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How To Write an Article Review – Tips

and Explanation
What is an article review?
An article review is a piece of writing where you summarize and assess another person’s article.
It entails a logical evaluation of the central theme of the article, supporting arguments and
implications for further research. It is essential to understand the main points and arguments of
the article for accuracy during summation.

A review may either be a critical review or a literature review. A critical analysis is a type of text
dealing with a particular article or book in detail while a literature review is a broader kind of
document. An article review is both an evaluation and summary of another writer’s article, and it
has a specific format and guidelines to write.

Here is the list of the article review writing services which we have checked and recommend:

An article review is essential because:

 It corrects vague terms. In writing of your article, there may be instances of usage of
inappropriate words or unclear statements. It helps the writer to decide on whether to
change the terms.
 It helps to clarify questions.
 It allows the author to see other people’s views and perspectives on the raised issues. After
reading the review, the author can get out of personal biases.
 It allows you to improve your grammar and also facilitate conscience writing.
 It encourages the author to perform better the next time since the review provides
suggestions or criticism of the article.

Article review format – how to apply it correctly


 Title page
 Title
 Your name
 Date
 Abstract: It should contain approximately 200 to 300 words. It includes a summary of the
review question, the primary study reviewed and conclusions of the study. Note that you
should not cite references in the abstract.
 Introduction: Write the topic of the study, which serves as the identification sentence. It
should indicate what the article contains. Clearly outline the order in which every sub-topic
will be discussed to give the reader background information needed to understand the
sections in the article.
 Body: This includes the subtopics that you are addressing.
 Conclusion: It should briefly state your rationale for your review and the purpose of the
article.
 Literature cited: Use a standardized reference system. Use MLA style.

Benefits of looking through article review examples


It is important to read on article review samples as this helps learners of a particular field to get
introduced to the work of experts in that specific field. The article reviews examples help in
different ways such as:

 To identify recent and significant advances and discoveries in a particular field of study.
 To determine the main people working in a specific field.
 To help identify essential gaps in research to find solutions.
 They are used in current debates for references
 They are good for generating ideas about next field of research
 They also help the learner to become an expert in a particular area of study.

Useful information: Read the best essay writing service review from experts.

How to write a good article review?


For an excellent article review, one should first prepare then write the review.

Preparation includes the following steps:

 Step 1: Understanding what the article review is.

You should be aware that the audience of the review has knowledge on the subject matter and is
not just a general audience.

You need to summarize the main ideas of the article, arguments, positions, and findings.
Also, critique the contributions of the material and overall effectiveness of the field. Note
that,

1. The review only responds to the research of the author and does not involve new research.
2. It evaluates and summarizes the article.

 Step 2: Identify the organization of the review.


You need to know the setup of your article review to understand how to read the article.
Following these steps will help you in writing a useful review:

 Summarize the article.

It includes essential points, claims and information in the article.

 Discuss the positive aspects.

It entails the author’s good points and insight observations

 Identify the gaps, contradictions, and inconsistencies in the article done by the author.
Also, identify if there is enough research or data to support the claims of the author.

Look for unanswered questions in the article.

 Step 3: Preview the article.

Look at the title of the article, abstract, introduction, headings, opening sentences of paragraphs
and conclusion.

Read the first few paragraphs and conclusion to note the author’s main points and arguments.

Read the article entirely.

 Step 4: Read the article carefully.

Read it several times making notes on essential sections. Just highlight central points and the
supporting facts. You should write notes and state cross-references on the essential points.

 Step 5: Put the article in your own words.

Ensure you write all the essential points accurately in a clear and logical manner.

Review your summary to remove unnecessary items.

 Step 6: Create your evaluation outline.

After reviewing the summary outline, identify the significant aspects such as instances of
effective writing, contributions to the field and areas which are to be improved in the
article. Also, indicate strengths and weaknesses. For instance, an advantage may be the way the
author presents an issue while a gap may be that the article does not offer solutions to a
problem or lacks enough information on a particular subject.

Make sure that you use specific references and examples.

Read also: How do you write an evaluation essay?

After the preparation, you can finally write the review, and it includes the following steps:

Step 1: Write the title.

A title can either be a descriptive one, a declarative or an interrogative one. It depends on the
focus of your review.

Step 2: Cite the article.

