Jane Eyre

Reading Response Paper: Jane Eyre

paper that responds to and evaluates an assigned reading that we have already read or are currently reading. This is not a summary paper, but you should provide a concise summary of the reading early on to orient your audience. The overall purpose of this essay is for you to put your thoughts in dialogue with ideas and issues raised in the text. Your response paper should be fairly formal and should genuinely attempt to shed light on one or more aspects of the work. You may discuss the significance of character, plot, setting, symbol, character motivation, thematic elements, irony…whatever floats your boat. Overall, I am looking for interesting and original insights concerning the reading assignment. Tip: Avoid the obvious! Have fun! Take risks! If you’re excited about your topic, your peers and I very likely will be too! J

In short, your task is to analyze and critique the text in question: You should present and develop your own “take” on the text, and use reflection, detail, and textual evidence to support and extend your analysis. Additional resources are not necessary, but they are certainly acceptable. Keep in mind, however, that your paper will be evaluated on the basis of focus, development, use of specific textual evidence as support, creativity, and level of insight. The majority of your paper should be your original thoughts, not those of the sources you reference, so use textual support carefully and thoughtfully to supplement your own ideas. Your thesis statement should be highlighted or underlined in each draft.

Possible starting places for your response include an author’s life, politics, the social context of the work, philosophical musings, how and why the work evokes a particular feeling in you, cultural relevance, or components of the text such as the significance of form, setting, narrative voice, imagery, or symbolism. See additional tips below.