This handout provides suggestions for writing papers or reactions that request you to evaluate a text through the lens of a vital or theoretical source that is secondary.

Generally speaking, the lens should expose one thing in regards to the initial or “target” text that could not be otherwise obvious. Instead, your analysis may phone the credibility associated with the arguments associated with the lens piece into concern, expand the arguments associated with lens text, or provoke several other reevaluation associated with the two texts. In any event, you will end up producing a crucial “dialogue between texts.”

Reading the Texts

You read them is crucial since you will eventually want to hone in on points of commonality and discord between the two texts, the order and manner in which.

First, read the lens text to determine the author’s core arguments and language. Since theoretical or critical texts are thick and complex, it might be useful to develop a plan for the author’s points that are primary. According the to Brandeis Writing Program Handbook, a lens that is valuable will “grapple with main tips” of this lens text, in place of coping with remote quotes that could or might not be indicative regarding the author’s argument in general. As a result, it is crucial to ensure that you certainly comprehend and may articulate the author’s details before continuing towards the target text.

Then, quickly browse the target text to build up an idea that is general of content. Then, think about: Where do we see basic points of disagreement or agreement amongst the two texts? Which associated with the lens text’s arguments that are main be employed to your target text? It could be more straightforward to give attention to 1 or 2 associated with the lens text’s arguments that are central.

By using these some ideas in your mind, return back and browse the target text very very carefully, through the theoretical lens, thinking about the next concerns: do you know the primary aspects of the lens text and exactly what are their complementary components within the target text? (more…)