Reading Response #1: Summarize and Evaluate
For Reading Response #1, your task is to summarize and evaluate the first chapter of Richard
Schwartz’s Introduction to Internal Family Systems. This RR will be 2-2.5 pgs in length (double
spaced, 12-font, Times New Roman). Using the Summarize and Evaluate guidelines from the Six
Moves of Academic Writing (Resources à The Six Moves), you will thoughtfully evaluate Schwartz’s
introduction to IFS by connecting it to your own experience (i.e. your story and sense of self); you
are to take personal interest in summarizing and evaluating Schwartz’s ideas. In other words, you’re
not writing a disinterested lab report about, for example, ‘what the amoeba did’. Instead, your RR
will be personally relevant while remaining analytical and academic in tone.
A Simple Structure
Use the following three-paragraph guide to help
structure your RR. For detailed guidance, consult the Six
Moves PDFs, the TSIS.Quoting And Analysis guide,
and the TSIS.Summary document. These guides can be
downloaded in Moodle à Resources.
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When we are no longer able to
change a situation, we are challenged
to change ourselves.
—Viktor Frankl
In Paragraph 1, use <the opening move + global summary + funnel> to introduce Schwartz’s
text and narrow down to a particular point of evaluation.
In Paragraph 2, link what you began discussing in your Summarize Move to the Evaluate
Move. Answer the question: Why and how are Schwartz’s claims relevant to my story, to my
life, and to my sense of self? Be sure to integrate quoted material and your analysis of it.
In Paragraph 3, take your ideas further, evaluating in a more nuanced way and/or applying
the ideas in a novel way. Show curiosity. Make connections. Explore. Demonstrate depth.
A Successful RR1 Will…
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Create a solid Summarize Move (Resources à The Six Moves à 01.Summarize)
Link the Summarize Move to an Evaluate Move (Resources à The Six Moves à 02.Evaluate)
which will consist of two paragraphs that carefully explore the implications of Schwartz’s
framework in your life. How, why, and to what extent do his ideas matter?
Quote and paraphrase Schwartz’s text; then integrate your analysis. All quotes and
paraphrases must flow naturally with your own writing voice and follow MLA 9 standards.
Consult TSIS.Quoting and Analysis for guidance (Resources à TSIS Templates).
Write in the active, present tense.
Use stylistic variation, making sure your syntax is sometimes short and direct and sometimes
long and patient. Learn to listen to your writing. Hear it.
Avoid redundancy.
Follow tenets of MLA formatting (see Syllabus or ChatGPT or Google: Times New Roman; 12
font; dbl spaced throughout; citations with page numbers; 1” margins; indent new
paragraphs; proper heading and title; etc. When in doubt, ask ChatGPT: How do I format my
essay according to MLA 9 standards. Then, follow the AI.)