Explication of a Text
1. Summarize the sense of the paragraph or lines in 25 words or less. This is
a first-glance reading and you may find that its wrong in some respects
once you have done the close reading.
2. Read through, paraphrasing each sentence.
3. Now comment on those aspects you find interesting or that need
explanation. This is the most important part. If you don't understand a
word or what the author means, say so. Otherwise you'll not be doing the
assignment. Sometimes I don't understand. But don't just pass over it.
4. Now summarize the passage in a sentence.
5. How does this passage fit with the rest of author's work or how does it
contribute to a debated issue?