Writing a Multi-paragraph Analysis Essay
Learning Objective: - Develop a thesis and write a multi-paragraph analysis essay.
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LESSON
One of the most common college writing assignments is the analysis essayA written evaluation of a topic, such as an article, piece of art, person’s life, etc. An analysis essay may include a summary of the subject, but is mostly used to evaluate and discuss: Is it good? Is it bad? Is it poorly written? Was the author misguided or very accurate?. Analysis is the investigation of a topicThe subject of a reading. . In an analysis essay, instructors expect you to closely examine a given topic and then present your own perspectiveThe point of view from which an author considers a subject or issue.. Analysis essays may contain a summaryA brief restatement of an author’s main idea and major supporting details. Summaries are factual and should be written in the third-person with an objective point of view. of the topic to provide readers with contextThe larger setting in which something happens; the "big picture.", but they are not merely summaries. For example, if you are analyzing the novel Moby Dick, you might sum up the plot of the book before you give your slantInformation presented with a particular focus or from a certain perspective, such as a writer's angle on a topic. on the text. In this lesson, you will follow these seven steps to writing an analysis essay, complete with an introductionThe first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis., a bodyThe main portion of a writing that contains the main ideas and supporting details of the writing. This is where the author's purpose and thesis statement are supported and/or developed., and a conclusionThe end portion of a writing that contains a summary or synthesis of the idea in the work. This includes a recap of key points and reminders of the author's purpose and thesis statement.:
- Understand your assignment.
- Gather ideas.
- Create a working thesis.
- Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
- Write a conclusion.
- Write an introduction.
- Revise the essay.
Step 1: Understand your assignment.
The first step in developing any essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. is making sure you understand the focus and scope of your assignment. Remember, the heart of an analysis essay is your own perspective on someone else's work. It is closely tied to that person's work, but it is not a summary. Be sure to read your assignment carefully before you begin and refer to it often throughout development to make sure you have stayed on track.
Step 2: Gather ideas.
The next step is establishing your topic and gathering ideas about it. To begin gathering ideas, you might want to do some reading to help you develop a clear idea of how you want to approach the topic. Remember, though, that your instructor will want to know what you think about the topic, so while you can read others' ideas about it, ultimately your ideas are what matter most. After doing such secondary reading, brainstormingA prewriting technique where the author lists multiple ideas as he or she thinks of them, not considering one more than another until all ideas are captured. The objective is to create one great idea, or many ideas, on which to base a writing. techniques such as outliningA preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. , freewritingA prewriting technique where the author begins writing without regard to spelling or grammar about ideas, topics, or even characters, descriptions of events, and settings. Often the writer will freewrite for a set period of time. The objective is to develop a storyline through the writing process itself., clusteringA prewriting technique where the author creates an informal visual layout of possible ideas, grouping them together. The objective is to create visual clusters of information on which to base a writing., mind mappingA prewriting technique where the author brainstorms and writes down his or her ideas by grouping and connecting ideas into a type of visual map., and listingA prewriting technique where the author writes down ideas in categorized lists in order to gather ideas. are all good ways to develop ideas.
Step 3: Create a working thesis.
Once you have conducted some research, you probably have a general idea of what your thesisAn overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work. will be. You can write a tentative thesis statementAn early form of a thesis statement that can be developed into a more formal thesis statement by creating supporting details., keeping in mind that the actual wording and emphasis may change as you gather more information and think more deeply about your topic. In an analysis essay, your thesis statementA brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader? should include the topic, subject, or item that you are analyzing and the point that you are making about it.
Step 4: Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
Now, pick the two or three ideas that you developed in Step 2 that relate to your thesis the best and write the body paragraphsThe part of an essay that comes after the introduction and before the conclusion. Body paragraphs lay out the main ideas of an argument and provide the support for the thesis. All body paragraphs should include these elements: a topic sentence, major and minor details, and a concluding statement. Each body paragraph should stand on its own but also fit into the context of the entire essay, as well as support the thesis and work with the other supporting paragraphs. on them. If it is difficult to decide what ideas to write about, you should choose the ones that you know the most about and that interest you the most. Writing tends to be easier when you know about and enjoy a topic. In addition, limiting the scope of your writing to the most powerful and interesting points will make the writing of greater interest to the reader. Nobody wants to read everything you know about the topic; be selective, and your writing will be more powerful.
