Read at least 10 columns by the person you pick and note on a sheet attached to your paper the sources and dates of those columns.

In the analysis, you should address such things as the columnist's choices of subjects, the degree of his or her personal involvement, the kind of research that is evident, the tone (serious, sarcastic, humorous, and the like), and the use of language. Of primary importance will be your citing of evidence from the columns to support the various points you make.

It will be helpful to look at the discussion of columnists in Chapter 12.

Length: Three to five takes