The Ultimate Guide To Article Analysis and Article Summaries

The main aim of writing an article analysis is to show that you have read and understood an article. Writing an article analysis also demonstrates your ability to think critically. Your professor also hopes that you will point out the purpose of the article and conduct an evaluation of the author's view. This article will discuss everything you need to know about writing an article analysis that stands out.

What does an Article Analysis do?

 •    It provides a summary of the key points of an article

•    It evaluates the writer's argument and the supporting evidence

•    It assesses its connection to other readings in the course

•    It evaluates the significance of an article

How to write an Article Analysis

You can only analyze an article if you understand it. Read the article carefully multiple times. Preferably read it 3 times. 

1.  Read the Article to the end One time 

As this may be the first time you encounter the article, read it to get a general idea of what it is about. Try to read all of it in one sitting so that you can get the flow and see how the pieces fit together. Sit in a quiet place to avoid distractions. As you read, avoid spending too much time on a section. If you don't understand it, read it 2 times and if you still don't understand it, underline it and move on. Quickly take down some notes of what the article is about. As you are only looking for the gist of the article, you don't need to write down detailed notes. 

2.  Second Reading

Read the article for the second time as you write down short notes in the margin. Pay attention to the article's key points and how the writer conducted research. If it is a research paper, ask yourself what hypothesis, sample, and 

method has been used. Also, ask yourself what previous findings the article builds on and what the current findings are.

For articles that discuss current events, ask yourself what the main points or arguments are. Also, ask yourself what evidence is provided to support the claims. Consider any supporting data, trends, findings, opinions, or even stories mentioned. Evaluate if the evidence is sound. If there are still areas you don't understand, ask your classmates or your lecturer for clarification.

3.  Third Reading

Read the article for the third time to prepare to respond, criticize or reflect on the literature piece. Most of the Time, your professor will ask for your opinion on the article. This is the time to give a reaction. Write the answers to these questions on the margin:

1)  What is striking about the article's argument?

2)  What can you argue against this article's claim?

3)  What lesson did you learn from the article?

4)  How does this article connect to your class work, research, or other articles you've been asked to read?

4.  Writing

 By completing the third reading, you will have generated enough ideas for the article analysis. Begin by writing what you read in the first reading. The first part of your essay will consist of the summary you made about what the article is about. Then refer to the notes in the margin for the next part. The middle part will use the answers you found in the second reading about how the research was conducted and the major points. Finally, use the opinions you formed in the third reading about the article to write the last part of your essay.

Tips

The summary of the article should not be longer than one-fourth of the whole article unless the professor instructs otherwise.

Be professional even when disagreeing on a claim.

    Checklist for your Analysis 

Once you have written your draft, use this checklist to confirm that it includes all the necessary information.

Did you describe the article's research or argument correctly?

Did you describe how the author supported his claim?

Did you mention any weakness in the author's claims, findings, or even methods of data collection?

Did you explain what the literature piece adds to your course or study topic?

Did you describe your view on the topic?

Did you show how this article compares with other readings, lectures, or class discussions?

5.  Proofreading

 Read your analysis several times to check for grammar or spelling mistakes. Also, check the content for errors such as repetitions. Make any necessary corrections, and your article analysis is good to go.

How to Write a Critical Analysis?

Begin by reading the provided and understand what the author had in mind and aim. Then work on an outline that will help you prepare how to write a critical analysis. 

·         Always mention the author's weaknesses and strengths and stick to the structure

·         Use facts and evidence to support your ideas and claims

·         Ensure that you introduce the subject of your papers since the reader might not know what you intend to discuss

·         As you write the critical analysis,  remain open-minded

·         Do not attempt to speak your mind using phrases like "I believe" remember that you are required to talk about the subject and not your personality. 

How to Analyze a News Article

Since the news article aims to inform the audience, it is important to understand that news reports are time-sensitive and usually relate to particular events and incidents. When working with the news article critical analysis, look out for the following:

The news article is to inform the reader. Also, it would help if you understood that news is tied to specific times and is relevant to particular occasions or events. When writing a critical news analysis, use the following list:

·         Read the headline and understand it, then include it in your thesis statement

·         Maintain tone and structure 

·         Asses the news article structure and see the level of personal opinion included 

·         Understand the allegories and metaphors to understand the real intentions of the author

·         Understand the tone of the news article and try to categorize it into one word. Is it neutral, angry, or even critical?

Everything You Need To Know About Writing Article Summaries

 We find ourselves summarizing movies, games, books, or events on daily basis. Unfortunately, when asked to write an article summary, we may include unnecessary information and leave out important information.

