When reading books or articles, the following points provide the basis for discussion, writing, and critique. WHAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU READ 1. What is the author saying? Is it an empirical study? A conceptual overview? A theoretical elaboration? 2. How might the article be written if it were from a different theoretical perspective? 3. What is there in the article that can be developed for further empirical research? What are the implications for further work? 4. What insights does *this* article provide into *other* realms of social existence? 5. Is there a central metaphor or set of images that drives the work? (eg, "conflict," "evil people/agengies" 6. Can you identify any social or political ideology in the work? That is, does it challenge existing social relations? Re-affirm them? Does it suggest a critique or society? 7. Is the article consistent with other works in the field, or does it challenge conventional knowledge or beliefs? 8. Is the methodology sound, and do the conclusions follow from the data or the premises? 9. Now that you've finished the book, as: "So what?" That is, did the book have any value?