analysis

Critical Response

Complete steps A through D for one of the following readings: Angela Davis’ “Afro Images: Politics, Fashion, and Nostalgia,” or Stephen Jay Gould’s “The Ladder and the Cone: Iconographies of Progress.”

A. Vocabulary:  While you are reading, find five to ten words that are difficult or unfamiliar, and look up the part of speech, etymology and definition for each. Write them down. 

B. Evidence Analysis: While you are reading, list the key evidence (testimonial, emotional, logical). Based on the evidence, respond to the overall text. To what extent is the argument justified? How persuasive is the overall claim? How persuasive is the evidence offered in support of that claim? Which evidence did you find most convincing? Which did you find problematic? Why?

C. Thematic Analysis: While you are reading, write three quotations from the text and explain how they connect to its major themes (its main point r points.)

D. Questions for Clarification:  While you are reading, write five to ten questions about this reading that address either what you didn’t understand or that connect to the themes of the text.