Before you read the article, you should skim it first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the article is about. You should be looking at the title, author, headings, pictures, and opening sentences of paragraphs for the gist.
Second read: key ideas and understanding content
Now that you’ve skimmed the article, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the article. Keep in mind that when you read the article, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you see in the article that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- Looking at the map, what do you notice about the changing shape and size of the Mughal Empire in the years leading up to 1750?
- What groups or classes of people were the most important supporters of Mughal rule?
- Like other empires, the Mughal Empire had lots of different communities. How did it successfully rule all of these groups until the mid-eighteenth century?
- According to the article, what was the role of the Mughal Empire in the global economy?
- What internal challenges did the Mughal emperors face in 1750?
- What external challenges did the Mughal emperors face in 1750?
Third read: evaluating and corroborating
Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this article matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
- Based on the evidence in this article, what aspects of the Mughal Empire in 1750 seem unique or distinctive, and what aspects seem to be part of a wider global pattern?
- If you could ask the author for one more piece of information about the Mughal Empire—that isn’t included in this article—what would it be?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.
