Editors note: Think about asking questions like this when you're critiquing a poem or story. Or when you're editing your own - you are always the most invested reader.
Pay attention to the diction and other rhetorical strategies.
Why does the author choose one way of constructing information over another?
What is gained by that choice?
What effect does that choice have on you, the reader?
What is being claimed?
What type of claim is the author making?
Are you persuaded?
Why or why not?
Does the argument work? Why/why not?
Determine what the author's major assumptions are. Assumptions valid? Does the author supply backing? What specific types of assumptions are the author's claims based upon? Do the assumptions allow for a strong bridge between the claim and support? What assumptions is the author making about you? Are you part of the intended audience of the text you are analyzing? How do you know?
Author's values. What sorts of major things might the author think are important? How do these values influence the argument? How do you know?
Author's support. Are all of the claims supported? What kind of support is the author using? How do any of the author's claims go unsupported? Why? What impact does that have on you, the reader? On the overall argument and test?
Check the author's use of logical fallacies. Does the author rely on fallacies to construct his or her claims? To support them? Why?
How does this argument make me feel? Why? What are the implications of this word? What is the connection between this part of the text and that part?
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I think you're talking essays and other forms of non-fiction here, not poetry and fiction. While most can be applied to imaginative writing, they seem extraneous for the most part. Poetry and fiction (while there are rules) are emotional and not based on things like supporting claims. But yes, for essays, very true, and I'd add balance to your list. If you do not show your reader that you understand both sides of an argument, you'll come off as one-sided/opinionated.
An informed reader (whatever that is) can apply most of your suggestions without even knowing they are doing so, to some extent it's intuitive, to another learned.
In imaginative writing I'm far more concerned that people understand real sentiment from false, and original subjects and ideas from trite. I can withstand a few logical fallacies (especially since imaginative writing is often improved by it.)
But I agree with you that it would be nice if readers looked for cues and patterns and all that good stuff, not only will it possibly help the reader but it'll make the commentator's time more rewarding.
You made me think, I hate doing that! -
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yes, for essays, very true, if you do not show your reader that you understand both sides of an argument, you'll come off as one-sided/opinionated. thanks for adding that
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Thanks for these insightful suggestions and good luck with your thesis. I have bookmarked this page, thanks for sharing.
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That is a lot to think about when reading someone's work. And, an even heavier "burden" when writing. Very thought provoking.
Lady Dragonwyck -
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this is an outline i'm following to write my thesis. thanks for the remark
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Very thought provoking read here.It has some very good advice in it that may work when used properly most of the time...providing as what was once said, "If you're living in a society that's literate."
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That's great advice! If you're living in a society that's literate.
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good advice i think if one likes to do more in depth critiques, personally i just like to read poems and have some fun but i have done in depths critiques in the past. a good piece
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thank you
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Great topic
Very intelligent subject the logical assumption's of many who try to insightfully win the game. The implications are varied and how one feels on any outcome can possibly differ, mm something to debate more over. -
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thanks =)
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