Essay writing is not only about your research and writing skills. It also involves a greater part of your comprehension skills, such as how you analyze concepts and make inferences. This is one of the most important skills you must develop in order to be able to fully grasp the context of the sources you are collating for your essay.
If you achieve a better understanding of what the authors’ theories are and how they apply in certain events and situations, you will be able to clearly and accurately convey these messages to your readers. With accurate analysis of concepts, you can formulate stronger conclusions that can fundamentally support your general premise.
The process of determining significant factors that will help you draw more objective conclusions is simple: analyze and synthesize. Break down and combine. You have to be able to identify the elements that make the concept and combine these elements to make other connections.
“Reading between the lines” also involves looking through the intent of the authors themselves. Do some background reading about the author and the reasons that lie behind the formulation of the theory, idea or movement. You can fully understand the theory and the concepts the authors have suggested if you are also able to determine their philosophical background: who their previous influences are, what ideas they believe in and whose ideas they refute, among others.
Also, take note of the words and tone used within the text you are reading. There are words that are synonymous but can only be used in specific contexts. It will also depend on the tone that the author has used when stating their own philosophies. If the tone is more conversational, the text might not hold enough strength as the main basis for your ideas.
