Weiss Chapter 6: Article Analysis

Read the article carefully, highlight the important aspects of it.

Summarize the entire article in about a paragraph (describe what the article is about, what are its claims, what it's based on, what the main points are).

Talk in more detail about the analytical points and the author's claims.

How does this article help your understanding of the topic of the week regarding qualitative research and interviewing? What do you agree/disagree with?

Generate at least 3 high quality discussion questions that you can pose to the class. To help construct good discussion questions, remember that:

• A good discussion question helps the class think with the article, not just about it.

• A strong discussion question helps the class interpret, analyze, and connect a scholarly article to bigger sociological ideas

• A strong discussion question is open-ended and invites a multitude of interpretations and answers (it is NOT yes/no).

• A good discussion question is specific and grounded in the article.

  • E.g. "What did you think of the article?" (WEAK)

  • E.g. "What did you find most convincing/interesting about the author's main argument regarding X? Why? (STRONG)

Bring this one-pager with you to class to help you through the discussion as well as to be ready to share your thoughts and writing with your peers in groups. Follow this through the semester as this will help you not only with the discussions but also with overall learning and with your assignments.