Write the citation of the article in a proper style just after the title of your review. For instance, in
MLA citation, your example will look like this: Abraham John. “The World of Dreams.”
Virginia Quarterly 60.2(1991): 125-67. Print.

Step 3: Article identification. Write it by stating:

 Title of the article


 Author of the article
 Title of the journal
 Year of publication

Write this in the first paragraph.

An example will look like this: The report, “Poverty increases school drop-outs,” was written by
Brian Faith, a Health officer. 2000.

Step 4: Write the introduction.

It starts with the identification sentence. The introduction of the article review also entails the
central themes of the article. You should include the author’s claims and arguments, too.

Things to note when writing an introduction:


1. You may need to determine the thesis yourself since it may not be evident in the article and
sometimes the argument has multiple choices.
2. You should not write the statements in the first person (“I”)
3. Overall impression of the article should be written using the third person (“he” or “she”),
and it should have the formal academic style.
4. The introduction should only take 10% to 25% of your whole review.
5. It should end with your thesis which must address the above issues. For instance, an
example of the argument should look like this:

Although there are good points in the article, it contains misinterpretation of data and bias
from others authors’ analysis on the causes of school drop-outs.

Step 5: Write the summary of the article.

Write the main points, arguments, and findings in your own words. Also, show how the article
supports its claims and write the conclusion.

Things to note in writing the summary:

 Write in several paragraphs, the length depending on the publisher’s or instructor’s


requirements.
 Include specific examples, statistics or background information familiar to the experts of
the particular field you are focusing on.
 Make sure to write the main points of every section.
 Use direct quotes from the author sparingly.
 For accuracy, reread your summary several times correcting every mistake.

Step 6: Write the critique.

Write how well the author addressed the topic using your opinions.

Also, write your opinion on how thorough and useful the explanation of the subject you found in
the article is. Indicate the contributions and the importance of the article to the field. Write
arguments and central points in the article. Also, write if the points of the author assisted in the
argument. Indicate if there are any biases. Specify whether you agree with the writer and if yes,
give reasons why you support him/her and if no also give cause for your decision. Indicate the
type of audience that would benefit from reading the article.

Step 7: Write the conclusion of the article review.


Summarize the main points in a paragraph. Write your opinions about the clarity, accuracy, and
significance of the article in this paragraph. You can also comment on the implications if
relevant. It can be helpful for further research. Note that the conclusion should only be 10% of
your overall essay.

Step 8: Proofread your work.

Reread your article review to check on grammar, mechanics and any mistakes and then correct
them where possible. Remove any unnecessary information. Note that for a good review, you
should identify and discuss 3-4 critical issues in the article.

With this guide you are sure to come up with the best article review.

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What Is an Article Review?
10 Tips for Writing an Article Review
An Example of an Article Review

An article review is one of the most frequently assigned papers. This is one of
the favorite tasks of both college and university teachers because when writing
this kind of assignment a student should demonstrate not only writing skills
but also an ability to evaluate a certain publication.

This task isn't easy because you need to conduct in-depth research and provide
a careful analysis of the article. Don't have an idea how to write an article
review the right way? Follow the most effective tips for composing a
worthy review to impress the reader.

Need help with writing an article review


GET HELP

What Is an Article Review?


Before you get started, learn what an article review is. It can be defined as a
work, which combines the elements of summary and an evaluative analysis.
When writing an article review, you are supposed to have a closer look at a
work of another writer. Many experts often practice evaluating another's work.
This is done with the goal to improve writing skills.

This kind of work belongs to professional pieces of writing because the process
of crafting this paper requires reviewing, summarizing, and understanding the
topic. Only experts are able to compose really good reviews containing a
logical evaluation of a paper as well as the critique. Your task is not to provide
new information. You should process the information you have in a
certain publication.

10 Tips for Writing an Article Review


Have you ever written such an assignment? If not, study the helpful tips for
composing a paper. If you follow the recommendations provided here, the
process of writing a literature review won’t be so time-consuming. The
guidelines below will help to make the process of preparing a paper much more
productive. Let's get started!

