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How to expand on the topic of an article for an essay

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Here are questions you must ask yourself about the article you are reading, so that you are “digging deeper” into the meaning of the article, not just translating the words. To clarify means to make clear, and to probe means to explore or examine. You need to do both in order to better understand what you are reading. Please download and use this list when you are reading.

Clarifying and Probing Questions

clarifying questions

Clarifying Questions

  • Is this what did they said?
  • What resources where used to form their opinion?
  • Do I understand what they said?
  • Do I understand what they mean?
  • What criteria did they use?
  • What is another way they might say that?
  • Can I paraphrase the question/Prompt?

Probing Questions

  • What do I know about this topic?
  • Why do I know that?
  • What kind of thoughts do I have about the topic?
  • What is the connection between ___________and_________?
  • What if the opposite were true? Then what?
  • How did I determine/decide what I think about the topic?
  • How did I conclude that this is true/false?

 The more questions you ask yourself, the more ideas you will develop that you can talk about in your writing/essay. The questions also help you to better understand the true meaning of a reading.

Then you ask yourself –

  • What do I know about that topic?
  • How does that article make me feel?
  • Does it make me angry? Talk about that.
  • Does it give me hope? Talk about that. Are the ideas wrong? Why? Talk about that.
  • Are the ideas correct? Why? Talk about that.

That creates critical thinking – the most important thing you need in your writing/essays. The Summary is your opportunity to discuss the ideas in the article – the Argumentative Essay is your opportunity to discuss your own ideas about the same topic.

To understand what you are reading, find the parts of the sentence first: Subject + Verb + Object(s), so that you understand what you are reading. Then try and understand what is repeated or unnecessary. LOOK UP EVERY WORD YOU DON’T KNOW in a dictionary. Remember that you must first know if you are looking for a Noun, Verb or Adjective, so that you are reading the correct definition of the word.