating
students to actively practise 4R.

(198 words)