1. Check what kind of information your work should contain. After answering the
key question “What is an article review?” you should learn how to structure it
the right way. To succeed, you need to know what your work should be based
on. An analysis with insightful observations is a must for your piece of writing.
2. Define the main idea: When reading for the 1st time, concentrate on the overall
impression.Brainstorm ideas on what the author wanted to tell and think
whether he or she has managed to reach the goal.
3. Look up unknown terms. Don’t know the meaning of certain words and
expressions? Highlight them and don't forget to check what they mean using
reliable sources of information.
4. Highlight the most significant ideas. When reading for the 2nd time, take a
highlighter to emphasize the most vital ideas for understanding the article.
5. Write an outline. A well-written outline will ease your life significantly. All your
thoughts will be grouped. The detailed plan helps not miss anything important.
Think of those questions that should be answered in the process of writing.
6. Brainstorm title ideas. When choosing an article, bear in mind: it should reflect
the main idea. Make it eye-catching and concise.
7. Check an article review format example. You should check whether you know
how to cite an article using the proper style. Take into account that the citation
rules differ in APA and MLA format. Ask your teacher, which one you are
supposed to give preference to.
8. Write a good introduction. Provide the central ideas presented in work in just
one brief paragraph. Make an accent on the key concepts and arguments of the
author. Include a thesis at the end of the introduction.
9. Write in a formal style. Use the third-person and remember that this assignment
should be written in accordance with a formal academic writing style.
10. Summarize, provide your critique, and conclude. Express your opinion
on whether the author has achieved his or her goal or not. Mention the
drawbacks of the work if there are any and highlight its strong points as well.
If you have checked the tips and you still doubt whether you have all necessary
skills and time for preparing this kind of education work, follow one more tip that
guarantees 100% success- ask for professional assistance by asking the best
writing service to craft your paper instead of you. Just submit an order online
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An Example of an Article Review


If you have a task to prepare an analysis of a certain piece of literature, have a
look at article reviews. There is an article review example for you to have a clear
picture of what it must look like.

Journal Article on Ayn Rand's Works Review Example

“The purpose of the article is to consider the features of the poetics of Ayn
Rand's novels "Atlas Shrugged," "We the living," and "The Fountainhead." In
the analysis of the novels, the structural-semantic and the method of
comparative analysis were used. With the help of these methods, genre
features of the novels were revealed and a single conflict and a cyclic hero were
identified.

In-depth reading allows us to more fully reveal the worldview of the author
reflected in the novels. It becomes easier to understand the essence of the
author's ideas about the connection between being and consciousness,
embodied in cyclic ideas and images of plot twists and heroes. The author did
a good job highlighting the strong points of the works and mentioning the
reasons for the obvious success of Ayn Rand.“
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An article review is a piece of writing where you summarize and assess someone else's article.
The goal of assigning article reviews is to get the students familiar with the works of the
renowned specialists in a particular field. These specialists also have to review each other’s
articles on a regular basis. To summarize the article properly, one needs to comprehend the
essence of the work, its argument, and its main points. You are expected to assess the main
theme, its supporting arguments, and the perspectives for further research in the given direction.
Like any other written piece, an article review requires thorough preparation. Hence, article
review writing process consists of two stages: preparation and writing.

STAGE 1: PREPARATION
Step 1. Define an article review
You write it not for the general public but for the readership familiar with the field of knowledge.
This review is to summarize the essence of the article, its key arguments, and findings, and the
author's attitude towards the subject-matter. You also assess the new knowledge that the author
has brought to the discipline and its application potential.

Writing an article review is not just about expressing your opinion on the work. It is a fully-
fledged evaluation of the author's ideas expressed in the article. As you analyze the article, you
use your own ideas and research experience. Your overall conclusions about the article base off
on your own judgment backed up by your experience in this field and your common sense.

You only talk about the research already performed by the article's author. You do not perform
any new research yourself.

Step 2. Plan your work on the review


You should know exactly how you will be writing your article review before you even read the
article in question. This is because you should know which points of the article are most
important to your review in advance. The article review outline usually goes like this:

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 Summary of the article. The most important point, facts, and claims
 Redeeming features. The author’s strong points and the most insightful parts of the article
 Drawbacks. Point out the possible gaps of information, logical inconsistencies, the
contradiction of ideas, unanswered questions, etc. Pass your judgment as to whether the
given facts are sufficient for supporting the author's main argument.

