The paper should have three parts:

	concept explanation
	exposition of the main argument
	analysis

Identify the main concepts used to convey the arguments or claims that you have selected as central to the paper.

Write a brief explanation of each concept. (If a concept can be explained in a sentence or a sentence fragment, it isn’t worth explaining.)

Write a concise explanation of the argument you have selected as among those central to the paper's purpose.

Remember that part of expounding an argument is to convey its significance. The exposition of the argument should, therefore, convey to the reader why you selected the paper in the first place. Make that apparent.

Analysis is an assessment of the claims made in the paper. Is anything important claimed in the paper? If so, what? Are the claims valid? If so, what is their significance (presumably, they are not obviously true, or they would be trivial)? If not, how do they go wrong? What has the author overlooked? How would the claims made have to be modified had the author considered what has been overlooked?

Analysis is not precis, nor is it summary. Analysis is not praise, nor blame. It is not a set of biographical statements to the effect that you liked the paper, disliked the paper, found it easy or difficult to understand, admired its logical presentation or detested its lack of organization.

The analytical section of your paper should also convey, as should the exposition of the main argument, why you selected the paper.

Do not select a paper you think is trivial, uninteresting, or so obvious as to be commonsensical. Select one you think is interesting, significant, and one that teaches you something about themes related to the course.

You need not think the author has it right. But if the author has it wrong, then the paper should at least be interestingly wrong.