Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition

In  composition,  analysis  is a form of  expository writing  in which the writer separates a subject into its elements or parts. When applied to a literary work (such as a poem, short story, or essay), analysis involves a careful examination and evaluation of details in the text, such as in a  critical essay.  Maybe youll discuss theme, symbolism, effectiveness of the work as a whole, or character development. Youll use a formal writing style and a third-person point of view to present your argument. As the writer, you will come up with a topic to analyze the work of literature around  and then find supporting evidence in the story and research in journal articles, for example, to make the case behind your argument. For example, maybe you want to discuss the theme of freedom vs. civilization in Huckleberry Finn,  analyze the effectiveness of satirist Jonathan Swifts criticisms of government at the time, or criticize Ernest Hemmingways lack of depth in  his female characters. Youll formulate your thesis statement (what you want to prove), start gathering your evidence and research, and then begin weaving together your argument. Introduction The introduction may well be the last piece you write in your analytical essay, as its your hook for the readers; its what will grab their attention. It might be a quote, an anecdote, or a question.  Until youve gotten your research well in hand and the essay well formulated, you probably wont be able to find your hook. But dont worry about writing this at the start. Save that for a bit, until your drafting really gets rolling. Thesis Statement The thesis statement, which is what youre setting out to prove, will be the first thing that you write, as it will be what youll need to find support for in the text and in research materials. Youll likely start with a broad idea of what youd like to investigate and then narrow that down,  focusing it,  as you start your preliminary research, writing down your ideas and making your outline of how you want to present your points and evidence. Itll appear in the introduction after the hook. Supporting Examples Without examples from the text, your argument has no support, so your evidence from the work of literature youre studying is critical to your whole analytical paper. Keep lists of page numbers that you might want to cite, or use highlighters, color-coded sticky notes—whatever method will enable you to find your evidence quickly when it comes time in the essay to quote and cite it. You may not use everything that you find in support, and thats OK. Using a few perfectly illustrative examples is more efficient than dumping in a load of tenuous ones. Keep two phrases in mind when preparing an analysis: Show me and So what? That is, show me (or point out) what you think are the significant details in the text (or speech or movie—or whatever it is youre analyzing), and then, regarding each of those points, answer the question, So what? What is the significance of each?What effect does that detail create (or attempt to create)?How does it shape (or attempt to shape) the readers response?How does it work in concert with other details to create effects and shape the readers response? The So what? question will help you to pick the best examples. Sources Youll likely need to have a works cited, bibliography, or references page at the end of your essay, with citations following an existing style guide, such as MLA, American Psychological Association (APA), or the Chicago Manual of Style. Generally, theyll be alphabetical by the source authors last name and include the title of the work, publication information, and page numbers. How to punctuate and format the citations will be spelled out in the particular guide youre to follow as a part of the assignment. Keeping good track of your sources while youre researching will save you time and frustration when putting this page (as well as your citations in the paper) together. When Writing In writing an analytical essay, your paragraphs will each have a main topic that supports your thesis. If a blank page intimidates you, then start with an outline, make notes on what examples and supporting research will go in each paragraph and then build the paragraphs following your outline. You can start by writing one line for each paragraph and then going back and filling in more information, the examples and research, or you can start with the first main paragraph and complete one after the other start to finish, including the research and quotes as you draft. Either way, youre probably going to reread the whole thing several times, flesh things out where the argument is incomplete or weak, and fiddle with sentences here and there as you revise.   When you think youre complete with the draft, read it out loud. That will find dropped words, awkward phrasing, and sentences that are too long or repetitive. Then, finally, proofread. Computer spellcheckers work well, but they wont necessarily pick up where you accidentally typed bet for be, for instance. Youll want all of your paragraphs to support your thesis statement. Watch where you get off topic, and cut those sentences. Save them for a different paper or essay if you dont want to delete them entirely. Keep your draft on the topic you stated at the outset, though. Conclusion If directed in your assignment, your analytical essay may have a concluding paragraph that summarizes your thesis and main points. Your introductory hook could make another appearance in the conclusion, maybe even with a twist, to bring the article back full circle.

The Unimportance of Riches in a Relationship, Portrayed in...

