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 clearly indicating the literary element you will be analyzing.
- 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 start to 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 (about theme, mood, characterization, conflict, etc). 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). Remember, too, that the aspect of the literature you are discussing will affect other literary elements. For example, although you may be analyzing conflict in a novel, that conflict will affect characterization, relationships among characters, specific plot elements, mood, and theme. When you are elaborating/discussing, prompt yourself to think of ways such conflict relates to these other elements and elaborate, without digressing (always keep in mind your main thesis). I suggest that you include two examples of your literary element per paragraph. You should also include at least two or three elaborative sentences with each example. Be sure that the transitions between the discussion of each example are fluid (not choppy or awkward). Especially, be sure that your essay does not become a plot summary. Analysis is about why and how. Plot is about what happens.
- 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. Again, 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 in your concluding paragraph.
