1. What questions should we ask?
Analyzing an Essay
What questions should we ask?

2. Thesis
What do you think the author’s main point is? What does the author want to communicate?
Implicit (not stated)
Explicit (stated in a sentence)

3. Purpose Why did the author write this? For what reason?
Typical reasons include:
To entertain
To explain
To persuade

4. Writing Strategy (choices an author makes)
Intended Audience
Method (how are the ideas developed)
Evidence (what kinds of support?)
Structure (how is it organized?)

5. Language (Next level of reading)
Tone (no different than tone in speaking – “don’t talk to me with that tone” – think of emotion words
Word Choice – Diction
This impacts tone sometimes. Remember too that words have a denotative meaning (dictionary), but more importantly sometimes, they carry connotations (associations – both positive and negative)
Imagery – appeals to senses; look for figurative language (even in non-fiction)

6. Words to Own (Useful Terms)
Analyze, analysis
Connotation, Denotation
Purpose
Thesis
Tone
Add these to your list of literary terms. Definitions can be found in the back of your text. You will be tested on these eventually.