Get an overview-- As you read the article for the first time, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is the topic of the article? (What is the article about? What do you know about this topic that isn't in the article? Information from outside the article, even if it is from your own experience, is useful for supporting your own response to the author's view.)
2. What is it that the author wants us to know or believe about this topic? (Do you agree or disagree with the author's perspective? Why?)
3. Does the author want us to take action or do something? If so, what is it? (Is it a possible action? Will it have the result the author thinks it will have? Are there better alternatives that the author hasn't considered?)
Do an analysis - What does that mean? Click on the link on the left to see.
Get the language -- What does this mean? Click on the link on the left to find out.
Sometimes particular words have negative or positive connotations that carry important information about the author's perspective or attitude toward something. Pay special attention to these emotionally charged words. You may want to quote or respond to these words in your essay.
Synthesize different points of view
--What does this mean? Click on the link on the left for the answer.
I would like to thank the
Cal
State Los Angeles OWL from which I received much of the information
contained in the above document.
I would also like to thank Barry's
Clipart and Icon bazaar for
the clip art pieces used on these web pages.
Page created by Patricia E. George, Graduate Teaching Fellow.
Last updated: December 2001