Leo Rosten once said, Money cant buy happiness. Janie from Zora Neale Hurstons, Their Eyes Were Watching God, would agree with this famous quote. Janies first husband is financially stable and her second husband is powerful; but it is with her third marriage where she finally experiences happiness and receives respect. Through the first two marriages, we see how worldly desires and pride can ruin a relationship. Ultimately, Hurston portrays that equality in a relationship truly nourishes a bond far more valuable that materialistic possessions or reputations. Janie in her first marriage is her far from mesmerized with her husbands 60 acre land. The incompatibility between her and Logan ultimately cause the marriage to fail. Logan†¦show more content†¦This makes Janie feel like he does not care about her and that she is wasting her time with him. His lack of communication with Janie symbolizes the despair and emptiness she feels in their marriage. He does not open up to her an d so of course the marriage will not work out. Hurston ultimately portrays how unhappy Janie is when she leaves Logan so easily the day after she brought up the topic of her leaving: Janie hurried out of the gate and turned south (Hurston 32). Janies attraction to Joe Starks charisma quickly diminishes when his overdose of ambition and controlling personality get the best of him. Although he is a big voice in the town, Janie only sees him as a big voice. All his money and power have no effect on her when all he does is ridicule and control her. He makes it clear where Janie belongs: Ah never married her for nothin lak dat. Shes uh woman and her place is in de home (Hurston 43). This is ironic because when she is with Logan, she wants to be in the house doing her own thing, but Joe is making it sound like confinement. Its as if she has no choice in the matter and Joe intends to make his power over her known. People have different desires and sometimes when we get caught up in our su ccess, we can end up hurting others. Joes reply to Janie is a great example of the insensitivity that can form from the pride we can possibly inherit when we achieve success: Ah told you in de first beginnin dat Ah aimed tuh be uh big voice.

Questions 4 Q4-Study Sources Free Essays

Questions 4 Paper- June 2010 Q4-Study Sources D and E Which of Sources D or E is more useful to the historian who is investigating surgical practice in the 1870s? Both Sources D and E are useful to the historian who is investigating surgical practice in the 1870s, however only to a certain extent because both sources explain a few of the negatives and positives of surgical practice. In source D, it says that ‘it took too long to keep washing everything’ and how people who would think of new ideas in surgical practice were often regarded as ‘odd’. This evidence shows us that surgical practice at the time may have been a more negative experience rather than a positive one. We will write a custom essay sample on Questions 4 Q4-Study Sources or any similar topic only for you Order Now Source E, on the other hand, talks a little less broadly about surgical practice as it explains, like source D, ‘infection was as common as ever’ and talks about the transitions from one operating theatre to the next. However, sources D and E are only useful to a certain extent as both sources tell us only one aspect surrounding surgical practice when there were many others. Both sources talk about infection in surgical practice and how it was an obstacle which mainly surrounds the negatives of surgery. This information is only useful to a certain extent as we are not told the positives of surgical practice and whether there were other factors that affected surgery at the time. Only one of the sources seem of reliable provenance as Source D is a book called History of Medicine written at a time further away from the 1870s than when source E was written. Although Source D was written by someone who we can not tell had any medical experience, we understand that, this being a book based on Medicine as a whole, it would have been reliable and checked by other professionals. On the other hand, Source E was an account that was remembered by a man in surgical practice 56 years later and so surgical practice was changing immensely at the time and could have altered his opinion. It is also only an account of one person and could therefore be biased as others may think differently. Overall, Source D mainly focuses on specific areas of surgical practice and tells us that surgical practice was tough as ‘it took too long to keep washing everything’ (being the equipment and other things that were used) and it also talks about how people who would come up with new ideas, would have their ideas rejected at first as they were regarded as ‘odd’. Source D also mentions Lister and his ideas about germs and how they were lso regarded as ‘odd’. From this we see that Surgical Practice was rough for many and that surgery in the 1870s was quite shallow as development and new ideas were pushed down. Source E on the other hand also had some facts such as ‘the building cost ? 600 000’ however, like source D, talked about how nothing changed and gave a method which was kept the same such as being ‘allowed to go straight from the post-modern room to work on the maternity ward’. In Conclusion, looking at both sources and the reliability of the sources from the provenance of the sources, both source are useful to a historian investigating surgical practice in the 1870s, however, Source D seems more reliable and therefore more useful to the historian, as looking at the provenance, it is based in a book that many historians would have read and so would be more reliable than an account made by one person who could have had shallow views as they wouldn’t have many mixed opinions and so side with what they believed. Q5. Study Sources A, F and G and use your own knowledge. ‘Lister’s antiseptic methods changed surgical practice in a short period of time. ’ How far do you agree with this statement? Use your own knowledge, Sources A, F and G and any other sources you find helpful to explain your answer. The Sources How to cite Questions 4 Q4-Study Sources, Essay examples