This short assignment (minimum 600 words, submitted via email) asks you to analyze a scholarly source you find through your own research. You should submit your paper as an attachment via email before class the day it is due. Your analysis should address our main analysis prompts, but keep in mind that academic articles often look different than public articles. The author(s) of these sources often are not making an argument so much as presenting research findings. Instead of “underlying beliefs” (warrants), these authors are guided more by the methodologies and assumptions of their academic disciplines. With that in mind, here are prompts for academic analysis:
- The first section of your analysis (probably two or three paragraphs) should focus on the main purpose, findings, conclusions, and/or argument of the text. First, articulate what the main purpose of the article and the main findings or argument the author presents. Then, as well as you can, explain how the author produced their findings (methodology) and what we learn from these findings (results and conclusions).
- The second section should situate the source and its findings within the larger conversation around the topic it addresses. How do these findings or argument fit with other things you have learned about the topic? Do you get a sense for how this source adds to the other research academics have done on this topic (literature review)? How can we classify the findings, argument, or thinking from the source drawing on stasis theory?
As you address these prompts, you should aim to incorporate specific quotes from the text in order to support and develop your analysis. You should include appropriate in-text citations and include a “References” page as well (the citations do not factor into the word limit). Our handbook has instructions for citations; use APA citation guidelines. You can also find these guidelines at the Purdue OWL.
Matt King 