7. Reaction essay

 7. Reaction essay

In a reaction essay, the writer is usually given a print – a visual or written stimulus– to think about and then respond to. Common prompts or stimuli for this type of writing are quotes, pieces of literature, photos, paintings, multimedia presentations, and news events. 

A reaction focuses on the writer's feelings, opinions, and personal observations about the particular prompt. 

Your task in writing a reaction essay is twofold: to briefly summarize the prompt and to give your personal reaction to it. 

Structure:

• Introduction: summary of prompt and thesis statement

• Your first reaction or response to the prompt

• Your second reaction or response to the prompt

• Conclusion 

Paragraph 1	Introduction Summary of prompt and thesis statement
Paragraph 2	Your first reaction or response to the prompt
Paragraph 3	Your second reaction or response to the prompt
Paragraph 4	Conclusion

The introduction	In the article Athletes How Have Competed in Both the Olympics and Paralympics on TIme.com, Kharunnya Paramaguru focuses on the many athletes with disabilities who have competed in the Olympic Games. She provides a brief history of disabled athletes through time, their achievements, and the future trend of more disabled athletes competing in the regular Olympics. After reading the article, I was amazed by the number of disabled athletes who have actually been Olympic class competitors and those who continue to do so.
Your first reaction or response to the prompt. (quotes, ideas, visuals or could be original ideas)	I was surprised to learn just how many disabled athletes have competed in the traditional Olympics (not the paralympics) over time. Gymnasts, swimmers, and various track and field athletes are just some of the athletes who have enjoyed the competitive nature of the Olympics. In fact, when the article mentioned a young swimmer who was deaf but was nevertheless able to hear the shouting of the crowd, I was filled with awa and admiration.
Your second reaction or response to the prompt	I was also impressed to learn that disabled athletes have been competing in the Olympic Games for over 100 years. These athletes did not wait for a special disabled Olympics; they just went out and competed against their peers. Sometimes, they even won–like the male gymnast in 1904 who won a gold medal even though he had a wooden leg. This was before modern prosthetics and other technological innovations.
The conclusion.  You can evaluate whether the prompt had an overall effect or impact on you personally.	In the end, I am heartened to learn about such fearless individuals who just want to compete. They are just as passionate about their sport as other professional athletes—maybe even more so. With the development of prosthetics and other devices, it may not be long until all athletes, disabled or not, can face each other in the same arena.

Reactions to “old-timer structural worker”

The photo, an image of an older construction worker on a building job, was taken in 1930 in New York City. The structure that the builder is working on still stands; it is the world's famous Empire State Building, which is 102 stories tall. The back-and-white photo is a bit grainy, but the subject and the amazing background are clearly visible. The other tall building in the photo is the well-known Chrysler Building, another New York landmark. For me, this photo is a testament of hard work and ingenuity. 

The photo portrays a man who is focused on his job. He is positioned high up in the air, yet he sits comfortably while completing his task. The old man’s body language shows a keen interest in doing his job competently. Incredibly, he is not connected to harnesses or other safety equipment. The look on his face tells the story of a man with so much experience in his craft that he is not afraid of anything. What is clear is the level of comfort he portrays in the photo: comfort in his surroundings of being on an open platform over 50 stories high and comfort on his job ability. 

The photo also represents a time of ingenuity during the early twentieth century. Looking past the man and into the horizon, one is drawn to the countless buildings in the distance. The fact that New York City is continuing to grow even during this period of the early 1930s is obvious in the photo. I marvel specifically at this man-made tower, which is reaching toward the sky and toward the future. The photo is a reminder of what people can create given their ingenuity, spirit, and hard work. 

It is difficult for this photo to not elicit a reaction, even more than 80 years after it was taken. The visions of society and the promise of a prosperous future are ingrained in “Old-Timer Structural Worker.” It is a decades-old photo that reminds us of how much we have accomplished in such a short period of time. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fes.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FArchivo%3AOld_timer_structural_worker.jpg&psig=AOvVaw2hHer3lfKF2gnEpLqaDKqV&ust=1719427769325000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCLj_yd2194YDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI