CALUMS New Science Old Magic Article Critical Summary

Critical summaries condense and assess an article’s content. Your job is to extract first the author’s central arguments according to your own understanding in a summary. You offer an informed opinion evaluating its purpose, argument, strengths, and weaknesses.

Part I: Introduction (15%) In the first paragraph of your critical summary, name the author, title, date of publication, and if applicable – the broader context of the article. State the general topic and, more specifically, the author’s central argument(s). If you have any background information that might help your readers understand the nature of the work, feel free to include it here. You should finijsh the first paragraph with your own thesis statement that entails an assessment (positive, negative, mixed) of the article’s content.

Part II: Consisting of two or three longer Paragraphs: Central Arguments and Structure (70%) The second part is all about the research paper’s central argument(s). Which main arguments are presented in it and how are they supported by textual evidence? Roughly lay out the text’s structure, then identify and briefly define (in your own words!) key terms or concepts that are vital to this paper.

Part III – Final Paragraph: Conclusion (15%) Finish your critical summary with a conclusion. This is your chance to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the piece. Briefly review the central arguments you have identified. Avoid word-for-word repetition; be creative and find new ways of expressing your ideas. If you wish, you can end your conclusion by offering an outlook.