Choose an academic paper about baroque art (JSTOR) for example and complete the worksheet bellow :
The questions below will guide you through the steps of reading a scholarly article not
just for content, but also for argument.
When you first encounter the article, book chapter, or even book, do the following:
1. Read the title, the abstract (if there is one), and the introduction, then skim the
body of the argument and read the conclusion.
2. Make note of the thesis or main argument of the article, as well as any important
aspects of the argument that jump out at you.
3. Take a look at the footnotes/endnotes. Who is the author citing and why? What
other information are they imparting in the notes?
4. What words did you not understand? Write them down and look them up.
5. Finally, go back and read more closely. This time, focus on content and evidence.
Again, take any notes necessary.
For your first paper, please answer the following questions using complete sentences and
paragraphs. For your second paper, answer the following questions in essay format.
Questions:
1. Identify the author’s argument and briefly summarize the evidence they use to
support their claims. Your entire paper should not be a summary.
2. What does the author’s evidence tell you about their point of view or what they
think is important to consider when making their argument?
3. To whom or to what is the author responding? Have they discovered something
new or are they introducing a new interpretation of a work? Do they “call out” or
cite previous scholars who have considered this object/concept/idea?
4. What is your reaction to the argument? Were you convinced/unconvinced? Why
or why not? Were you left with unanswered questions?
5. What was the most controversial/interesting/alarming/outlandish statement in the
article? Why?
6. What was the most interesting footnote or endnote you read? Why?
7. To which other scholars and/or books and articles would you turn if you wanted
to find out more information about the topic?
An “A” paper will thoroughly answer all of the questions above as well as contain:
1. A strong, directed thesis
2. Excellent spelling, grammar, and punctuation
3. A deep sense of engagement with and thorough understanding of the article
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