Underline what you take to be the thesis idea or
“center of gravity.” Why do you think the author chose to put it
there?
In the margins, note with (+) signs, ideas that
you would like to have heard more about. What did you want to know?
Where, if at all, did the writer detail
information that might be already familiar to the reader?
What might be the most successful aspect of this
piece? Least successful?
discipline-specific:
In the margins, label all supporting arguments
with “SA” and counter-arguments with “CA.”Reading from the vantage point of an unconvinced reader,
which of the counterarguments strikes you as the most potent?
What is the tone of this proposal? Given chosen
funding source, identify possible inconsistencies.
To what extent does this report conform to the
format mandated by the target journal?
Is this summary written from writer-centered or
reader-centered vantage point?
Does the argument emphasize a claim of fact or
value?Evidence?