Language IV – guideline for extensive reading (articles)

Some questions you can ask yourself about the extensive readings (articles):

-What is the issue at stake in the article? Is the thesis clearly put forth? Can you underline it in the
article?

Try to sort out from all the ideas that are included in the article, the key idea that the author puts
forth. Write it out for yourself so you can then determine the significance /the role of the rest of
the information in terms of that key idea.

-Is there only one position advanced? More than one? How would you define it/them?

-What arguments are put forth? How are the arguments built? Do they include, for example,
personal experiences, studies conducted, experts´ opinions, general background information
provided by the narrator? Which of these sources do you find most effective? How can each be
useful in its own way?

-Does the writer return towards the end of the article to the key idea advanced? Is the idea
restated in a new light? Try to define the key ideas the article closes with.

-Does the author manage to clearly point out the general significance of the key idea?

-Do the ideas advanced relate to your own life experience? Are they in any way enlightening or
inspiring?

-Do the ideas advanced relate to the situations portrayed in the readings/movie we have
discussed? Try to identify the idea from the article and how it is related to the readings or movie.

-Do you like how the article is written? What exactly about the article do you or don´t you
particularly like?

You can consider the i) content (the ideas included and how they are developed and supported), ii)
the way the content is organized (how ideas are put together –from personal examples to
general/abstract ideas, from personal experience to objective data, from particular cases to more
generalizable ideas), iii) the way language is used (the vocabulary, the metaphors, the structures),
iv) other?

Try to be as specific as you can: first just follow your reaction: what do I like? And then try to
specify what this ‘reaction’ or ‘general taste’ refers to.

- Identify the vocabulary used in the text to express the key ideas. Make sure you look up this
vocabulary and expand on it so that you may discuss the notions in the article in your own words,
varying upon expression.