How to Analyze an Article

Improve your analytical skills by learning how to summarize, annotate, and read carefully

Reviewed by Gerald Posner

Last Updated: December 15, 2023 Fact Checked

Learning to analyze and think critically is a valuable skill. Not only will it help with schoolwork, but it will also allow you to judge the validity of news articles and conduct thoughtful research for the rest of your life. A good analysis requires a summary, annotation, and examination of an article and its writer.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Summarizing an Article

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The first reading should be used to learn concepts and gain a general grasp of the content.^{[1]
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If your article is technical, you should ensure you understand all the concepts before you begin to analyze.^{[2]
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If you are unable to do so, you may need to reread it for content.
If you can explain the outline and content of the article in non-technical language, you are ready to move on.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Annotating an Article

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1
Make a photocopy of the article. You can also print out a copy. Unless you are very familiar with a note taking program like Evernote, you should do it by hand.
- Ensure you have page numbers, so that you can cite the article correctly in your analysis.
You will want to read more slowly and mark in the margins as you go.^{[4]
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This should be the main argument that the writer is making or trying to prove. Your analysis will refer back to this thesis frequently as you decide how successful the author was in convincing their audience.^{[5]
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Purdue Online Writing Lab
Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines

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Underline concepts that recur frequently throughout the article. Underline supporting points and make notes about them in the margins as you go along.^{[6]
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- If you are reading a scientific paper, look for methods, evidence, and results. This is the accepted structure of most scientific papers.
These annotations will save you time during the writing process.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Analyzing an Article

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If you are writing an analysis essay, this can serve as your introduction.^{[7]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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Provide some cursory research about the writer of the article. Their qualifications will prove whether their opinions are part of an area of expertise. In historical articles, this will also establish whether the author is a primary or secondary source.
- State whether you believe the author could be guilty of a bias.^{[8]
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  Research source} In media-related articles, you should state whether the author was able to stay somewhat objective as they relayed news to the audience.
Decide if you believe the author catered well to the audience. For example, if the audience is the general public, but the author uses very technical terms, it may not be a convincing article.
This may also be the thesis, or what the author is trying to prove. The author may propose questions and answer them later.^{[9]
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Answer how successfully the author proves the thesis. State examples, such as in-text citations, to outline particularly successful or failed arguments. Move through the article establishing how meaningful and cohesive their arguments were.^{[10]
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- Refer back to your annotations to find quotations or questions about the validity of an argument.
If you have been asked to read more than one article, you can analyze one article in light of another. State which argument was more convincing and why.
Decide if the author could have improved their article by providing more evidence or in-depth research on a topic.
At this point, you should consider stating your opinion about the topic. Some classes ask for the reader's opinions, while others demand a very scientific critique.
Ask your teacher what style you should be using, such as MLA, Chicago, or APA.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

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How do I know if the author has any authority on the subject?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

The best way to find out is to research the author. You can consult online resources, or browse scientific publications for other articles by this author. In general, though, you can get a feel for the author's competence and skill just by reading the text written. If someone wrote a five-page essay on colors but spells 'black' wrong consistently, then it's not likely an author who's very competent. However, anyone is free to write what they like, as you are free to learn from it what you want. If you think the author's arguments are interesting, it doesn't matter if it's an authority in this field or not.

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Where can I find a journal article?

Benjamin M.

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Journal articles can be found using Google Scholar or databases available through your local or school library. Also, consider searching "Open Access journal + [the subject you are interested in], as that will give you articles that are free without a subscription.

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Always proof your work for content, spelling, and grammatical errors before you turn it in. Although an article analysis can be done fairly quickly it should be edited at least once.

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