Reading Summary Outline

The Reading Summary should contain the points relevant to your reading:

1. Reading’s Main Argument or Research Question● What is the main argument?

○ State the purpose of the reading● What is the research question?

○ State the hypotheses tested● What is the topic or general subject matter of the case study?

○ State the author’s major assertion, comment, or position

2. Supporting Details, Methodology or Results● Briefly describe the methods:

○ Design, participants, materials and procedure● Identify the variables that were studied:

○ What was manipulated [independent variables]○ What was measured [dependent variables]○ How data were analyzed

● Describe the major findings of the study● Indicate the author’s purpose: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain

○ Report the author’s bias or position on the issue

3. Reading’s Conclusion● Describe the author’s conclusions

○ Did the author make a convincing argument for these conclusions?

● Explain the relation between the conclusions and the data reported

4. Major Take-Aways● Evaluate the study or content of the reading

○ Were the manipulations credible? ○ Were the independent variables and measures meaningfully

related to the research question? ○ Did the findings seem persuasive to you for the author’s

conclusions?● Evaluate the reading for content relevant to the class topic