Step 3. Get a quick glimpse of the article


Browse through the article’s title, abstract, headings. Read the introduction, the conclusion, the
first sentences of each paragraph. Then read several opening paragraphs. This should be enough
to get the initial grasp of the author’s main points and argument. Only then you should read the
whole article. This first reading is only for getting the overall idea of the point that the author
sought to make with this article.
 If you come across any notions or concepts that you don't fully understand or if any
questions arise, make notes.
 Look up terms you are unfamiliar with, so you can fully understand the article.

Step 4. Read the article in all attention


Carefully read the article several more times. If you are reading it from a screen, use a
highlighter for the most meaningful parts. If you are using a print version, use a pen. The most
meaningful parts here are the main points and the facts to support them. Don’t be tempted to just
highlight every paragraph. Instead, make notes on the margins and draw connections between
different parts of the article.

 Supplement what you read with what you already know about the subject-matter.
This may be either something you have discussed at school or something you have
read on your own. Does your existing knowledge support the ideas in the article or
contradict them? What previous knowledge does the author refer to? Point out the
similarities the article shares with what you have read on the topic before, as well as the
differences.
 If you come across a section that you do not fully understand, you should not leave it like
this. You can only write a solid article review if you have made sure that you understand
everything there is to understand in and about the article.

Step 5. Retell the article to yourself


It is best to do it in written form, such as an outline or a piece of free writing. Basically, you just
put the information you have just read in your own words. This should include the author's
claim, the conducted research, and the argument(s). You need to be careful and accurate not to
miss any important details.

This text is only for your use, so it does not need any editing or proofreading, but it needs to be
clear so that you could return to it at any time and not spend time remembering what exactly you
meant by this or that.

 If you choose to write an outline, it is better not to include your opinions here. Instead,
you should better stick to the main points of the article.
 Having retold the gist of the article, take your time and decide which parts are worth
discussing in the review. While you always have to discuss the main issues, it is also
worth to concentrate certain aspects such as the content, the interpretation of facts, the
theoretical basis, the style of narration, etc. Sometimes, your tutor will specify on what
you should focus.
 Re-read your summary to cross out the items that can be omitted. This can be repeated
information or something not critical to your cause.

Step 6. Outline your review


Look at your summary to see if the author was clear about each of them. Mark the points that
could use some improvement, as well as the ones where the author was clear and accurate and
where s/he pointed out something innovative. Then put together the lists of strong points and
drawbacks and summarize them. For example, a strong point may be the introduction of new
information, and a drawback may be the lack of accuracy in representing the existing knowledge
on the topic. Add these outcomes to your study and back them up with evidence from the text of
the article.

Answering these questions should facilitate your outline writing:

 What was the goal of the article?


 What theories does the author dwell upon?
 Is the author clear with definitions?
 Is the supportive evidence relevant?
 What is the place of the article in its field of knowledge?
 Does it contribute to the progress in this field?
 Does the author convey his or her thoughts clearly?

It is crucial that you provide a non-biased judgment, so you need to try and steer clear from
being judgmental and giving too much personal opinion.

STAGE 2. WRITING
Step 1. Think of a title for your writing
The title of your review should hint on its focus that you have chosen in one of the previous
steps. A title can be descriptive, declarative or interrogative.

Step 2. Cite the article that you are reviewing


This should be placed under the title. Remember to use the specified citation style (APA, ASA,
Chicago / Turabian, MLA). The main body of your review should start right after this citation,
without skipping a line.

For example, here is how you cite an article in Chicago / Turabian format style:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe. “Studies in pop rocks and Coke.” Weird Science 12 (2009)
Step 3. Provide the general information about the article that you are
reviewing.
Start your review with mentioning the title of the article under review, its author(s), as well as
the title of the journal and the year of publication.
For example: The article, "Studies in pop rocks and Coke" was written by pop-art enthusiasts
John Smith and Jane Doe.

Step 4. Write your introduction


Your introduction should be the utmost laconic gist of the article under review. Here, you state
the author's thesis. If the thesis is not stated in the article, it is up to you to figure it out yourself.
The introduction should also include article main theme and the author's main claim.

Use the formal style and narrate impersonally or from the third person, avoid the first person.

