ABSTRACT
This chapter first addresses the ten main skills in handling theories that are required at each level of university level study (understanding, summarizing, illustrating or applying, explaining, comparing, classifying, evaluating, completing, combining, or creating a theory). It then discusses the two main ways of using a corpus in relation to theory (using a theory to analyze a corpus and using a corpus to create, complete, validate, or invalidate a theory). Finally, it presents about a dozen aspects that can be addressed in relation to a theory, and some questions to ask when analyzing a theory or concept: who invented it and why? who were the precursors? where did it spread? what are its presuppositions? what are its qualities and flaws? how should one use it? etc.
