Syntopical Reading

Question 1

What is Syntopical Reading?

Answer 1

Reading where you combine multiple sources you’ve read analytically to come to a conclusion. Normally you have a specific goal in mind. Because of this, you don’t read all the books/sources. You scan to find where the relevant information is and can draw a factual conclusion

Question 2

What are the 2 stages of syntopical reading?

Answer 2

Stage 1: Surveying the field, prepatory to syntopical reading
Stage 2: Syntopical reading of your chosen books

Question 3

What are the parts of Stage 1:

Answer 3

i. Create a tentative bibliography of your subjects. Use your resources
ii. Inspect all books on the tentative bibliography to find out which ones are relevant to your subject.

Question 4

What are the parts of Stage 2:

Answer 4

i. Inspect the books already identified as relevant in order to find the relevant passages.
ii. Bring Author’s to term. Construct neutral terminology (in case they’re using the same words with different meanings) of the subject that all or most of the authors will employ
iii. Establish a set of propositions for all the authors, by framing a set of questions. that most or all the authors answer
iv. Define the issues and conflicts between the answers given amongst the authors.
v. Analyze the discussion. More general issues should proceed less general issues.