Six Important Steps In Reading A Philosophy Article
Dr. Charles Wallis
Last Revised 2008

(1.) Ask
        You should always ask and attempt to answer the following questions when reading a philosophy paper:
                (A) What is the to which the author addresses the article?
                (B) What is the significance of the problem in the author's eyes?
                (C) What is the author's solution or thesis regarding the problem?
                (D) What reasons does the author offer in support of their solution or thesis?

(2.) Answer
        Before you read the article in detail, you should attempt to answer the questions above.  There are a couple of things you might find helpful:
                (A) Read the first and last paragraph as well as an abstract if available, these are usually summaries of the article.
                (B) Read the section headings if available and relate them to the the outline given in the first and last paragraphs.
                (B) If you find words in the abstract or opening/closing paragraphs that you do not understand, look them up using the lexicon.
                (C) Look at the course slides, they are detailed--though by no means complete--summaries of what I think one ought to take away from the article.

(3.) Read
        Once you've got the general idea of the article and familiarized yourself with any specialized vocabulary, read the article carefully.  It is best if you try to read it--or parts of it--more than once. 

(4.) Rephrase
        After you have read the article you should try to rephrase or organize the material in your own words or using your own summary devices.  There are a couple of things you might find useful:

                (A) Make an outline or draw diagrams.
                (B) Make your own notes on the lecture outline (in slides), including things like drawing arrows between points or adding your own "translations"
                (C) Try to find examples of the article's ideas and arguments from your own life.

(5.) Revisit
        You should look back over your original notes and see how your original take on the article has changed.  You should also try to revisit your notes several times throughout the course.

(6.) Ask
        You will probably still have questions about the article or how the lecture approaches the article.  Make a note of them and ASK them in class.

Chances are, you will find at least some of the readings obscure and difficult.  You might get frustrated, especially early on.  However, you should remember two things: (1) Your GAs and myself are here to help you.   (2) All the articles we read in class represent the influential thoughts of people who are better educated, more worldly, and likely much more intelligent than you.  The topics of these articles represent a continuing dialogue across the ages regarding fundamental issues associated with the human condition.  They are not boring or irrelevant.  If you get nothing from reading an article or attending a lecture you ought to carefully consider whether you are ready for college--even whether you belong in college at all.  Your time at this university should be one in which you are both exposed to (and challenged by) the ideas of some of the greatest minds in history as well as helped to develop skills that will benefit you everyday of your life.  University course work is neither easy, nor is it comparable to most other activities in which you have ever engaged.  Students often view their degree as a way to get a better job.  However, they usually fail to consider why a degree would warrant a better job.  The answer is that a degree provides you with the skills and knowledge that an effective and well-rounded employee can use to make themselves invaluable.  The more people who get a degree without improving their mind, the less valuable a degree becomes.