OHS Textual Analysis and Argumentation Course Tips

Hello everyone! Here are some tips from a peer tutor for OE010 to help you brainstorm, analyze, and everything in between!

1. Before reading the text, make sure to briefly read the author's biography—it definitely helps to understand the author's motives! 📚

2. When reading, try to highlight or point out any quotes that resonate with you. Even if you don't fully understand them, that's a good sign! It most likely means there's a lot of potential for analysis. 📝

3. Whenever I write an essay, my strategy is to first find quotes from the text that I found interesting. Then, write short analyses about the quotes—is there a pattern or theme that sticks out? Try to organize this theme and its premises, which will help you organize your essay. 💭

4. Remember, take risks and breaks! I recommend reading the text thoroughly twice—remember your first impressions, as well as how they might've changed as you familiarized yourself with the text. What insight have you learned from being a close reader, even if it seems obscure?

Breaks are definitely important in revision; looking at your ideas and writing with fresh eyes helps you identify any gaps in your argument you might've initially missed. 😴