Journal Article Analysis
1. Read one article on a topic you intend to write about for the research paper later this term. The article MUST come from one of the Academic Databases from the PBSC library unless otherwise noted (contact me if unsure about your article). The article MUST be at least 1000 words long or 3 pages in length.
2. Scroll down for the assignment questions. Answer the following questions with in-depth, well thought out answers. Write at least one or two well developed paragraphs for each answer.
3. Minimum word requirement: your final analysis must be at least 1000 words, not counting the questions.
4. Begin your response by writing a citation for the source as it would appear in MLA or APA format on a Works Cited page. Your citation will appear as the first thing on your assignment after your heading (for MLA formatted paper) or title page (APA format).
5. In addition to all of the necessary citation information, you must use correct capitalization and punctuation for titles of sources and use the correct line spacing and indentation for the citation. See MLA/APA rules for that.
6. Since you are responding to a text, use first-person point of view when necessary for you thesis or analysis. Do not use second-person POV or contractions.
7. Be sure that your paper has the correct MLA/APA format (header, title, page number etc) and uses correct grammar and punctuation.
8. Use quotations from the article to support your answers. Be sure that you are using in-text citations for sources you cite.
9. Scroll down for the questions, copy these and save the questions as a Word document (.doc or .docx), and write your responses below each question. Be sure to write the citation for the source at the top of your paper. Write the citation as it would appear on a Works Cited page using correct MLA/APA format. Create a header with your name, and other necessary information for MLA/APA.. Answer these questions with in-depth responses of at least one to two paragraphs for each answer. Use quotations from the article to support your answers. Be sure that you are using in-text citations for sources you cite.
1. What is the rhetorical context of the article? To answer this, you will need to do some outside research on the author of the article, the journal, and/or the organization that published the article.
Address these points:
The authors background (sometimes an author will be an organization) and how that background affects your respect for, or trust in, the accuracy of the article. If there is more than one author, researching the first author, who is the lead author, is surricient.
How recently the article was published (how does this affect your understanding of the topic?)
Purpose of the journal or publishing organization
Other types of writing you would find in the journal, publication, or Website
Who the intended audience might be (research the publication and speculate on this) Whether the article is a scholarly article, one written for a specialized audience, or one
published in the popular press?
What kinds of appeals does the author make? (see the Three Appeals of Argument pdf) Is there a bias in the article? Indicate how you know that there is or is not any bias.
2. Respond to the authors points first by exploring how the ideas, arguments, or findings seem sensible to you.
3. Next, take a more critical stance and look for gaps in the argument. Raise questions or discuss any doubts you have about what the source says.
4. What evidence from the article seemed most convincing to you and why? Bring in examples from the text to support your points.
5. What evidence is least convincing and why? Bring in examples from the text to support your points. 6. How does the source change your thinking on the topic?
7. What do you understand better now that you have read this source?
8. How does the source compare with other things you have read on this topic?
9. After reading this article, what other possibilities for research do you think exist regarding this topic?
