Critical+Analysis+Guidelines


 * Worksheet: Analyzing Writing - You can use this worksheet to help you with your analysis. Remember you should have one for each author because __you must discuss both authors in your paper.__ **

** Critical Analysis Guidelines **

** Basic Requirements: ** Your paper must be 2 pages in length Double Spaced 1” margins

** Use the following guidelines, as well as the outline I’ve given you, to help you formulate an effective essay. **

**__ Guidelines for Analyzing the Authors’ writing: __** ** Identify the author’s thesis and judge it: **What was the author’s reason for writing this? What was his point? Do you feel the point was well developed or left incomplete? Do you feel even though there was plenty of support, something still doesn’t feel right about the stance the author took? For Example: ** Bailey argues that the United States had no moral problems with giving money to dictators in poor countries as long as those leaders were not communists. Bailey provides extensive evidence of the money spent by the United States in the 1950’s in countries like Iran. Alongside this information, he recounts horrible acts committed by the Shah of Iran in the 1960’s. **

** Identify an Approach: **Were certain types of information used dominantly? Did the author use sources that had an economic, political or cultural basis? For example: a.) **Welbourne used a political approach in this article on Vietnam. Instead of discussing the causes of the war and major battles, the author instead focuses on the fight in the US Senate between Democrats and Republicans. Welbourne puts forth the argument that the Vietnam War was fought by America because of the political climate at home in the United States. One way he made this approach apparent was when he recounted, in detail, the vote to send troops in 1965.** b.) **Boorstin seems to take an economic approach when describing America’s entry into WWI. He uses a variety of sources that support the argument that bankers and investors would benefit from US entry into the war. Boorstin supports his thesis by describing the effects that the losses to our merchant fleet had on the US economy in 1915.** ** Identify a Writing Style ** : A writing style is something unique to this article or author. Sometimes authors introduce all of the characters first and then tell the story. Sometimes authors ask basic questions in the article, then answer them, then ask another question. Sometimes authors dwell on what other historians have said and judge it rather than bringing up fresh ideas.