Read the text more than once. Ask yourself what is good/bad about the text.  Where are points made clearly/not so clearly.  What works/doesn’t work?  Reading and writing critically means you have to critique as you go.  Critiquing means asking questions! 

For the Toulmin Analysis, you want to focus on how well the text makes its claim known and defends it with its use of evidence and reasoning.  You want to keep in mind the criteria used for a Toulmin Analysis which looks at the soundness of the argument overall by investigating the claim, qualifiers, grounds (reasons ans evidence), warrants, and any assumptions or backing used.

I. The text itself is one of your sources.  

• As you write about what the author writes and what the text includes, you do not need to cite its author.  You will make the author and title of the text clear in your introduction, so the reader knows.  
• However, if you include a direct quote of words or phrases from the text, then you should cite the author’s name and the page number (Smith 2).  
• Do not use a direct quote from the text unless you have something specific to say about the language or content of the wording.  Everything written about the essay should really be in your own words, otherwise.
• Whenever you point out something about the text, good analysis ALWAYS includes what effect it has on the reader (if successful or not as the author intended).

II. You want to write about your response to each part of the text, but do not use first person! 

Instead of saying 

• “makes me feel” 
• “reminds me of” 
• “confused me,”  

write about yourself as a READER, for example-

•  “confuses readers” 
• “a reader may not understand”  
• “isn’t enough information to convince readers” 
• “a reader may think”

III. You don’t have to include every single part of the text in your analysis.

ONLY write about the parts that you have something to respond to with an opinion/suggestion/judgement/praise. 

•  You will need to remark on the actual thesis and other language that makes its claim and qualifiers clear. What effect does it have on a the reader? clear enough? etc…
• You will also remark on each of the main reasons the author uses to defend the claim. Remark in your essay how strongly they support the defense and to what effect.
• You must also include remarking on the Rebuttal and Response (the counter and refutation).  What effect does it have on the reader? etc…

IV. DO not be a lawyer, you are a judge.  

You should be evaluating where the facts are used correctly to back up the text’s claim, how well they work, and/or where they miss their mark.  

• You should be evaluating the overall strength of the author’s claim and argument used to defend it.  
• Your analysis is NOT to convince another position or over ridicule or insult the author of the text. Judge the persuasive nature and claim fairly.
• A judge sort of attitude would be more like someone honestly giving sincere detailed feedback so that one may consider and improve. 
• This might be similar to a professor fairly grading student essays without letting personal feelings get in the way or agreeing or disagreeing with any one side. Your statements should be based on how well the points are defended and communicated academically.

V. As you form each paragraph, use a topic sentence that tells YOUR reader what you’ll be talking about next.

• The author’s claim is stated clearly.
• The text’s overall claim is that legalizing marijuana is a bad idea.
• Smith begins with a strong reason that free speech is very important to all Americans.
• The paper defends open borders by reasoning that immigrants could more freely travel back and forth between seasons of finding work in the United States.
• The text provides a counter argument by saying…