Summary

• Answers the question What?

• Picks out main idea and examples

• Answers the question How?

• Breaks object of analysis into its component parts

• Picks out thesis and argumentative structure

• Asks: What is the thesis of the article? How is the thesis demonstrated?

• Asks: Who is the audience for this article? How effectively does the author address that audience?

• Asks: How well does the argument succeed (what are its strengths and weaknesses)?

• Answers the question Why?

• Makes a judgment about the reliability of an author and argument

• Asks: Who is the author? Why should you trust what the author says?

• Asks: What proof does the author offer for the argument? Why should you trust the argument?

• Asks: Where does this document appear?  Is it a reliable source?  Why or why not?

• Answers the questions Where? and How?

• Connects ideas from one source with other ideas and concepts

• Asks: Where have you encountered these ideas or arguments before?

• Asks: Where have you seen contrasting ideas or arguments?

• Asks: How can you combine these new ideas with those you already understand?