Writing a Text Analysis

1. Writing a Text Analysis ANALYZING BOTH FICTIONAL AND NON-FICTIONAL TEXT

2. What is text analysis? • It deals with text. • It’s an analysis (detailed examination or study of something). • It’s an argument-- a proof of a thesis. • It may also involve research on and analysis of secondary sources.

3. What is the purpose of text analysis? • To further our learning in a given area. • What is learned depends, of course, on the subject matter.

4. Non-fictional text analysis • You will deal with the analysis of this kind of text generally in your science and social studies classes. These include • physics • biology • geology • chemistry • history • sociology • political science and so on.

5. Non-fictional text analysis: why? • Scientists will read scientific journals, study them, and comment on them. • They will share their analyses of discoveries with other scientists. • This is how some of Einstein’s theses have been proven and disproven. • Historians and sociologists will likewise read articles and texts, research, comment, and make changes if necessary.

6. Fictional text analysis: • In English, you will be dealing with works of both fiction, like The Giver and The Hunger Games, and non-fiction. • You will be working among genres of prose and poetry. • You will engage in academic discourse. • You will write papers called literary analyses or text analyses.

7. What is a literary analysis? • An analysis of a literary work may discuss • How the various components of an individual work relate to each other. • How two or more separate literary works deal with similar concepts or forms. • How concepts and forms in literary works relate to larger contexts. • How other analyses have discussed similar components (secondary sources). • An analysis is NOT a summary.

8. What is there to analyze in literature? • The Basics • Plot • Setting • Narration/point of view • Characterization • Symbol • Metaphor • Genre • Irony • Other key concepts • Historical context • Biographical context • Geographical context • Social, political, and economic contexts • Scientific contexts • Ideology • Multiple voices • Various critical orientations

9. What does an analysis look like?

10. Another Example

11. How is literary analysis an argument? • Specific attribute(s) of the text(s). • Specific, arguable point (thesis) about these attributes. • Defend this point with reasons and evidence from the text. (Much like a lawyer!) • Similar to responses to open-ended questions. • The difference is that YOU have to come up with the questions and provide the answers.

12. Which Thesis Statement would make an intelligent point to defend? • The Hunger Games is about the problem of evil and how the characters overcome it. • The Hunger Games is a boring and pointless novel that distracts the reader from better pursuits. • The Hunger Games is about a fight to the death with amazing weapons. • The literal and symbolic use of “hunger” in Hunger Games illustrates the need of the residents of the poorer Districts to become free from the tyranny of the Capitol and its inhabitants. (symbolism)

13. How Do I Support a Thesis Statement? • Examples from the text: • Direct quotations– NO MORE THAN 10%! • Summaries of scenes • Paraphrase • Critics’ opinions. • Historical and social context.

14. Overview of Literary Analysis • When writing a literary analysis: • Be familiar with literary terms. • Analyze specific items. • Make an a argument. • Make appropriate use of secondary sources. • Limit quotations to 10% of your paper. • Do NOT plagiarize.

15. Now, it’s time to analyze something!