: : First, how do you engage the documents in a meaningful manner driven by your thesis? The purpose is not to summarize documents, and you want to avoid this. The purpose is to analyze the documents engage their content using it to drive forward your point. This means being aware of the context in which they were produced, whose point of view they represent, and being aware of evidence in the documents that contradicts as well as supports your point. Second, do you closely read the texts? Not just the information in the text, but a close reading of the phrases, terms, approaches of the author? What is the context of the authors of the texts? What were their goals, assumptions, or strategies in writing it? What information would be available to them? In short, how well do you engage the author? Third, whats the point of your reaction paper? E.g., while this is a reaction to documents, it should be a reaction that argues or attempts to advance a discrete point or thesis. Fourth, does your writing serve to communicate your ideas effectively? Finally, do you draw upon the text? This to argue and advance your points!