 Usually, the introduction should comprise about 10-15% of your review, but not more
than 25%
 The introduction is summed up by your own thesis where you briefly mention the article
strongest point and main drawback. For example, “The authors do draw a clear
correlation between pop and coke, but the evidence about rock is clearly misinterpreted.”

Step 5. Give an overview of the article


Use your own words to explain the article’s main claim, main points, and research results. Your
summary should be of help here. Demonstrate how the evidence supports the argument in the
article. Mention the conclusions drawn by the author. Your tutor will determine how long the
introduction should be, but normally it takes several paragraphs.

Be as laconic as you can and include as much information as possible. For this purpose, avoid
mentioning the information that your reader is already familiar with.

 Drop one or two direct quotes


 Review your introduction to make sure that it accurately reflects the article.

Step 6. Write the main body of your review


This is the core of the review. Check with your summary and describe how well the topic is
covered in the article. Here you assess how clear and insightful the article is. Usually, you will be
required to talk about each of the article's main points separately and describe how well the given
evidence supports them. If you have spotted any bias, you should mention it. Finally, you pass
the judgment as to how the author contributes to the understanding of the subject-matter and,
hence, the article's overall importance. Also, you agree or disagree with the author and ground
your opinion. You conclude the main body of your review by suggesting your reader what
exactly they can bring out from reading the article.

Remember to stick to the point and make sure that there is no unrelated information. It should be
about the article’s strong points and drawbacks with their descriptions ultimately interconnected
to form your own reviewer’s thesis.
1. Your judgments should be backed by other writings on the topic.
2. Make sure that your summary of the article is logically connected to the section where
you assess it.
3. It is worth repeating that a review is not where you share your personal opinion. It is
about how relevant and important the article under review is.
4. Remember that each bit of your opinion that you introduce should be backed up by
indisputable evidence.

Step 7. Write your conclusion


The conclusion is usually one paragraph long and takes no more than 10% of your article review.
This is where you briefly restate the main points of the article, as well as your judgment as to
how well-written and important the article is. You can also make a suggestion as to the direction
for further research on the topic.

Step 8. Give your article review a final proofread


If possible, put your draft aside for a few days or at least hours, after which give it a fresh look.
Pay special attention to typing and spelling errors, grammar and punctuation, and – of course –
the factual data. Additionally, double-check if all the information is to the point and exclude
everything that is not so relevant, but don’t get too fanatic about it: a review has to talk about no
less (and, preferably, no more) than 3-4 most noteworthy issues.

The Impact of Technology on Politics


Article Info:

Housley, Sharon. Impact of Technology on Politics. FeedForAll, 2012.

The continued growth of technology has had a significant impact on the


political ratings that candidates achieve. The article Impact of Technology on
Politics attempts to analyze how these two spheres of modern life, technology and
politics, interrelate and what the outcomes are of this interrelationship.

Political candidates use technology in many ways. Different communication channels


provided by the Internet have the power to influence the growth of different
individuals in their respective spheres. The likes of Twitter, Facebook, and
YouTube are powerful communication media platforms that can easily raise the
ratings of political candidates.Housley claims that whether we acknowledge it or
not, technology is a deciding factor in most political races. Through technology,
politicians are able to access funds, gain political pundits, and spend less on
campaigning and pushing their candidacy.

One of the ways in which technology influences politics is the financial


side. Raising funds to use for campaigning is an important factor for political
candidates. It comes with the need to create a vertical response to the whole country
or target region. This is a major hurdle experienced by political candidates. The
Internet aided Howard Dean to get donations that he required to gain access to a
large part of the campaign region. By broadcasting through technological marketing,
candidates get suitable donors to support different parts of their campaigns. Publicity
on the Internet is a cheap method, as they do not have to re-publish, unlike what is
provided by the print media. This is placed in various commonly-accessed links
(Housley, Par. 1).

The Internet enables politicians to use podcasting. The act of podcasting can make
anyone a journalist. Through podcasting, politicians are able to portray a journalistic
stature, thereby ensuring that the information is considered credible. Self-
proclamation of politicians through pundits is easily spread through messages. It is,
however, difficult for politicians to guarantee the integrity of the information posted.
The Internet can be accessed by anyone and podcasts can be posted by anyone.
The integrity of information is therefore difficult to preserve, hence, many potential
candidates may have to establish a verifiable connection with various achievements.
All in all, gaining political publicity through podcasts is a common but expensive
method to use, Housley admits. However, it is logical to assume that when correctly
utilized, this is an extremely powerful political tool that pays off completely.

