Reading Critically and Writing Logs

I.                     Reading critically

a.       Read with a pen or highlighter in hand and underline main ideas and important information.

b.       Stop periodically and try to identify the points that the author is making in each paragraph or section.

c.       Write comments in the margins responding to, agreeing with, or arguing with the author. Label anything you notice such as strong examples, good quotations, types of evidence, logical fallacies, and types of appeal (BG Ch. 3 and 9).

d.       Make note of any connections between what you are reading and other texts or information you have.

e.       Periodically jot down the main idea of a chapter or section. At the end of the chapter, review the opening, body, and conclusion in order to identify a main idea or purpose. Try to write a two-three sentence summary of the section. Consider the author’s purpose and intended audience.

f.        Optional—Take notes as you read. Be sure to head them with the author and book or article title. Jot down page numbers in the left hand margin as you write. Take notes in short phrases, carefully putting quotation marks around any distinct words or phrases that you copy exactly from the text.

II.                 Analyze what you have read.

a.       Identify main points, purpose and audience (where is your author coming from?)

b.       Analyze how the arguments, tone, or descriptions are supported and organized.

c.       Look for underlying values and assumptions.

d.       Look for gaps and inconsistencies.

e.       Think about connections to your experience, other writers, etc.

f.        Examine questions and confusions you may have about the piece.

g.   Consider your professor's purpose for assigning the reading.

III.               Decide on a starting point.

a.       Your overall impression backed with example

b.       Points you agree with vs. those you don’t/weaknesses in the argument or evidence

c.       A comparison of the text with another writer’s viewpoint? a comparison of  their argument strategies

d.       An analysis and evaluation of the organization of the text

e.       Any aspect of the text that stood out to you

IV.              Draft.

V.                 Revise.

a.       Thoughts clear?

b.       Examples given to support your observations?

c.       Quotations smoothly included and cited correctly to strengthen your points?

d.       Paragraphs flow well from one idea to the next with appropriate transitions?

VI.              Edit, check MLA format.

102 Syllabus                         102 Spring 2007 Assignment Sheet