1. Looking at what a text says and how it says it. Norton 38-58
Analyzing a Text
Looking at what a text says and how it says it.
Norton 38-58

2. Key Features
Summary: Texts that are well known don’t need much of and introduction; however, texts that aren’t very well known need some kind of summary.

3. Attention to context: The context is the set of circumstances that surround a subject. Texts are influenced by other texts, ongoing conversations, debates, controversies, etc so to fully understand a text you need to understand the context.
A clear interpretation or judgment: Your goal in analyzing a text is to lead readers through a careful examination of the text to some kind of interpretation, reasoned judgment, or clearly announced thesis. What should others think about this text? That becomes your argument.

4. Reasonable support for your text: Analysis is generally supported by evidence from a text itself and sometimes from other sources. You can quote words from a text or talk about visual images. Your claim needs to be reasonable. While there is no ONE way to interpret something, the interpretation must make sense and be backed up with proof ! Just because is not sufficient.

5. Goals of analysis
The goal of an analysis is to understand what a text says, how it says it, how it works, and what the text means.

6. Read to see what the text says:
What do you think?
What is your reaction to the tone?
What is your reaction to the language?
What is your reaction to the images?
Do you find the text difficult?
Do you find the text puzzling?
Do you agree or disagree?

7. Describe the text
Summarize it in your own words. If someone were to ask you what this text was about. What would you say?

8. Decide what you want to analyze
What do you find most intriguing?
Does the language interest you?
Does the imagery interest you?
Does the structure interest you?
What about the argument?
What about the larger context?

9. Study how it works
How are the elements of the text used and how do they affect the message?
What patterns do you see?

10. Analyze the argument
What does the writer want the audience to do? How does he achieve that?
What does the writer want the audience to believe? How does he achieve that?
What does the writer want the audience to feel? How does he achieve that?

11. Think about the larger context
How does this text fit into the larger context? What is going on around the subject that this text fits into?
Do you need to do more research to find out?

12. Consider what you know about the writer or artist
What do you know about their other works?
What do you know about their reputation?
What do you know about their stance?
What do you know about their beliefs?

13. Come up with a thesis
When you write a thesis you are basically arguing that the text should be read in a certain way.
What do you want to show as the text’s meaning?