Once you have narrowed down how you want to support your thesis, you might need to brainstorm a bit more and develop evidenceFacts, statistics, or expert testimony that supports a claim. for your major supporting detailsStatements within a reading that tie directly to the work's main idea. These can be provided in examples, statistics, anecdotes, definitions, descriptions, or comparisons within the work. . You may also find it helpful to conduct additional research and look at other analyses that people have done on the topic.
Remember that your essay must include enough context for your reader to understand your analysis. If, for example, you are writing about a character from a classic novel, you will need to provide enough information about that novel so that someone who has never read it will still enjoy and understand your analysis. However, avoid making the summary the center of your essay. Provide just enough context, then move on to your own ideas.
Step 5: Write a conclusion.
It may seem strange to write your conclusion before your introduction, but sometimes doing this can help you focus your ideas. It is like giving directions—you need to know where you want your reader to end up before you can lead him or her there. Remember that a strong conclusion reflects the main ideaThe most important or central thought of a reading selection. It also includes what the author wants the reader to understand about the topic he or she has chosen to write about. of your essay without repeating it.
Step 6: Write an introduction.
Now that you know where you want your reader to end up, go back to the introduction and prepare the way. Remember that a good introduction hooksIn writing, a device used to grab a readers' attention, often in the form of interesting, surprising, or provocative information. the reader, introduces the topic, sets the toneThe feeling or attitude that a writer expresses toward a topic. The words the writer chooses express this tone. Examples of tones can include: objective, biased, humorous, optimistic, and cynical, among many others. , and presents the thesis.
Step 7: Revise the essay.
After you write your introduction, there is just one step left: revising your essay. Some people like to take a break at this point so that they can review their essays with fresh eyes. Remember that revision involves contentThe text in a writing that includes facts, thoughts, and ideas. The information that forms the body of the work. and organization. You will editThe process of improving a writing by reviewing content and making changes that affect its overall meaning and clarity. and proofreadThe process of carefully searching a writing draft for mistakes at the sentence- and word-level in order to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. at the sentence and word level after you have revised your essay. To revise your essay, ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I followed the assignment?
- Is this an analysis essay? Have I examined a topic and provided my own perspective on it?
- Does the body of my essay support my thesis?
- Is all of my support relevant?
- Do I need more or less support?
- Have I included the transitionsTying two events, passages, or pieces of information together in a smooth way. In writing, transitions are sometimes called links. necessary to guide the reader from point to point?
- Does my conclusion summarize and synthesizeTo combine ideas, as in the writing at the end of an essay that ties all the discussion and evidence together into a unified concept. the important details?
- Does my introduction hook the reader and provide adequate backgroundInformation that describes the history or circumstances of a topic. on/introduction to my topic?
Review your entire essay with these questions in mind. Remember, you may need to add or remove information or reorganize your writing. Being a careful reviewer of your own work is crucial in writing a quality essay. When you have completed this step, be sure to go back one more time to make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuationMarks such as such as a comma (,), period (.), question mark (?), and exclamation mark (!), among others, that help break a writing into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Different types of punctuation marks give the reader different impressions of the writer’s purpose in that sentence. are correct. It is always a good idea to have another person read your essay since even the best speller and grammarian can miss his or her own mistakes.
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONThe ability to analyze and write about a given topic is fundamental to both academic and career success. In school, a well-written analysis proves that you have internalized what you have learned, thought deeply about it, and developed your own opinion of it. In a career, analysis skills allow you to solve problems creatively and persuade others that your ideas are sound. These are truly the skills of a leader.
+ EXAMPLE The example below demonstrates how to follow the seven steps to writing an analysis essay.
Use the following topic:
Analyze whether someone's motivations are largely noble or largely selfish. You could write about a character in a novel, movie, or television show, or you could write about a public figure.
Step 1: Understand your assignment.
Sample idea: Analyzing the motivations of Morgan Spurlock, who wrote, starred in, and directed the documentary film Supersize Me. In this case, the assignment is an analysis essay, which means that it must provide sufficient context for the reader and present a perspective on Spurlock's motivations.
Step 2: Gather ideas.
One possible way to get some ideas is to look at the different motivations that Spurlock may have had and break them into two groups, positive and negative.
Spurlock's motivations were good
He wanted to educate people to change their habits, which are killing them (he presents statistics and talks to many experts; he gets people's attention by shocking them, he tries to show that McDonald's is a powerful company that is dangerous to people).
