Reading note is to demonstrate/engage critically with the scholar, rather than just describing their article. Try to critically evaluate the author’s arguments (what sources do they use?

Do you find their argument persuasive?). Also, rather than summarizing how other literature has assisted his research, be precise; what kind of literature and what precisely has this scholarship contributed to author’s approach.”

More over,

In the reading note: you will consider in turn:

1. The claims of the author (what are their central ideas/arguments? Who/what are they arguing against? How do they situate themselves in the broader literature?),

2. The author’s methodologies (what guides their research? What questions do they ask/don’t they ask? What level of analysis do they adopt? What theories/concepts do they engage with? What sources do they use? What are the strengths and limits of their approach?).

What makes a good reading note?

• A good reading note is not a summary but nevertheless enable the reader to understand what the key points of the original documents are.

• A good reading note explains why the text was written and in what context.

• A good reading note is critical but not unfair. Judge whether the author has fulfilled his/her aims as set out in the introduction to the piece you are looking at.