How to Analyze an Article Properly: 6 Steps to Follow
Learn how to analyze an article in six steps: summarize it, research its claims, study the audience, find its purpose, judge it and compare it.
Being able to analyze an article is a valuable skill. It helps at school, and it also lets you judge whether an article is valid. Here is how to analyze an article properly:
Contents
Summarize the Article
The first step in how to analyze an article is to write a summary. A summary can take the form of a review or a digest. To summarize well, read the article several times and don't multitask by writing or typing while you read. Understand the concept first so you can analyze the writer's intent and ideas. Avoid anything that pulls your focus away. Pay attention to the vocabulary the writer uses, and look up anything unclear in a dictionary. Only then write a summary of about 3 to 4 sentences.
Back It Up With Research
The next step is to do some research. Research strengthens the opinion or argument you build. If the writer makes a mistake, you can point to several strong arguments backed by evidence.
Consider the Audience
One way to judge this is to ask whether the writer serves the readers well. For example, if an article is meant for a general audience but uses technical terms, you can be sure it won't be very convincing.
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The Purpose of the Article
An article has a purpose in the form of a thesis: the writer poses a question, and the body of the article answers it.
How Well the Writing Succeeds
To decide how successful the writer's article is, you can lay out which arguments were proven and which were not. You can then go on to assess how meaningful the writer's arguments are within the article.
Compare With Other Articles
The last step in analyzing an article is to compare it with other articles in the same field. Reading other articles in that field shows you which arguments are more valid and more convincing. Don't forget to say why one argument is more convincing than another.
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Analyzing an article takes special skills if you want to do it well. You can follow the steps above so that your analysis is sound.
