Reading to Write

Dedicating yourself to a close and thoughtful reading of what you've been assigned often makes writing an analysis paper much easier when the time comes to demonstrate what you've learned. Try the following strategies to make the process a little easier:

Before you start reading

Don't just read the numbered pages of the book - look at the cover, title, preface, introduction, epilogue, appendix, and footnotes
Identify the genre, source of publication, and the author's intended audience
Research the author
Consider why the reading was assigned
Make a reading schedule
Write down reactions and questions as you read
Read with a friend
Check in with your professor to discuss the assignment
Think about what the author hasn't included in the text

As you read

Write brief responses to each section of text
Make notes in the book or on sheets of paper
Draw pictures, maps, and diagrams to help yourself understand patterns, relationships, and concepts

After you're finished reading

Respond to the book as a whole
Reread the parts you don't understand
Make a writing schedule
Plan a research strategy
Write a rough draft that you have time to revise
Get feedback from as many people as possible before you're ready to turn in your final draft
Proofread and spell-check the paper one final time before delivering it to your professor
When you get the paper back, pay attention to the instructor's comments and use them as a baseline for other writing you turn in over the course of a semester