According to Housley, the impact of technology is great on a given generation. The


young, educated, and affluent will relate to technological innovations. A proper
presentation will gain ratings for candidates. Using the most recent technology will
surely attract the youth. The older generation may not impact the raising of
presidential bids, especially if they are done through social media. The older
generation uses the Internet much less. The younger generation relates easily to
these media platforms. This differentiation is used by politicians to gain advantage in
their political bids. Politicians use technology to raise their bids among the youth,
while traditional methods are used for the older generation.

Another way to look at the matter is in relation to thinking about the Internet as
a tool for free advertising. It is no secret that presidential bids are the most
expensive, as they are run to cover the whole region. On the other hand, political
videos easily generate online rating gains, and such political Internet advertisement
will reach the target audience if launched properly. Individuals perform the needed
publicity as each person shares the video, and so on. The extra generated videos are
not paid for, while on social networks even the original posting is free.

It is clear that gaining political publicity through the use of technology has become
easier, especially since technological devices are so accessible and widespread. The
article analyzed is prudent in arranging technological tools into separate groups that
work as a effective means of communicating between a political figure and the target
audience. However, with the use of the Internet, any political figure can become
recognizable within just a few minutes. In only a few hours, public opinion on a
particular political figure is already formed within one of the social groups of
voters. Not just the good, but also a bad reputation can be formed in a blink of an eye
using modern technology. It often happens that the bad “gossip” spreads much
faster. With the huge impact that technology has on societies and public opinion in
particular, it is crucial to be cautious in the use of information about any political
figure, or you risk making a positive advertisement into a negative advertisement with
just one click.
“Roles of Sensitive Men” by Gerald Thompson
The article “Roles of Sensitive Men” by Gerald Thompson that appeared in the
magazineThe Watcher can be said to be an extended argument with gaping holes.
Thompson presents sensitive men as the new gatekeepers of the future, the ones
that will lead the most influential companies and make the greatest mark in the field
of humanities. Thompson makes it all sound like a new race of human beings
will descend on our lonely planet. While the author has some insight, much of the
article is based on bias and speculation rather than actual research.

Thompson points to such modern influential figures as Facebook creator Mark


Zuckerberg, NSA leaker Edward Snowden, and pop star Justin Bieber as examples
of sensitive men ruling the world currently. I can understand his insertion of
Snowden and Zuckerberg, but Bieber’s addition perturbs me. Thompson’s
definition of a sensitive man is, “Men bold enough to express their feelings openly
and not be afraid of being defined as less than men” (Thompson 33). In Bieber’s
case, I believe he is not an activist or a revolutionary of any kind. He is only a product
of the American music industry that has designed him to be certain way to be sold to
a specific audience, which requires him to act in a manner that would make others
think he is sensitive. This is not actual sensitivity, but planned, forced sensitivity.

Thompson, beyond his definition of the subject matter and his explanation of why
these three previously-mentioned figures are exemplary examples of the rise of
sensitive men, continued to expound on his vision for the future. The author noted
that, “Egocentric, arrogant men that have been associated with power positions are
going to leave the building. This will be a natural demand by the public, and an
organic course of economics” (Thompson 35). Though these statements are
admirable and I want to be an optimist, it appears to be more of a conjecture
than a basis of future reality.

There has been major social and economic upheavals that have caused the public,
especially the American public, to rise up in protest recently. We can speak of the
Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, the present NSA crisis, and the continuing
economic decline that begun with the housing bubble. Yet still, with these factors
weighing in, certainty should be more logical than dreamlike. My own assertion is
that “egocentric, arrogant men” are going to preserver in their dominance, and
may even tighten their grip. They will do so until they can longer control the system
they have created. I believe in this, as powerful people do not hand over their
resources without a fight, or without letting go until their final resource has been
absolved. This is the common psychological countenance of such men (Harriet 76).

