8 Start with the easy bits and work outwards from there
It is rarely a good strategy to analyze a whole article as you read it for the first time. A better alternative is to begin by skimming the article. When you hit a passage you're sure you understand, get that passage analyzed perfectly in MindMup. Then, use your understanding of the bit you've figured out to bootstrap yourself to a better understanding of the more difficult surrounding arguments.
Getting as clear as possible about the bits you find easiest is often the most efficient way to analyze a difficult text.
To see this hint applied, consider the following passage:
Do you think your local butcher will reduce the amount of meat she orders from the slaughterhouse if you become a vegetarian? [1] Of course not! [2] The supply chain for meat just isn’t sensitive to the quantities that a single person consumes. So, [3] by becoming a vegetarian, you'll never save a single animal’s life! But [4] by becoming a vegetarian you’ll deprive yourself of the pleasure of eating meat, and [5] you should only do that if the benefits would outweigh the losses. So, [6] you should only become a vegetarian if doing so would save some animals’ lives.
At first glance, this passage can seem pretty straightforward. But before reading any further, try to sketch out the argument in MindMup using this link (if prompted, select "Open with MindMup 2.0"). You can learn how to use MindMup by watching this short walk-through video: