Title: How do you Analyze Something?
Course: English 4A SU15 > Section: Unit: Read This Book!

Definition of Analysis

The word analysis usually implies at least two elements: (a) a breakdown of something into parts or ideas, and (b) a discussion or description of those parts using a point of view or a method. If, for example, you were asked to analyze the text of a reading, you would choose several main or important ideas from it, then discuss each in turn using some kind of special point of view, theory, or method. An analysis in its purest form differs from other types of writing in that its primary concern simply is to explain something in greater or newer detail using a unique point of view, whereas the main purposes of many kinds of papers may be to argue or to evaluate. In fact, some assignments may require you to use analysis to argue a point or to evaluate something. However, if you are required to do nothing but a simple analysis, then your primary goal is to explain something from a unique point of view.

One famous example of an analysis is Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: it is his analysis of a current situation, using a particular view—idealistic and hopeful—of history.

Source: Previous editions' titles: Writing for School & Work, 1984-1990; CollegeWriting.info, 1998-2012. 6th Edition: 1 Aug. 2012. Text copyright 2002-2012 by R. Jewell except as noted. Permission is hereby granted for nonprofit educational copying and use without a written request.

Goal of the Analysis

The goal of writing an analysis is to read an argumentative essay that you can understand easily and then to analyze its parts step by step, using one or more differing viewpoints or theories. At a beginning level, you can accomplish this by analyzing the text's ideas by using the three differing viewpoints of three very different people. For example, if the essay argues that war is good, you might analyze the essay's contents from the viewpoints of an older conservative politician, an eighteen-year-old draft dodger, and a liberal religious leader. At a more advanced level, usually an analysis examines a text using one to three particular theories that you have studied.

If your instructor requests it, you may have a brief first section, after the introduction, that summarizes the text (if everyone is writing about the same text then this summary is likely unnecessary. When you do include a summary, make certain that it is only a couple of lines.) Then you should write the body of your analysis by analyzing several of your text's points or ideas. Depending on what your instructor expects, you may organize your paper in three or four topic sections or as several point-by-point discussions. In the beginning of each topic section or point, first offer a sentence summarizing the overall subject of the entire section, and explain it briefly, if necessary. Then support your analytical statements with quotations from your text/source and other details. Your other details may include one or more of the following: personal-experience examples and stories; the experiences of others you know; and facts, details, and/or experiences from documented sources. In your introduction and conclusion, clearly indicate the type of paper you are writing (an analysis), your overall analytical method, and interesting quotations, stories, and/or facts from the text of your reading itself.

If you are writing a research paper, each body section must include quotations and/or paraphrases from additional sources. These quotations and/or paraphrases should support your own points of analysis, should be substantial in quality and quantity, and should come from authoritative sources. Also attach a bibliography appropriate to your field, discipline, or profession.

Focus your Essay

SUBJECT: If helpful, brainstorm a list of texts you would like to use or, once you have one, a list of possible points you could analyze. You may also want to brainstorm a list of analytical points (theories, points from theories, or people's viewpoints) that you could use. Then choose from your list(s) carefully; if you have two lists, compare them to match points in the text with analytical viewpoints. Have you chosen points that interest you? Do you have enough details or examples to support what you are saying, or can you find them easily? Can you write about them objectively? What is the main problem and solution your paper or its sections will represent? Will your audience find your analyses clear and interesting?

FIRST & SECOND DRAFTS: Start with one or two methods that work best for you, but develop the others in later drafts.

Read critically: take your text apart so that you understand its contents and structure thoroughly.

Free-write: write as much as you can quickly on what you know about your text or your analytical viewpoint(s).

Gather details: mark or type the quotations in your text that best summarize the points which you can analyze. Write descriptions or a list of the details you have to support your points--facts, quotations, and/or experiences.

Write for your audience: visualize it. What details does it need to take seriously your analyses?

Organize: make an outline using the structure above or whatever structure your instructor suggests.

Research: if required, mix research of your analyses with the above methods to develop a first draft during your research.

STYLE, TONE, and WRITER'S ROLE: Develop (in early or late drafts) an academic style and tone of calm, reasoned, fair, balanced logic. In your role as a writer, you should remain a neutral observer, simply applying the analyses in a balanced, logical, consistent manner.

AUTHENTICITY: Be as real and meaningful as you can to your audience, your content, and yourself. First, respect your audience: try as fully as you can to consider its own beliefs about your text. Second, find the heart of the meaning in both your text and your analysis of it, and write about them clearly using high-quality supporting details. Third, make your analyses your own: develop them in a way as meaningful to you as possible.

The Outline

Here are some outline writing options for you to use as a template:

Title

I. Introduction

II. Body Section I

III. Body Section II

IV. Body Section III

V. Body Section IV (etc.)

VI. MAIN THEORY OR THEORIES, and concluding details

Other potential outline formats:

Introduction: Issue or Main Argument. Possible use of definition (which includes comparison/contrast and example), statement of overall cause and effect, and/or other modes

Body: A series of points helping to prove the main argument each longer paragraph:

(1) statement of a point providing a part of the proof

(2) development of the proof with detail using exemplification, narration, cause and effect, and/or other modes

Conclusion: Concluding Argument. Possible use of description, cause and effect, narration, and/or other modes.

Introduction: Main Subject. Possible use of definition or classification (both of which include comparison/contrast) and/or other modes

Body: Descriptions of Factual Parts of the subject. Organization might be by mode of classification, cause and effect, description, and/or other modes.

- Each Longer Paragraph:

(1) statement of subpart to be described

(2) factual development of the description using one or more modes

Conclusion: Brief Restatement of Subject and Final Summary. Possible use of description, narration, cause and effect, and/or other modes.