Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication
Reading Theory

 

 

Reading the work internally

What is the thesis?

What is the thesis?

What are the main arguments?

What are the theoretical concepts that anchor the work?

What is the supporting evidence?

Does the work hang together?

Is the thesis valid within the context of the work or does the work contradict itself?

Does the author prove or undermine the thesis in the work?

Does the author use supporting material properly or is there a misreading or an alternative interpretation?

Reading the Work Externally

Received knowledge:

Is the argument consistent with what is known in the field?

If the argument challenges received knowledge, does the author advance a valid case for a different reading?

If the argument challenges received knowledge, does the author present a valid case for the NEED for a different reading?

If the case is inadequate, does the author present something useable and useful for rethinking received knowledge?

Your own paradigm and work:

How does the project/argument stand up against your own paradigm or work? (i.e., think about a gender/feminist critique of classical texts)

How does the project/argument help you make a case for your own work; what is useful from it?