Take notes on the text we agree upon in class.
Write a half-hour draft that analyzes and evaluates the argument. Answer the following questions in full-sentence writing:
 

•        What issue or controversy is the author addressing?
•        What is the author's conclusion or main point?
•        What are the premises, or reasons, that the author gives for coming to that conclusion?
•        What would you see as the author's main premise?
•        Construct an enthymeme from the argument's conclusion and main premise. Re-construct the implied premise and determine whether it is a missing premise.
•        What is the basic structure of the argument? Form a syllogism from the two premises and conclusion that represents the major reasoning of the text.
•        Evaluate the argument. Is each of the two premises a reliable claim (Take them one at a time)? Is each of the two premises relevant to the conclusion? Are the two premises, taken together, adequate to ensure the conclusion? Is the syllogism valid?
•        Are there any additional observations or insights you can give?