The document outlines a method for comparing and analyzing four academic articles related to a specific topic. It provides instructions on taking notes about definitions, arguments, evidence, and claims, and suggests creating a comparative table to identify commonalities and differences between the texts. Additionally, it discusses recognizing blind and blank spots in the literature and constructing a narrative for the analysis.

1. making sense of literatures -
working with small groups
of papers
Pat Thomson
Patter – patthomson.net
@ThomsonPat

2. comparing papers
take four articles and and then for each one note:
• definition of x ( the topic you are reading about)
• what kind/aspect of x is spoken about in this article?
• what is the argument? ( 4 sentences)
• using what evidence?
• what claims are made?
• how adequate is this?
now make a table and add this information about
each article -

3. Title Definition Aspect Argument Evidence Claims Adequacy

4. compare and contrast
look at your table and decide:
•what do these four texts have in
common? (using the comparative criteria
from the table)
•what are the points of difference
(contrast)?
(note - this is not yet an argument)

5. blank and blind spots
relook at your table and the section about
inadequacies – were they blank or blind
spots?
•blind spots – something the method,
definitions or theoretical approach does
not allow to be seen/said
•blank spots – things that are not yet
‘filled in’ by this study

6. WRITE: a sentence skeleton
• write an opening statement about the topic x and why it
is important/interesting/puzzling and to whom, why and
where
• I have analysed four articles which address (x). They
share (one or two important things).
• While all of the authors are in agreement that …… there
are also important differences. These begin with
variations in sample/method/place. (1) is…. (2)… ((3)
is… )
• There are also differences in findings. For example, (1)
suggests that …. while (2) argues ….(4) and (3)
propose ……… )
• ( ) is more rigorous/convincing/useful for my study
because …… ( consider blank and blind spots here and
connections with other literatures)

7. WRITE: a sentence skeleton
• write an opening statement about the topic x and why it
is important/interesting/puzzling and to whom, why and
where
• I have analysed four articles which address (x). They
share (one or two important things).
• While all of the authors are in agreement that …… there
are also important differences. These begin with
variations in sample/method/place. (1) is…. (2)… ((3)
is… )
• There are also differences in findings. For example, (1)
suggests that …. while (2) argues ….(4) and (3)
propose ……… )
• ( ) is more rigorous/convincing/useful for my study
because …… ( consider blank and blind spots here and
connections with other literatures)