An article summary is a short overview of an article that captures the key ideas of the text and the supporting details. Learning how to shrink an article into a more readable manner is a valuable skill to have. This article will teach you everything you need to know about writing article summaries.

Purpose of an Article Summary

The main goal of an article summary is to compress a scholarly article into a text that is easier to read. At the same time, it hopes to improve the comprehensibility of the original text. It achieves this goal by conveying the key points and omitting specific details such as statistics, examples, numbers, dates, etc. An article summary is also a useful tool in learning for students. This kind of assignment help students develop critical thinking and demonstrates their reading and writing abilities.

Article Summary Structure

Now you know what an article summary is and its purpose. Now let's see how it looks. Summaries are usually written in paragraph form and don't have subheadings. They have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction identifies the article, the subject, the problem it addresses, the thesis, and the findings. 

The body paragraphs for a research article's summary describe the methods, findings, and predictions. For the argumentative article's summary, the body paragraphs describe how the arguments support the thesis. The summary has to end with a strong conclusion to enforce the ideas of the original text. It describes the significance of findings in research articles and the significance of arguments in argumentative articles.

How to Write an Article Summary Step by Step

 Now that you know what should be written in each section, you need to write it in your own words. Avoid the temptation to quote when you come across complex language. Your ability to analyze difficult text shows that you understand the article. Follow these easy steps to guide you to write an article summary that stands out.

1.  Understand the Requirements

If it is a class assignment, take your time to read the guidelines. Your lecturer will provide you with the article you are to summarise.They might also provide you with the length requirements along with other guidelines. It is expected that the length of the summary will be shorter than the original text. 

2.  Read the Article

Read the article multiple times to understand the content fully. Deduce the main ideas that the writer is trying to pass and note them on a sheet of paper. 

 Read the topic sentences to get an idea of what each paragraph is about and what it is intended for. Also note the title, the research question, and the evidence the author is using.  If there is a section you still don't understand, ask for assistance from classmates or your lecturer.

3.  Write

Writing an article summary becomes an easy task once you know what information to include in your paragraphs.

Use this outline to summarize an argumentative article

 a)  Introduction- 

-    Topic

-    Research problem

b)  Original articles thesis

c)  Keypoints 

-    Main points

-    Examples that support the evidence

d)  Conclusion 

-    Discuss how the author uses the main points to support the thesis 

-    Discuss how the writer shows the significance of the article

Use this outline to summarize a research article

Introduction 

-    Topic

-    Research problem

-    Hypothesis and variables

Method

-    Research participants

-    Sampling

-    Procedure

-    Materials used

Findings 

-    Results

-    How do the results relate to the hypothesis

Conclusion

-    Significance of the study

-    Limitations of the study.

4.  Proofread

Read through your work to make sure it is free from errors. Check the grammar, spelling, sentence structures, and flow of ideas. Correct where necessary. Also, reorganize and delete any unnecessary text. Congratulations! Your article summary is ready to go.

Common Problems in writing Article Summaries

One of the most common problems you will face when writing an article summary is misunderstanding the assignment's primary goal. Your main task is to write about the article and not just about the topic of the article. 

Read Carefully 

Knowing the article is the key to creating a successful article summary; consequently, it is vital to read carefully and closely.

Argumentative Articles

Ask yourself these things as you read an argumentative article:

• What's the subject?
• What is the study's central question? In other words, what does the author hope to learn about the subject?
• How does the author place their article about previous research on the subject?
• What is the position or thesis? 
• How are persuasive arguments constructed? What types of evidence are employed?
• What is the importance of the author's argument? What does it contribute to your understanding of the topic?

Empirical Articles

• Consider the following questions when you read an empirical article.
• What's the subject?
• How would you characterize the question you're attempting to answer?
• What are the forecasts and the basis for these forecasts?
• What approaches (sampling, participants, materials) were utilized? What variables and controls were used?
• What were the primary outcomes?
• Do prior studies support the results?
• The study's strengths and weaknesses should be explained.
• To what extent can these results be used?

Writing the Summary

Another considerable challenge when writing an article summary is finding the type of information from the article you should include. Usually, the article summary is shorter than the article itself, and you have little room for lengthy explanations. You will need only use the key points and relevant examples to explain your views. 

You need to write the article summary in your own words. Sometimes academic writing can be pretty tricky, so if you find it hard to find the words to explain your points, direct quotations are welcome. That will save you time and the hassle required to understand and find new words

 The Bottom Line

Writing an article analysis or an article summary is no rocket science. You need to know where to look and what to write. At this point, you should know how to write both article summaries and analyses that will wow your professor. Are you still stuck on getting around an article analysis or summary? Speak to expert writers at Essaybankcorp.com and get specialist help ASAP.