During the semester students will complete two (2) reaction paper assignments. Each assignment will be a critical thinking reaction to the positions taken by the author(s) or interviewees regarding a contemporary issue regarding government or politics. The source may be videos, podcasts, or textual articles about politics or current events or issues. Students will write a concise reaction essay regarding the selected article, its topic and the position of the author or interviewee. As a general guideline the work should be between 750 and 1500 words.
The purpose of a reaction article is to develop your critical thinking skills and analysis of anothers position and develop a supported (researched) counterargument to the presented position(s). Students should first synthesize the key positions, arguments and support of the author(s) and present them in a concise format. Students will then react to the position of the author(s) and provide factual support for the students position in support or opposition. The paper should address specific questions: Where is the argument weak or unsupported? What essential facts do they omit? What alternative examples or facts refute their position? Finally, how might those things alter their position? What is your position on the topic? What factual support (example or expert opinion) for you support or opposition?
While your reaction will reflect your position on the topic, this exercise is more about developing a counterargument as to why their position is wrong or unsupported, or if you agree how, it could have been better supported or proven.
The paper should double spaced (times new roman 12 pt., 1-inch margins.) The paper should include appropriate citations for any work, fact, or information article(s) used or referenced in the paper. The format of the paper must follow the MLA formatting and citation requirements. See the UTA Writing Center for information on the MLA formats.
Specific instructions and article(s) will be made available on Canvas. The completed essay must be uploaded to Canvas by the due date for credit. Emailed or hand delivered papers will not be accepted or graded. Late papers will not be accepted without written permission and are subject to late penalties at the instructors discretion.
Grading Rubric:
Use MLA format for the paper.- 10%
The first paragraph must list the title of the article(s), the authors complete name, the date published, and the publisher, and a summary of the main points or positions of the article(s) or podcast. If any of this identification information is unavailable, you can omit that portion. For the podcasts list: the subject, title of the podcast, interviewer, and interviewee, as well as the broadcast date, should be listed. -15%
Subsequent paragraphs must include your reaction to the article: did the author(s) prove or adequately support their position? Are there points that the author made that are important? Did the author miss critical information? Etc. -25%
You must also support your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with the author with facts, events, or other supporting information. -25%
Information, quotations, facts, etc. used in he paper must be cited both in-text and on a Works Cited page following the requirements of MLA Citations. 15%
The last paragraph, state if you recommend this article to others and why or why not? -10%
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