Read the “Conclusion” to the article (pages 45-47). It is not necessary for the purpose of this assignment to read the entire article, though you should at least skim the rest of it for the purpose of the class. What are the author’s main points? Paraphrase the points that the author uses to build the argument. (There may be several. Keep in mind that information and facts are not points on their own but are used to support the author’s point.) What is the author’s central argument? The individual main points that you identified above should have some central goal, or something that the author wishes to prove. (Remember that an author’s argument is not any one point or fact, but rather the ultimate conclusion the author draws from these points.)
What is the one main assertion the author most wishes to convey to the reader? Think about the effectiveness of the argument. For instance: does the author’s argument leave you with any further questions? Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Problematic? Incomplete? What further questions might you ask of the author? What counterarguments might someone make against the author’s argument? How else might someone interpret the same evidence? Is there anything that inhibits your understanding of the argument or makes it difficult to follow? First contextualize and skim the reading in your head–then respond to the above questions, being careful to distinguish between the argument (main point) of the text, the evidence used to support it, how that evidence is used, and how effectively it is presented.
