Guidelines for actively reading a written text

Previewing a written text

  • Who
    A-supp-1
    is the author? What are the author’s credentials?
  • What is the author’s purpose: To inform? To persuade? To call to action?
  • Who is the expected audience?
  • When was the text written? Where was it published?
  • What kind of text is it: A book? A report? A scholarly article? A policy memo?

Annotating a written text

  • What surprises, puzzles, or intrigues you about the text?
  • What question or problem does the text attempt to answer or solve?
  • What is the author’s thesis, or central claim?
  • What type of evidence does the author provide to support the thesis? How persuasive is this evidence?

Conversing with a written text

  • What are the strengths and limitations of the text?
  • Has the author drawn conclusions that you question? Do you have a different interpretation of the evidence?
  • Does the text raise questions that it does not answer?
  • Does the author consider opposing points of view? Does the author seem to treat sources fairly?

Asking the “So what?” question

  • Why does the author’s thesis need to be argued, explained, or explored? What’s at stake?
  • What has the author overlooked in presenting this thesis? What’s missing?