The goal is to actively engage with the readings and synthesize them into a cohe

The goal is to actively engage with the readings and synthesize them into a coherent stream. It is not just a summary and an opinion. A good memo should demonstrate that you have a basic understanding of the scholarly readings, can evaluate them along a number of key dimensions, and can show how they relate to the relevant textbook chapter. At minimum, you should prepare your memos mindful of the readings’ moving parts: 1. Concepts: What is the main puzzle the author is addressing? Why does it matter? What are the key concepts and terms? 2. Agendas: What literature(s) does the author engage? What contribution is he/she making to the broader scholarship on this topic? 3. Arguments: What level/unit of analysis is the author using? What is the author’s central argument? What are the dependent and independent variables? 4. Methods and Data: What methodology does the author use? What evidence does the author use to support his/her argument? How did he/she obtain this data? All memos be 5-600 words. They must be typed, double-spaced typed, with regular 1” margins, 12 pt font, in Times New Roman, with page numbers, with a word count at the bottom.