The author concludes with varying degrees of success in that he allows some
diplomatic reasoning to creep into the foundation of his assertions. He
surmises that, “Despite there being a significant case for the ascension of the
sensitive man, there are several factors that act against this future. The cases are
expansion of the crumbling global economy, a greater grip of governmental control
on its citizens in regard to surveillance, and increasing public focus on non-
humanitarian needs” (Thompson 34). I can ascertain from several reliable sources,
namely the journal Universal Economic Policy, that the global economy is in no
shape to rebound. The governmental grip tightening over the control of citizens
through surveillance is the most probable future (Sine 237). The point about the
public’s attention being less on non-humanitarian issues surprises me. I thought this
happened on a daily basis—that the major news organizations constantly direct our
attention away from what is truly at hand and important to our well-being (Sine 238).

The article “Roles of Sensitive Men” has a few merits, but is mostly a gaff that
proposes a future that is unlikely to happen. I give credit to the author for a unique
take on the future of our economic and social standing, yet I would warn readers to
read the article with an examining mind. In my perspective, there are many flaws
inherit in the text. Thompson’s use of example figures, shaky foundation of his vision,
and a questionable conclusion makes this article less than authoritative.

References

Thompson, Gerald. “Roles of Sensitive Men.” The Watcher 19th Nov. 2012: 33-35.
Print

Harriet, Georgia. What Sensitive Men Want. New York: Bound Books, 2004. Print.

Sine, Sally. The Future of Men. Chicago: Boardwalk Press, 2011. Print.

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Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Vote

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Article Info:

Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Vote. At Issue: Are American Elections Fair? Stuart
A. Kallen. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006.

The article Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Vote argues that former felons should
not have their voting rights restored once they regain their freedom. The author
believes felons need to be deprived of their voting rights for life as a symbolic price
they have to pay for violating certain social and legal norms. The article is structured
in an unusual and, in my opinion, an effective manner. It first presents the
arguments of those supporting the idea of re-enfranchising felons, and then
provides the author’s reasons not to agree with the idea.

The first part of the article mainly focuses on the idea that the question of whether or
not to renew one’s right to vote is strictly political: if felons cannot vote, then voting is
no longer representative. In states like Florida, numerous districts with high
crime rates would have practically lost their voting power since so many of its
citizens have been disenfranchised. Such districts are likely to be populated by a
particular ethnic or racial group that has higher crime rates, and therefore, this group
would no longer be able to vote for the candidate they would otherwise have
supported. Depriving felons of the right to vote for a lifetime means we would
no longer have a fair representation of voters of different ethnic groups. This,
on the other hand, may directly affect which candidate ultimately gets elected, and
later on, what kind of executive decisions might be taken in favor of, or against,
certain groups of voters.

However, the author of the article disagrees with this opinion by arguing that there
are many other victimized and deprived groups that deserve more attention in
advocating their rights than ex-felons. The author claims that if a certain person
went on to disobey the law and the social values society generally accepts, he
or she deserves never to have the right to vote restored since he or she is not
that conscious a citizen in the first place. The author calls this denial of felons’
franchise for life a “debt” they have to pay back to society for harming one, or more,
of its members.
I believe the topic being discussed is arguable, and just like how people cannot agree
on whether or not the death penalty should be completely abolished, people are likely
to disagree about the re-enfranchisement of felons as well. I believe what is
important here is to stress that not all people who have ever been convicted of a
crime should be treated in the same manner. I think we all will agree that murder,
bank robbery, rape, and blackmail are crimes of different categories. In the same
way, we do not sentence all felons to the same punishment, we should not talk about
all felons as if they are the same. I strongly believe people deserve forgiveness, at
least most of them do. While some will argue the right to vote is not quite that
important in life, I think it can be a significant symbol of trust.If we trust
someone enough to participate in the life of community, we will likely empower that
person to justify our trust with their future behavior. At least I hope it is true for most
cases.

I would disagree with the author of the article in that I believe that with the exception
of felons who committed particularly serious or violent crimes, the majority of those
who regain freedom also need to regain the ability to make responsible choices with
the rest of the community, and that includes having the right to vote. Otherwise, if we
keep reminding ex-felons of their former mistakes, they will never feel like they
belong in the community and will forever remain deviants in the eyes of our society,
and behave likewise too.

Idealism has three main implications


for education:
+ an emphasis on theory before
practice
+ an emphasis on logical
thinking
+ a high value attached to
liberal education.

