Reaction Paper Guidelines for PSYC 4600
You will need to do the reading assignments in order to do the Reaction Papers assignments (RPs). Whenever an RP is assigned, the assignment is to write a two-page paper (it can’t be only barely two pages, but it can be more than two pages) that covers at least one of the readings assigned for that week. The paper should do the following:
1) Summarize the main point of the reading (what it is about) in 1-2 paragraphs and then summarize a specific part of it in 1-2 paragraphs. The summary should paraphrase. No quotations are allowed. I will deduct points if you quote and you will get a 0 if you plagiarize.
2) After the summary, in 2-4 paragraphs, you should critically reflect on the part of the reading you focused on. Relate that specific part of the reading to:
a) its possible implications for understanding some aspect of human nature (e.g., how memory works) or an important social issue (e.g., anti-science sentiment in the US);
or,
b) something you have read elsewhere, personally experienced, witnessed, thought about, or read about (cite the source if it is something you read) at some time in your life;
or,
c) your critique the reading, if you can provide a strong argument for why readers should be skeptical about the evidence, main argument, or theory presented. This goes beyond the type of critical reflect described above.
Sample Solution