How to Write an Analysis Essay

See also the post explaining Analysis:

http://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2014/08/freshman-english-explanation-of-analysis.html#more

How to Write an Analysis Essay

• Analysis means explaining (with textual evidence, i.e., quotes) how an author effectively renders/shows/establishes a particular literary aspect.  For example, theme, mood, characterization, conflict.  Before you begin to write the essay, you have to figure out what larger aspect of the text you will be analyzing. (Sometimes your teacher will assign a specific literary aspect for you to analyze; other times, you will have to choose that literary aspect on your own.)  As you are reading the text, you need to find excellent examples (quotes) that will support that larger literary aspect.
• Your introductory paragraph should begin with a good hook or lead sentence. (This lead sentence is usually more general.)
• Your introductory paragraph should have a strong, clear, specific thesis statement.
• Your opening paragraph should state the title of the work that you are analyzing as well as the author's full name. Titles of short stories, poems, and articles should be within quotation marks.  Titles of longer works, such as novels, plays, a television series, a magazine, should be underlined or italicized (not both). 
• You should write in the present tense.
• Your opening paragraph should end with a good transition sentence to the body of your essay where you analyze, provide textual evidence (quotes/examples), and elaborate on how your examples relate to and support your thesis statement.
• Never, ever begin to analyze or introduce examples in your opening/introductory paragraph.
• After you have written your introductory paragraph, which contains a strong, specific thesis statement, you must then reread/skim the text that you are analyzing in order to create a list of at least six examples (quotations, scenes) that directly relate to and support your thesis statement.  Think of your thesis statement as the North Star that guides the writing of your essay.
• Once you have created a brainstormed list of examples, you need to decide which examples you will cite for each paragraph (with page numbers) and elaborate on (discuss how the examples support your thesis).  I suggest that you include two examples with elaborative sentences per paragraph. Be sure the transitions between the discussion of each example is fluid (not choppy or awkward).
• Now you are ready to begin the writing of the body of your essay.  Start with an excellent topic sentence, transition to a discussion of your examples with excellent elaboration.  Beware of straight summary.  Analysis essays are not a summary of plot (that is a book report--you are a mature writer now and no longer write book reports). Of course, you will include summary sentences--quick recaps of the important scenes, but true analysis is explaining how the examples that you cite support the thesis statement in your opening paragraph.
• When you have written at least three excellent body paragraphs, you should write your conclusion.  Do not begin with "In conclusion"!  That is a redundant expression, as the reader knows it is your conclusion because it is the last paragraph.  Your conclusion should be an interesting, creative rewrite of the ideas of your thesis that leaves the reader pleased, and not bored.  Avoid boring at all costs!  Also, do not introduce new ideas into your concluding paragraph.

The following examples are products of collaborative writing in my Freshman English class for an Analysis Essay on Theme.

Group One

     “I have hunted every kind of game in every land.  It would be impossible for me to tell you how many animals I have killed.”  This quote is proudly spoken by the self-confident character General Zaroff from the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell.  However, his self-confident personality is quickly overpowered by his more practical opponent, Rainsford, who shows the general that he can outsmart him in his own hunting competition.  Connell's story shows us that self-confidence can turn on you when you are trying to survive.


 Group Two
    
     Be careful because having arrogance can make you your worst enemy.  “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is a story about a man named Rainsford who fell from his yacht and swam to Ship-Trap Island where he meets an experienced hunter, General Zaroff.  Connell portrays a great example of how humans can be a sinister and dangerous by portraying Zaroff as a hunter of humans.

Group Three

     Never underestimate your opponent is a very important lesson the reader learns in “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell.  General Zaroff, a sinister man, definitely underestimates Rainsford when they play the most dangerous game, one human hunting another.  This story tells you that one cannot always win.  With the story taking unexpected twists, going from a comfortable mood to a suspenseful mood, Rainsford is lucky he wins the survival game.

Group Four

     In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, a hunter named Rainsford, who swims to an island forest because he falls off a yacht, encounters another hunter named Zaroff, a very sinister man who forces Rainsford to be hunted.  A central theme in this story is don’t let cockiness or arrogance make you overconfident of success.

Group Five

     Don’t let fear determine your fate.  “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is full of thrills, twists, and turns.  The theme of this story is to persevere even during the hardest of times.  Although Rainsford, the protagonist of the story, was afraid of what General Zaroff was capable of, he pushes past all his fears and comes out victorious in the end.

Group Six

     Everyone can be defeated at one point in life.  In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, one man is playing a very cruel game where he is a hunter of humans, but ironically, soon becomes the hunted.  Set in the jungle, will the animalistic General Zaroff or the more sane human, Rainsford, come out on top?  The central theme of this story is that even the underdog can prevail.

Group Seven

     For generations people have repeated the quote, “You can always teach an old dog new tricks.”  In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, General Zaroff believes that he knows everything about hunting.  In the end, Rainsford surprises him by proving that Zaroff is not all-knowing.  General Zaroff pays a heavy price for his arrogance, and unfortunately does not have a “new trick” to help him succeed.

Group Eight

     Some people possess the qualities of ignorance and arrogance; they believe they can conquer all who stand in their way.  Rainsford, the protagonist in the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, learns that not everyone’s heart beats the same when he meets the ravenous, high-strung General Zaroff, who, because of his arrogance, does not prevail, and ends up as the prey in his own game .