In about 300 words or about a page and a half, respond to one of the following essays: “Damned If You Do and Damned If You Don’t—Why Body Image Needs Regulation” these essays concern the topic of gender and race.
In planning for this assignment, it is important to remember that:
1) A critical response is not a summary; therefore, you should only have one or two sentences for the purpose of introducing the content of the essay under discussion. When doing so, make sure you mention the title of the essay and its author.
2) Your critical response should engage a significant point or perspective from the essay. For example, you can agree or disagree with the author’s idea or point of view; you can also assess, comment, or expand the author’s argument. In short, your critical response is your reaction or reply to somebody’s idea or point of view.
3) Since the essays we are going to read are usually well written, you may be inclined to agree with them. While acknowledging the persuasive powers of the author is a good point, simply saying that this or that is such a wonderful essay and you learned a great deal from it would rarely make it an outstanding response. At the very least, you should think of fresh examples or additional evidence in support of the author’s view.
4) The best responses are those that apply the author’s insight to a related topic or take the discussion in a new direction. Or if you disagree with the author, challenge his or her view and make your case. This last kind is the most difficult to write, but if you are successful, it can also be the most productive and the most meaningful.
Sample Solution