Philosophy of Education:
A philosophy of education is an individual's belief system about how students learn and how
teachers should teach in order to bring students to their full potential. It is used to guide teaching
methodology, programming, and technique.

Education is acquisition of knowledge and experience as well as the development of


abilities, skills, habits, and attitudes which help a person to complete a meaningful life in this
globe. Idealism is a major philosophical foundation of education.

Although there were many philosophical foundations were found which gives a wide view of
aim of education, curriculum, method of teaching etc. Among these ‘IDEALISM’ occupies a
special role compared to others. As the name suggests idealism believes in idea and ideals.
That is to say according to them the entire universe is an extension of the mind and soul.

The word ‘Idealism’ has derived from ‘Ideals’ or ‘Ideas’. So according to them ideas or
ideals or higher values are much more significant in human life than anything else. It gives
stress on ideals of mind and self. Also it gives stress on spiritual aspects rather than
materialistic aspects.

Principal supporter of Idealism are Plato, Pestalozzi, Frobel, Socrates, Kant, Hegel etc,.

“An idealist is a person who helps other people to be


prosperous.”
–Henry Ford

Chief assertions of Idealism:

1. It believes in the universal mind or God. According to them universal mind is the source of
all values.
2. It believes man as a spiritual being and holds that it is spirituality which distinguishes it from
other creatures.
3. The knowledge which is gained through the activity and creativity of mind is more important
than the knowledge perceived through sense organs.
4. It has full faith in eternal values like truth, goodness and beauty.

Read also:

Pragmatism in Education

Naturalism in Education

An Essay on Education

Principles of Idealism:

1. World is divided into spiritual world and material world.


2. Ideas are important than object.
3. Importance of man over nature.
4. Faith in spiritual values of truth goodness and beauty.
5. Full support to the principles of Unity in diversity.
6. Mind is more important than other sensory organs.
7. Knowledge acquired by self effort is the real knowledge.
8. Spiritual development is more important than physical development.

Aims of education in Idealism:

1. Education should result in self realization.


2. Development of spiritual value with the help of education.
3. Conservation, promotion, and transformation of cultural heritage.
4. To develop unity in diversity.
5. It ensures about spiritual development.
6. Conversion of inborn nature into spiritual nature.
7. Preparation for a holy life.
8. Development of will power.
Curriculum in Idealism:

1. Principle of pursuit of attributes, e.g., truth, goodness and beauty.


2. The Principle of physical development.
3. Principle to development of cognitive, effective and psycho motor domains.

Methods of Teaching in Idealism:

1. Lecture and discussion method.


2. Questioning method.
3. Self study method.
4. Imitation method.
5. Meditation and concentration method.

Role of Teacher:

1. In this philosophy teacher is the friend philosopher and guide of his students.
2. The teacher guides and helps the children in the development of their physical as well as
mental abilities.
3. According to idealists the teacher should possess good personality, morality, honesty,
wisdom etc so that the students would follow them.
4. The teacher should encourage students to understand and solve problems by the method of
analysis and synthesis.

Discipline:

1. Self insight as well as self analysis are the main disciplinary factors in idealism.
2. The discipline shouldn’t to be imposed on pupils.
3. The teacher helps the students to develop self-discipline through the self knowledge or self
concept. To them freedom is not means but it is an end. They are supporters of self
discipline.
4. They are not in favour of militant discipline. Instead they want to combine humility, courtesy,
obedience and discipline.

Merits of Idealism:

1. Idealistic education promotes universal education.


2. In idealistic education, the inculcation of highest values namely, truth, goodness and beauty
more important than any other values. This will lead to the development of moral character
of the child.
3. Idealism leads to the development of the self of an individual.
4. Idealism respects the individuality of the child and tries to stimulate his creative energies.
5. Because of the idealistic philosophy and education the school has grown into an important
social organisation.

Demerits:

1. Idealism is an abstract and vague doctrine that is it avoids the realities.


2. Idealistic education gives more importance to teachers compared to students.
3. In idealistic education Humanities were given greater importance for the spiritual
development of the child and ignores sciences.
4. Idealism lays more emphasis on thinking and mental activities. That is why increases the
importance of intellectualism occurs unnecessarily.
5. While idealism is concerned with the ultimate end of life. It avoids the real problems of day
to day life.

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