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Writing to Analyze
Kelly Loucy
Overview
This video explains the concept and application of analytical writing. It defines analysis as breaking down a topic into its parts, evaluating each part, and explaining their impact on the whole. The video provides examples of analytical writing across various disciplines, including literature, science, communication, sociology, psychology, and history. It also offers guidance on constructing a thesis statement for an analytical essay and suggests pre-writing strategies focused on exploring cause-and-effect relationships.
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Chapters
- Analytical writing involves dissecting a topic into its constituent parts.
- The process includes evaluating each part and explaining its influence on the overall subject.
- Analysis goes beyond mere summarization to explore how parts function and their collective impact.
- The goal is to draw conclusions about the larger topic based on the examination of its components.
Understanding the core principles of analytical writing is crucial because it forms the foundation for in-depth comprehension and critical evaluation in many academic and professional contexts.
Instead of just saying a poem is about love, an analysis would break down the poem's use of imagery, metaphor, and tone to explain *how* it conveys the feeling of love and its impact on the reader.
- In literature, analysis involves interpreting texts to determine meaning or examine the impact of literary devices.
- Science courses require analyzing experimental results to understand how processes affect outcomes.
- Communication and literature classes may use rhetorical analysis to examine persuasive strategies.
- Social sciences (sociology, psychology) use causal analysis to explore the reasons behind behaviors.
- History involves analyzing factors contributing to past events.
Recognizing how analytical writing is used in different fields helps learners see its versatility and apply the same fundamental skills to diverse subject matter.
A science lab report analyzing an experiment might discuss how specific procedural steps led to the observed results, rather than just stating the results themselves.
- An analytical thesis statement should identify the topic being analyzed.
- It must specify the key parts or factors that will be examined.
- It is helpful to indicate the order in which these parts will be discussed.
- The thesis guides both the writer and the reader through the analysis.
A well-structured thesis statement acts as a roadmap for your analysis, ensuring clarity and focus for both you and your audience.
An analysis of student success on high-stakes tests might have a thesis like: 'An analysis of students' study strategies reveals the three obstacles to student success on high stake tests are attempts at multitasking, late-night cram sessions, and failure to prepare for the test format.'
- Pre-writing for analysis should be exploratory, focusing on 'how' and 'why' parts affect the whole.
- Ask questions like 'Why is X the way it is?' or 'What process led to X?'
- Consider questions about causality: 'What could have caused it to happen differently?'
- Explore the 'who,' 'what,' 'where,' and 'when' related to the topic.
Engaging in exploratory pre-writing helps uncover the underlying relationships and causal links necessary for a deep and insightful analysis.
When analyzing why a historical event occurred, asking 'What other factors could have influenced this event?' encourages a broader and more critical examination than simply listing known causes.
Key takeaways
- Analysis requires breaking down complex topics into manageable parts to understand their individual and collective impact.
- Effective analysis moves beyond description to explain the 'how' and 'why' behind observed phenomena.
- Analytical skills are transferable across diverse academic disciplines and real-world situations.
- A strong thesis statement for an analytical essay clearly outlines the topic, the components of the analysis, and the proposed order of discussion.
- Pre-writing for analysis should involve deep questioning to uncover causal relationships and underlying mechanisms.
- The ultimate goal of analysis is to draw informed conclusions about a subject based on a thorough examination of its elements.
Key terms
Analytical WritingTopicPartsEvaluateImpactSummarizingLiterary DevicesRhetorical AnalysisCausal AnalysisThesis StatementPre-writing
Test your understanding
- What is the fundamental difference between summarizing and analyzing a topic?
- How does analytical writing differ across disciplines like literature, science, and history?
- What are the essential components of a strong thesis statement for an analytical essay?
- Why is it important to ask 'how' and 'why' questions during the pre-writing phase of an analysis?
- How can understanding the impact of individual parts help in drawing conclusions about a whole topic?