Analysis Boot Camp Fall in, Soldiers!

Analysis vs. Summary When writing an essay, it’s very easy to fall on what I call the Slippery Slope of Sloppy Summaries. What this means is that when you’re writing an essay, SUMMARY takes a back seat to a word called ANALYSIS.

ANALYSIS How many of you have seen/heard this word before? In the simplest terms, ANALYSIS is a conclusion that you draw based on the EVIDENCE that you have on hand. So how is that different from a summary? Let’s try an experiment…

EXPERIMENTING IS FUN Let’s read this excerpt as a class. When we’re through, write a brief SUMMARY in your WN. “I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me. I choose from among several possibilities, the most common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.” I made the choice a number of years ago, without thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I recognize that they are complex and not entirely flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or “disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a cripple, I swagger.” –Nancy Mairs

Why must you burden my mind with such questions? WHY!? So… If a summary is a basic retelling of a story’s main events, what does that make ANALYSIS? Why must you burden my mind with such questions? WHY!?

HOW TO ANALYZE BOOKS AND STUFF To conduct an ANALYSIS, one must go beyond what the story is about to HOW THE STORY IS WRITTEN and WHY. How does the author’s writing fulfill his/her purpose? How does the text create meaning? Why did the author make the choices he/she did? How effective are the author’s choices? Why?

How the writing fulfills the author’s purpose: Things to consider about the WRITING… Literary Elements: How does the author use characterization, setting, plot, point of view, tone, genre? Imagery: What details does the author include? What figurative language is used? Why? Word Choice (Diction): Does the author use big words? Why must he/she do that? Connotation? Sentence Structure (Syntax): Does the author write in really long dramatic sentences? Or does he/she prefer short, lean ones? Why did he/she make that choice? Organization: How has the author organized his/her information? Does it help or hurt the message he/she’s trying to communicate?

How the writing fulfills the author’s purpose: Things to consider about AUTHOR’S PURPOSE: For nonfiction: What is the author’s purpose? To persuade? Inform? Critique? How does the writing prove the author’s thesis? What is the theme of the story? How does the writing contribute to that theme? How does the writing illustrate the author’s main point?

HOW TO ANALYZE in two easy steps Step 1: Observe What patterns do you notice? What literary devices are used? What is emphasized? What words stand out? What organizational structures are used? Step 2: Interpret and Connect What is the effect? What does it add to the story as a whole? Why did the author make that choice? How does it fulfill the author’s purpose?

EXPERIMENTING IS STILL FUN Let’s take a look at the passage we summarized. Using the techniques that we talked about, re-read and ANALYZE the passage: “I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me. I choose from among several possibilities, the most common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.” I made the choice a number of years ago, without thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I recognize that they are complex and not entirely flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a cripple, I swagger.” –Nancy Mairs

TO SUMMARIZE (GET IT?) SUMMARY = What the story says! Details Quotes Characters ANALYSIS =How the author says it and WHY! Literary Elements Style Organization

Be potato pickers, not tomato pickers! Remember… Be potato pickers, not tomato pickers!

And finally… Be specific! Give specific examples from the text!

Jack and Jill Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water . Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after Let’s Analyze this Children’s Rhyme.

Jack and Jill Who are Jack & Jill? How are they related? What do they need the pail of water for? Why did Jack fall down? Why did Jill fall down after him? Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.