Prof. Pak
FALL 2008
READING ANALYSIS
EXPECTATION SHEET #1
Q: What is the difference between a summary and a reading
analysis?
A: A reading analysis critiques the author’s argument.
ITEMS YOU MUST HAVE:
1. Thesis statement: Your reading analysis must have a thesis
statement.
• A thesis statement expresses an
argument.
• A thesis statement comments on the author’s main idea for that
section in the reading.
2. Examples: You must support your thesis statement with
examples. These examples must be cited. See above.
3. Citations: You must use internal citations. In a reading
analysis, you are expected to refer to the text.
• Use MLA parenthetical internal
citations: (Last name of author Page number) Note: In MLA style,
there is no comma between the last name of the author and the page
number. Ex/ (Edwards 14) See
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/
4. A conclusion: You must end the reading analysis with a
conclusion.
• A conclusion summarizes your
argument in a concise manner.
• A conclusion is part of the overall structure of a reading
analysis.
THINGS TO AVOID:
1. Do not use the personal “I”. This is not appropriate for
historical writing.
2. Do not just summarize the author’s argument.
3. Do not hand in a reading analysis that is less than two
pages.
SUGGESTIONS:
• You may want to start your reading
analysis with some version of the following two sentences:
“The assigned reading for the week
consisted of the first three chapters in Reginald Horman’s text,
Race and Manifest Destiny. His main argument in this section was
_______________.”
• Work on structuring the reading
analysis with a beginning, middle, and end. Make sure the
paragraphs flow logically from one to the next.
• I am also looking for content: Did
you understand the author’s main argument?