Spurlock's motivations were self-serving
He created a shocking situation, with himself at the center, in order to gain publicity and, eventually, fame. What he did exaggerates how most people live and is not realistic. Because it was so shocking, it was a big hit, and he went on to make many other films and even got his own HBO show.
Does it matter?
Maybe what matters most is the outcome of what he did, rather than his motivations.
Step 3: Create a working thesis.
Spurlock's motivations were both pure and self-serving; ultimately this is irrelevant if people benefited from his work.
Step 4: Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
Spurlock called attention to a national health crisis. It is interesting that he had to say "yes" anytime he was asked if he wanted to "Supersize" his meal. That's where the title of the film came from. He knew that the best way to really get people's attention is by shocking them. He gained 24.5 pounds in one month and nearly brought himself to liver failure. That brought attention to the problem and to Spurlock.
Because of its shock value, the film quickly became popular. All of the attention focused on Spurlock and what he did. Ultimately, this notoriety led to more filmmaking, his own television show, and even a stint on The Simpsons.
Step 5: Write a conclusion.
It does not matter if Spurlock's intentions were selfish because the film did educate people about the dramatic health risks of a fast-food diet. By gaining weight and hurting his own health, Spurlock made the dangers of a fast-food diet horribly real to his audience. By getting his audience's attention, Spurlock increased the possibility that his audience would change their diets, too.
6. Write an introduction.
Every day, Americans eat at fast-food restaurants. McDonald's is probably one of the first picks for many of them. In Morgan Spurlock’s documentary film Supersize Me, he goes on a 30-day McDonald's-only diet to show how dangerous fast foods can be. It shocked a lot of people, and Spurlock became famous. This essay analyzes whether his motivations were selfish or noble.
7. Revise the essay.
Every day, 1 in 4 Americans goes to a fast-food restaurant, and that restaurant is likely to be McDonald's, which holds nearly 50 percent of the fast-food market share in the United States. In Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary film Supersize Me, the filmmaker goes on a 30-day McDonald's-only diet to show the dangers of fast food. The film received a lot of attention and Spurlock became famous. But did he do it for the sake of others, or to further his own career?
Spurlock called attention to a national health crisis through his shocking 30-day transformation. While he included statistics and expert testimony to support his argument, he knew that that alone would not be enough to effect change. The best way to really get people's attention is by shocking them. By both restricting his diet to McDonald's meals and reducing his amount of physical activity, he gained 24.5 pounds in one month and nearly brought himself to liver failure. That brought attention to the problem, but also to Spurlock.
Because of its shock value, the film was a hit at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Spurlock was the writer, director, producer, and star, so all of the attention focused on him and his dramatic acts. Even his recovery fed into his fame: his then-girlfriend supervised it, following a regimen that became the basis for a later book. Ultimately, this notoriety led to more filmmaking, his own television show, and even a stint on The Simpsons.
It is difficult to say how much of an effect the documentary had on public health, but these things are certain: within about six weeks of the movie’s premiere, McDonald's discontinued the "Supersize" meals. They (and other fast-food restaurants) have increased the number of healthy options available, and federal law requires major fast-food restaurants to post the calorie content of their menu items. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fast food consumption had decreased during the period of 2007-2010.
When thinking about Morgan Spurlock and Supersize Me, the question we need to ask is not "Did Spurlock have selfish motives?" but "Did Spurlock’s film help anyone?" Clearly, both noble and selfish motivations were at play. Ultimately, perhaps, it does not matter if Spurlock's intentions were selfish, because the film did educate people about the dramatic health risks of a fast-food diet. It was a significant part of an overall trend; a trend that seems to be headed in right direction.
+ YOUR TURNNow it is your turn to follow the seven steps to write a well-organized, multi-paragraph analysis essay. Develop a least two body paragraphs to support your thesis.
Use the following topic:
Analyze whether the popularity of a piece of art is justified—is it as good as everyone says it is? You can explore movies, books, albums, works of art, or similar subjects.
Step 1: Understand your assignment.
The assignment is an analysis essay, which means that it must provide sufficient context for the reader and present a perspective on whether or not the popularity of a piece of art is justified.
Step 2: Gather ideas.
I'd like to write about the movie, Avatar. While I know there are some people who dislike it, I think they mainly object to everyone loving it because it is a fabulous movie.
Here is why I think it was fantastic (freewriting):
- The special effects were amazing.
- Sam Worthington played a paraplegic really well.
