A Guide to Essay Analysis Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Purpose: Why has the author written the essay? The more concrete the writing the more specific the purpose The more abstract the writing, the more tentative the purpose Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Purpose: Descriptive Terms: inform explain describe argue a case evaluate appraise interpret recommend persuade entertain reflect communicate a personal experience motivate inspire confess warn mock or parody ridicule or satirize criticize Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Audience: For whom is the essay written? The audience can range from a very general one to a very specialized group Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Audience: Descriptive Terms: peers like-minded individuals educated academic professional specialized group Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Tone: What is the writer’s attitude toward the subject the reader herself/himself The attitude may range from one of no expressed emotion to one that is very emotional Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Tone: Descriptive Terms: serious objective scholarly businesslike detached persuasive assertive dogmatic ironic mocking friendly witty angry questioning reflective tentative impassioned belligerent Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Voice: Is the writer’s own personality evident? This may range from a writer’s personality that is not perceived at all to a personality that is strongly felt Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Voice: Descriptive Terms: neutral silent minimal expressive Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Response: What intellectual and/or emotional audience response is expected? The intended response may range from strictly intellectual to highly emotional Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Response: Descriptive Terms: intellectual curiosity serious informed entertained moved mental and emotional kinship sense of intimacy or shared experience anger Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Language: What is the level of the language? The level may range from formal to colloquial What are the characteristics of the language? Characteristics may ranged from denotative to connotative Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Language: Descriptive Terms: concrete abstract colloquial poetic sensory Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Language: What rhetorical devices are used to intensify the impact of the ideas? The writing may be straightforward or range right through to densely rhetorical Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Language: Descriptive Terms: specific or precise technical emotional undertones positive shading (undertones or overtones) Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Language: Are there strong images? These images could appear as objective descriptions or range through to striking and unusual What kind of sentence structure is used? Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Response: Descriptive Terms: simile metaphor personification repetition allusion hyperbole juxtaposition alliteration analogy understatement oxymoron Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Thesis: Where is the thesis statement? What is the purpose of the information leading up to the thesis statement? Be sure to check that the thesis statement is the “umbrella” under which the writer assembles the main ideas of the selection Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Units of Organization: What larger units can the essay be broken down into? Look for clear introduction, body, and conclusion What contribution does each of these units make in developing the writer’s argument? What general pattern of organization is the writer using in the whole work, or in any particular paragraph? Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Units of Organization: Descriptive Terms: from least complex to most complex analysis (breaking down a complex idea into its parts) description of a process Definition (classification or division) chronological comparison contrast spatial cause/effect order of ascending importance Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Details: What kinds of proof does the writer offer to support his/her ideas? Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Response: Descriptive Terms: historical references examples facts statement of opinion and personal belief literary references appeals to authority statistics anecdotes allusions Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Connectors: What transitional signals indicate the direction of thought? Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Connectors: Descriptive Terms: add or extend thought add an example or explanation indicate similarity or difference arrange ideas in order time sum up several ideas emphasize an idea show cause or effect Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Fin: You will be required to identify and explain the significance of each of these topics covered: Purpose Audience Tone Voice Response Language Thesis Units of Organization Details Connectors Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0

Fin: Once you can identify all of the different techniques writers use in their essays, in theory, you will be able to incorporate similar ideas in your own essays and become a stronger writer. Mr. Mehrotra ENG 4U0