Douglas Casson | St. Olaf College

Reading

Reading political theory is not easy. It requires more time, concentration, and care than required for other types of reading. Not only are the arguments complex, but they are written for very diverse audiences in many different historical periods.

How are you supposed to make sense of them? Here are four questions you should ask yourself in order to get the most out of your readings:

What is this? Before you begin reading, look over the text. Read any titles, headings, and summaries carefully. What type of writing is this? Who wrote it? What is the author’s goal in writing it? What is the author trying to do or accomplish in this reading? You might not be able to answer all of these questions, yet they should be in forefront in your mind as you begin to read.

What is the point? Instead of brooding over every word or phrase, read for overall comprehension. Read quickly! You are reading this in order to grasp the main points. What questions or puzzles motivate the author? What are the main arguments? (Underline them!) How do these arguments connect to each other? What position or positions are being challenged? What is at stake in this debate? What does this have to do with politics as you understand it? Why does this argument matter in a contemporary context?

What is unclear? What terms, passages, or ideas in this reading remain unclear to you? (Mark them!) What questions about this reading do you still have? (Write them in the margin). Use a dictionary or encyclopedia while reading only if the term you are looking up is essential to the arguments. Otherwise just insert a question mark. You can come back to it later.

What is contestable? Follow the “no idiots” rule. Each of the authors in this class is worth taking seriously. You don’t have to agree, but you would be foolish to dismiss them out of hand. What parts of this text do you find most vulnerable to critique? What parts do you think are most persuasive? If you find the text absolutely unpersuasive, ask yourself why someone might be convinced the argument here. If you find the text absolutely convincing, ask yourself why someone might dissent from this position. Think about how you might discuss these issues in class.

After you have finished, return to the passages that you think are especially important. If unknown words or concepts seem central to the reading, look them up. Make sure that you feel confident about the arguments presented or know specifically you don’t follow. Write down questions and comments and bring them to class.