- The blue people (what were they called again?) were very sympathetic characters. I loved rooting for them.
- It's not just a small number of people who like the movie. It broke a zillion box office records.
- It was recognized by the Academy as being wonderful. Nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 3.
- They are making another movie.
- Compelling love story.
- Also a story about the environment.
Step 3: Create a working thesis.
While the film Avatar may have a few detractors, they are deservedly few and far between.
Step 4: Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
Avatar had special effects that no other movie had ever used before. To produce the movie, James Cameron built the largest motion capture stage ever built, which allowed for over one hundred cameras to film the actors' every movement. This stage is just one of the many pieces of technology that Cameron spent more than a decade developing so that he could create the movie as he envisioned it in his mind. No doubt, it was due to these technological innovations that the movie won the Academy Award for Special Effects.
Avatar has much more to offer than just special effects because special effects alone do not guarantee box office success. Despite focus on "non-human" protagonists, the story addresses a number of issues that are familiar to the human condition. The most important is the love story between two species, a human and one of the Navi (the big, blue people). While it may seem an odd pairing, it does not take long for the audience to turn on the humans and root for this relationship. Avatar's ability to develop a believable cross-species connection is reason enough to explain its popularity.
Step 5: Write a conclusion.
It is impossible to understand how anyone could have not enjoyed Avatar. Between the special effects and the compelling love story, the two-hour long movie flies by. While it is disappointing that the Academy did not recognize its brilliance by awarding it the Best Picture award, fans can only hope that Avatar 2, set to begin filming in late 2014, will live up to its predecessor.
6. Write an introduction.
The movie Avatar tells the story of a paraplegic marine who goes to work on another planet with the promise that he will regain the use of his legs after his service. In short, the other military personnel are evil and try to wipe out another intelligent species, called the Navi, who are native to the planet. The marine is sympathetic with the Navi and fights the military forces. While Avatar may have a few detractors, they are deservedly few and far between.
7. Revise the essay.
As of January 2014, the movie Avatar has made more money than any other film with a worldwide gross of nearly $2.8 billon. This is quite impressive as the number two film, Titanic, had a twelve year head start. Avatar tells the story of a paraplegic marine who goes to work on another planet with the promise that he will regain the use of his legs after his service. In short, the other military personnel are evil and try to wipe out another intelligent species, called the Navi, who are native to the planet. The marine is sympathetic with the Navi and fights with them against the military forces. Avatar is deservedly well-loved by many and should have won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Picture.
Avatar had special effects that no other movie had ever used before. To produce the movie, James Cameron built the largest motion capture stage ever built, which allowed for over one hundred cameras to film the actors' every movement. This stage is just one of the many pieces of technology that Cameron spent more than a decade developing so that he could create the movie as he envisioned it in his mind. No doubt, it was due to these technological innovations that the movie won the Academy Award for Special Effects.
Avatar has much more to offer than just special effects because special effects alone do not guarantee box office success. Despite focus on "non-human" protagonists, the story addresses a number of issues that are familiar to the human condition, including a love story between two species, a human and one of the Navi (the big, blue people). While it may seem an odd pairing, it does not take long for the audience to turn on the humans and root for this relationship. Avatar's ability to develop a believable cross-species connection is reason enough to explain its popularity.
It is impossible to understand how anyone could have not enjoyed Avatar. Between the outstanding special effects and the compelling love story, the two-hour long movie flies by. While it is disappointing that the Academy did not recognize its brilliance by awarding it the Best Picture award, fans expect that Avatar 2, set to begin filming in late 2014, will live up to its predecessor. And who knows—maybe win best picture?
+ METACOGNITIVE QUESTIONS How does summary differ from analysis?
A summary pulls together the most important information from someone's work. If it is a novel, it might tell the most important events and characteristics of the main characters. But an analysis is looking at some aspect of that work and developing an opinion about it. For example, you might write about whether a character is a hero or a villain.
In what situation might you need to write an analysis essay?
Analysis essays are relevant to all subject areas in school, whether history or communications or mathematics. Being able to analyze situations, ideas, and other people's thoughts is key to being a successful student or employee.
Why might it be useful to write your introduction last, rather than first?
An essay will go through revisions before it is complete, and sometimes the most important ideas aren't clear until further in the process. Your introduction is your hook to draw in the reader and should be a powerful, well-crafted paragraph that links directly to the writing. Waiting until the end to write it helps to ensure that these qualities are reflected in it.
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