English 461 Summary Response Assignment

The Summary Response paper differs from the Literary Response paper. Not an "essay," this paper is more a "report." where you summarize the ideas of another writer. (Please select from the list of assigned "secondary readings" throughout the course.) As a "report," your paper does not need to have a thesis. Instead it should address the following:

What is the main point of the essay? What is the writer's basic point? Can you describe in a few sentences what the chief purpose of the essay is?
Can you paraphrase the key points that support the basic argument? Perhaps summarize the general outline of the essay?
Are you persuaded by the argument of the writer? Do you think the writer's points are persuasive and clear? Do you feel there are any problems or shortcomings in the writer's argument?

Some suggestions:
Because this assignment is not an "essay," you may wish to begin not with your own thesis but with that of the author you are writing about. Think of the paper as a "presentation" of the author's work, so organization and smooth transitions in your own writing are still important.

Since these essays are not always written for a general audience they often presume the reader is familiar with sophisticated literary terms and concepts. In other words, you may encounter a lot of "jargon" in these essays. I've tried to choose essays that are useful and relevant to the topics of the class but that are also accessible and understandable. Still, don't be afraid to look up a word you may not be familiar with, or consult with me or others about difficualt concepts and phrases.

The Summary Response paper should be at least one and a half typed, double-spaced page (about 450 words).