Universty of Maryland Arguments Evidence and Interpretation Chapter Analysis

BR 3 – Step 3 – Analyze the Arguments, Evidence, and Interpretation

This part is the most involved. It requires a thorough reading of the Introduction, Conclusion (or last chapter) and three additional selected chapters in the book. It demands that you comprehend your author’s “arguments.” Historians use that word to mean the author’s interpretation, the case that he/she is making about the subject. When historians confront the evidence, whether it is many printed sources or archival records, they must try to make sense of those sources.

In this section, you will need to compose three sentences—and only three—for each chapter of the book.

1.      For the first sentence of each chapter analysis (Introduction and three chapters of your choosing up to the Conclusion or last chapter of the book), begin with the words:

“The main subject of this chapter is” You need to find only one subject per chapter.

2.      For the second sentence of each chapter analysis, begin with the words:

“The author argues in this chapter that” …

3.      For the third sentence of each chapter, begin with the words: “A specific piece of evidence that the author uses to support his case is” …..

4.      When you get to the concluding chapter – or the last chapter if it is a biography, identify three conclusions, using this language: