Analysis instead of summary Writing Skills Focus Analysis instead of summary

What do you mean? In order to write an effective analytical essay, it is of utmost importance to offer more analysis than summary. Writing prompts and essay questions will often require you to examine how a concept/theme applies to a text. In order to do analysis, you must be able to explain HOW that concept/theme applies to the text and WHY it is significant.

Sample prompt In his poem “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College,” Thomas Gray writes, “where ignorance is bliss / ‘Tis folly to be wise.” Over the years, the saying “ignorance is bliss” has become a widely accepted principle, or axiom, applied to many different situations and circumstances. Carefully consider the meaning and implications of the axiom “ignorance is bliss,” and then in a clear, thoughtful, well-reasoned essay, explain how it applies to either House of the Scorpion or Animal Farm. Remember to use specific textual evidence to support your claims.

Plot Summary Only (but with great supporting detail!) Matt lives in the small house with Celia, his caregiver. He has his crayons and his room, and he falls to sleep each night to the soothing sounds of Celia’s snoring. He is not allowed to leave the house; in fact, it is locked. When children happen by the house, Matt breaks the window to get to play with them and ends up cutting himself. The children carry him to the Big House and they discover words on his feet and realize Matt is a clone. Rosa ends up locking him in the basement and he is treated like an animal.

…vs. Analysis (with great supporting detail!) In the beginning, Matt is unaware of the fact that he is a clone. Alone in the small house with Celia, he is mostly content. He has his crayons and his room, and he falls to sleep each night to the soothing sounds of Celia’s snoring. Once the children find him, his peace of mind is shattered like the window he breaks to see them. He learns that he is not like the others. He is a clone, worse than an animal. Being made aware of the truth does not bring Matt bliss; instead, it is the start of great heartache.

Where to start? Start with examples from the text; the strongest of these will become your main points. BEWARE: Do not fall into the trap of listing examples. (Ignorance is bliss applies to this part and that part and this part and that part…) NOT analysis ^

Where to start? Depending on the length of the essay, shoot for somewhere around 2-5 strong examples. Limiting yourself to only a few examples has multiple benefits: It forces you to focus on the prompt. It makes your ideas clearer to the reader. It prevents you from relying too heavily on summary. It makes your writing more interesting.

Now get down to it! The easiest way to organize your essay is to focus on one example per body paragraph. Each body paragraph should answer these questions: What is your example? How does it connect to the prompt? Why is this connection significant? What are the larger implications (could save this for conclusion)? These are not the only questions a body paragraph can answer, but they will help to focus your writing.

Now get down to it! Example/main point: Matt Alacran’s early childhood is a clear example of how ignorance can be bliss. Living with Celia in the small house in the middle of the poppy fields, Matt is protected from the surrounding evil in Opium.

Now get down to it! Connection to prompt: While he often wonders what lies beyond the expansive white poppies, Matt is in fact safe and loved inside the walls of Celia’s house. Even though he may not feel it at the time, Matt is truly living in a state of bliss and peace because Celia has intentionally kept him ignorant of the truth behind his purpose and identity as a clone.

Significance of connection: Now get down to it! Significance of connection: Celia knows that such a revelation would propel Matt into a state of confusion and turmoil so deep that he would likely never recover; his innocence and bliss would be lost forever.

Now get down to it! Larger implications: At this point in the novel, Celia’s main objective is to shield Matt from the truth, and even though she is in effect lying to him, she has his best interests in mind and only wants to protect him and preserve his state of childhood bliss as long as possible.

Bring it all together Matt Alacran’s early childhood is a clear example of how ignorance can be bliss. Living with Celia in the small house in the middle of the poppy fields, Matt is protected from the surrounding evil in Opium. While he often wonders what lies beyond the expansive white poppies, Matt is in fact safe and loved inside the walls of Celia’s house. Even though he may not feel it at the time, Matt is truly living in a state of bliss and peace because Celia has intentionally kept him ignorant of the truth behind his purpose and identity as a clone. Celia knows that such a revelation would propel Matt into a state of confusion and turmoil so deep that he would likely never recover; his innocence and bliss would be lost forever. At this point in the novel, Celia’s main objective is to shield Matt from the truth, and even though she is in effect lying to him, she has his best interests in mind and only wants to protect him and preserve his state of childhood bliss as long as possible.

Six things to do Better on the next essay FOCUS ON THE PROMPT! Underline titles of books – do NOT use quotes Refer to events in a novel in present tense. Matt lives with Celia in the house out at the edge of the field; Squealer explains to the animals Snowball’s crimes. Avoid the use of “I” or “you” in formal essays unless you are expressly asked to share your opinion or personal experience. In most cases, “I” is used in sentences such as “I believe that…” or “When I thought about the quote, I realized…” and this is just unnecessary and makes for a wordy, less sophisticated essay. It is understood to the reader that you believe what you are writing and that you thought about the quote before coming up with an opinion about it. Do NOT narrate your own essay – “In the following essay I intend to examine how… blah, blah, blah.” There’s no need for that. Embed quotes – do not use a full sentence from the book as a full sentence in your essay.