One way to explore a topic is to read and respond to an article. Such an assignment typically begins with a summary of the article followed by a response to idea(s) in the article. The format of a summary response assignment can vary depending on the course and instructor, but it is a common type of academic assignment.

Three steps in a summary-response assignment:

1. Begin with a summary of the article. This will familiarize the audience with the context of your response.
2. Include an introduction to the response. Identify an idea by quoting the idea and then paraphrasing the idea.
3. Explain your response to the idea. Through one or more of the response techniques, explain your reaction to the idea.

Format for introducing a response: Quote + paraphrase + response

Look at the beginning of the response below. Notice the required components:

• Citation (author’s name and page number)
• Date
• Quotation
• Paraphrase of the quote
• The start to the response

Notice that the example follows this format:

• Last name (date) writes, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). I find this topic / idea / concept / example interesting because…

Stems for introducing a summary

The sentence stems below can help you develop your command of more complex academic language.

• In “article title” author’s first name and last name (year) examines /discusses /claims…. main idea.

Stems for narrowing the scope in a selective summary

• In particular, Gambino ______.
• More specifically, Gambino ______.
• Gambino focuses on ______.
• In their discussion / analysis / etc., Gambino ______.

Stems to begin your response: (you are not limited to these and you can modify them):

• Last name (date) writes, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). I find this topic/idea/concept/example interesting because…
• The first topic I’d like to discuss is … (identify the topic). Last name (date) states, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). I was surprised with this finding…..
• One important idea concerns … (identify the idea). Last name (date) indicates, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). In my experience…
• Another critical issue I’d like to address is … (identify the issue). Last name (date) points out, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). This reminds me of when…
• (Identify the topic) … is very interesting to me. Last name (date) suggests, “Exact quote here” (p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). This example can be compared to…

Note: you do NOT need to include the title in the beginning of your response because you already included the title in the summary section.

Stem for an indirect source:

• Some people argue that … (identify the idea). X (name plus credential) said, “Exact quote here” (as cited in Name, year, p. X). In other words, … (paraphrase of this idea). I agree with them to some extent, but…

Example: Some experts point out the problems of social networking sites. Stanford University Professor Jean Anderson claims, “These sites tend to (full quote here) …” (as cited in Cook, 2019, p. 6). Anderson means here that…paraphrase…. I agree with Anderson to some extent, but…. (response).

Stems to introduce a paraphrase:

• What Anderson means is…
• Anderson means that…
• This means that…
• That is to say, …
• Anderson’s point is that…
• What s/he/they is/are    suggesting/implying/saying    is that…
• What Anderson wants to express is…

Stems to show agreement:

• I totally/completely agree with X about/that…
• I agree with X about…
• I find X’s perspective on …. to be quite compelling.
• I sympathize with the author’s point about…

Stems to show concession:

• I agree with X about … to some extent, but…
• While I agree with X to some extent…
• I am not entirely in agreement with X about/that…
• My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support X’s position on …., but I find Y’s argument about… to be equally persuasive.

Stems to show disagreement:

• I disagree with X’s point that…
• I strongly disagree with X about…
• I disagree with X’s claim that…. because…
• I disagree with X’s view that… because, as recent research has shown…
• I find it surprising that …… . I just can’t believe that….. .

Stems to introduce examples, personal experience, and comparisons:

• This example makes me think about…
• Based on my experience, …
• This reminds me of…
• This makes me think of…

Vocabulary alternatives:

1. For topic: idea, concept, example, issue, problem, challenge, obstacle…
2. For adjectives to modify the topic: important, significant, critical, interesting, first, second, next, another