Guide to Critical Reading

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When reading scholarly work, the following questions will help analyze, catalog, and critique the data provided in the article or book for future reference and synthesis with other pertinent literature.

1. What is the theme, thesis, or main idea?
   
   
2. What are the underlying theories used to support or reject the thesis or used for comparison purposes?
   
   
3. What is the theoretical perspective of the piece? Positive? Interpretive? Critical?
   
   
4. What school of thought/theory does this work belong to?
   
   
5. What is the author's primary level of analysis, individual/group, organization, system, or governance?
   
6. What is the unit of analysis?
   
   
7. Does the author use a model to make the argument? If so, is it a predictive or explanatory model?
   
   
8. Does the author use metaphors? If so, what are they? Are they effective?
   
   
9. What are the key words?
   
   
10. What are the key concepts?
    
    
11. Who are the "barons"/owners of the primary work in this area?
    
    
12. What other scholars support this viewpoint/conclusion?
    
    
13. What other scholars differ with this viewpoint?
    
    
14. What conclusion(s) does the author make?
    
    
15. What would be included in a one paragraph to one page summary of the work?
    
    
16. How does this work contribute to the existing body of knowledge?
    
    
17. Does this work cross into other disciplines? If so, what disciplines?

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