Article Review

HI/POL 250, Fall 2011

Assignment #2: Article Summary and review of one of the articles posted here.

Due Friday, September 23, at 8 a.m. (the start of class). 1 point off for each day or fraction of a day late, meaning if you turn it in at the end of class it’s late. Bring a hard copy to class.

Your summary and review should be double-spaced, and be no longer than 2 pages. Use standard one-inch margins and twelve point fonts. Number your pages, and cite in footnotes anything you directly quote or paraphrase from the article, using the Chicago Style is used for footnotes and bibliographical entries.

Your paper should be about half summary and half review.

How to summarize an article:
  • State the author’s thesis.
  • Describe the key logical steps the author uses to develop the argument.
  • Describe the key evidence the author uses (if any) to test the argument.
  • DO NOT simply repeat the author’s points in chronological order. Describe the author’s argument and ideas, not just the article containing them.
  • DO NOT simply quote long passages. This is almost always a waste of space.
  • Consider the author’s entire argument (i.e. read the whole article).
How to review an article:
  • Internal critique: Is the author’s argument logical? Do the conclusions follow from the premises? Do some of the author’s arguments contradict?
  • External critique: Are there other facts or conditions the author is missing? Draw on your own experiences or outside reading to comment on the general applicability of the author’s argument.

In addition to my usual ones, I will have extra office hours on Friday, September 16, from 11 to noon and 1 to 2:30 in my office, Ireton Hall G112. Please see me or email if you have questions.
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