Article Title: _____________________ Author’s Name: ________ ✓ Solved

Article Title: _____________________ Author’s Name: ___________________ Name: _____________________ Reading an Article

This worksheet is intended to serve as a guide for reading a scholarly article. Completing this sheet as you read an article will help you understand the point the author is making and how he or she has gone about doing so. It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the clarity and effectiveness of the article.

1) Identify what kind of article it is. Check all that apply and be ready to explain why.

• a. New Research. Does it present research on an important topic that has not yet been studied to any real extent? Articles of this type may present new research or the analysis and translation of a significant primary source.
• b. Old View/New View. Is the author presenting new research and/or analysis to show how previous analysis of the question under consideration is inaccurate or incorrect?
• c. Review Article. Is the author presenting summaries of past research on a topic (usually one that has a long history of study) by a variety of different scholars, in order to show the state of research on the topic?
• d. Standard Textbook or Encyclopedia Entry. Does the author seem to be presenting information in a way that suggests it is generally accepted in the field as correct? These articles usually lack references and are relatively general and brief.

2) Identify unknown vocabulary and technical terms. Read through the article, and at the arrow below, list all the unknown words and phrases you encounter. Look up the words you find and add the definition next to each. If you can’t find the meaning of a word, offer a tentative definition based on context clues or other means. Bring these to class for discussion.

3) Identify the author’s point. Study the introduction and conclusion of the article and determine what the author’s point is. Authors should state this clearly, but sometimes they require the reader to infer it. For each type of article:

• a. If it is New Research, note how the author states the research question and the conclusion or findings.
• b. If it is an Old View/New View, identify the scholars being responded to, the old view, and the new view presented.
• c. If it is a review article, identify the purpose for the review and any proposed directions for future research.
• d. If it is a Standard Entry, summarize the material and state the author’s point if clear.

4) Determine the organization of the article. If there are subheadings, identify each with its page number. If not, divide the article into sections based on the content, assign subheadings if possible, list page numbers, and sketch a rough outline. Briefly describe the main point and evidence used in each section. Note why the author organized the article this way.

5) Give an evaluation of the article. Answer in detail:

• a. How effective has the author been in making his or her point?
• b. Does the article achieve its intended purpose? Why or why not?
• c. Was the article well-organized and clearly presented? If yes, specify what was effective; if not, explain issues with examples.
• d. What did you learn from the article that you did not know before?
• e. What questions do you have after reading the article? What more do you need to understand the topic fully?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The scholarly article under review exemplifies the standard structures and objectives typical of academic research, focusing on a particular topic within a specific field. The process of critically analyzing this article involves classifying its type, understanding its core vocabulary, elucidating the author’s main argument, dissecting its organizational strategy, and evaluating its effectiveness and contribution.

Type of Article

The article is classified primarily as a Review Article. It consolidates and synthesizes existing research from various scholars, providing an overarching perspective on the topic. This classification is justified because the author predominantly summarizes prior studies, highlighting the evolution of thought in the area, and suggests directions for further inquiry. There is minimal presentation of new empirical data, aligning the article with the review genre (Booth et al., 2016).

Vocabulary and Technical Terms

• Meta-analysis: A statistical method for combining data from multiple studies.
• Systematic review: A comprehensive survey of existing literature following specific protocols.
• Correlation coefficient: A measure indicating the degree of relationship between two variables.
• Operational definition: Precise explanation of how a concept is measured or identified within the study.

Understanding these key terms enhances comprehension of the article’s methodology and findings.

Author’s Point

The author aims to demonstrate that although considerable research exists concerning the impact of social media on youth mental health, there is still a lack of consensus on the specific mechanisms and consequences. The article underscores that varied methodologies and measures have led to inconsistent results (Johnson & Smith, 2020). The author advocates for standardized research protocols to produce more definitive conclusions, emphasizing the importance of clarity and replicability in future studies.

Organization of the Article

The article is organized into four major sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodological Analysis, and Future Directions. Each section begins with a clear subheading and contains a logical progression of ideas.

• Introduction (pp. 1-3): Sets the stage by presenting the significance of social media’s influence on mental health, involving preliminary hypotheses and defining key concepts.
• Literature Review (pp. 4-8): Summarizes previous studies, contrasting their findings and methodologies.
• Methodological Analysis (pp. 9-12): Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of different research approaches.
• Future Directions (pp. 13-15): Proposes standardized research methods and calls for longitudinal studies.

This structure helps the reader follow the development of arguments and evidence.

Evaluation

The article effectively highlights the inconsistencies in existing research, making a compelling case for standardized methodologies. The clear organization and integration of multiple studies demonstrate the author’s thorough understanding and critical analysis. However, some sections could benefit from more detailed explanations of proposed research protocols. The article has broadened my understanding of the challenges in social science research concerning youth mental health and underscores the need for methodological rigor (Taylor, 2021).

It raises questions about how future research can overcome practical and ethical challenges in longitudinal studies and the role of interdisciplinary approaches in clarifying impacts.

References

• Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2016). The craft of research (4th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Johnson, L., & Smith, R. (2020). Social media and youth mental health: A review of the literature. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(4), 445-452.
• Taylor, A. (2021). Challenges in longitudinal mental health studies among adolescents. Psychology Today.
• Smith, K. E., & Jones, D. R. (2018). Standardized measures in social science research. Research Methods Quarterly, 15(2), 30-45.
• Williams, S., & Clark, M. (2019). The importance of systematic reviews in educational research. Educational Research Review, 27, 150-166.