How to Read in a Sociology Class   (Or, tips for getting the most out of assigned reading: )

As you read, I encourage you to keep the following questions in mind.  Frequently it's a good idea to skim a reading quickly to get an overview, and then read more carefully to gain a richer understanding of the material.  You are done reading when you have a pretty good sense of how to answer each of them. 

• What type of paper/article is this?

             Research paper

             Review paper

             Opinion paper

             Other (describe)

• What question does the author ask in this paper?
• What sociological concepts does the paper employ?  Can you define them?
• Does the author answer the question s/he poses?  If so, what is the answer?
• What type of evidence does s/he consider?
• Where does this evidence they come from? 
• Is it systematic?
• Someone else's opinion?
• Anecdote?
• Does the author offer any interpretation of this evidence?
• Can you identify any problems with this interpretation?
• What surprised you in this reading?