analysis essay rules

How To Write an Analytical Essay

If you enjoy exploring topics deeply and thinking creatively, analytical essays could be perfect for you. They involve thorough analysis and clever writing techniques to gain fresh perspectives and deepen your understanding of the subject. In this article, our expert research paper writer will explain what an analytical essay is, how to structure it effectively and provide practical examples. This guide covers all the essentials for your writing success!

What Is an Analytical Essay

An analytical essay involves analyzing something, such as a book, movie, or idea. It relies on evidence from the text to logically support arguments, avoiding emotional appeals or personal stories. Unlike persuasive essays, which argue for a specific viewpoint, a good analytical essay explores all aspects of the topic, considering different perspectives, dissecting arguments, and evaluating evidence carefully. Ultimately, you'll need to present your own stance based on your analysis, synthesize findings, and decide whether you agree with the conclusions or have your own interpretation.

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How to Structure an Analytical Essay

Crafting an excellent paper starts with clear organization and structuring of arguments. An analytical essay structure follows a simple outline: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: Begin by grabbing the reader's attention and stating the topic clearly. Provide background information, state the purpose of the paper, and hint at the arguments you'll make. The opening sentence should be engaging, such as a surprising fact or a thought-provoking question. Then, present your thesis, summarizing your stance in the essay.

Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph starts with a clear topic sentence guiding the reader and presents evidence supporting the thesis. Focus on one issue per paragraph and briefly restate the main point at the end to transition smoothly to the next one. This ensures clarity and coherence in your argument.

Conclusion: Restate the thesis, summarize key points from the body paragraphs, and offer insights on the significance of the analysis. Provide your thoughts on the topic's importance and how your analysis contributes to it, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Meanwhile, you might also be interested in how to write a reflection paper , so check out the article for more information!

How to Write an Analytical Essay in 6 Simple Steps

Once you've got a handle on the structure, you can make writing easier by following some steps. Preparing ahead of time can make the process smoother and improve your essay's flow. Here are some helpful tips from our experts. And if you need it, you can always request our experts to write my essay for me , and we'll handle it promptly.

Step 1: Decide on Your Stance

Before diving into writing, it's crucial to establish your stance on the topic. Let's say you're going to write an analytical essay example about the benefits and drawbacks of remote work. Before you start writing, you need to decide what your opinion or viewpoint is on this topic.

• Do you think remote work offers flexibility and improved work-life balance for employees?
• Or maybe you believe it can lead to feelings of isolation and decreased productivity?

Once you've determined your stance on remote work, it's essential to consider the evidence and arguments supporting your position. Are there statistics or studies that back up your viewpoint? For example, if you believe remote work improves productivity, you might cite research showing increased output among remote workers. On the other hand, if you think it leads to isolation, you could reference surveys or testimonials highlighting the challenges of remote collaboration. Your opinion will shape how you write your essay, so take some time to think about what you believe about remote work before you start writing.

Step 2: Write Your Thesis Statement

Once you've figured out what you think about the topic, it's time to write your thesis statement. This statement is like the main idea or argument of your essay.

If you believe that remote work offers significant benefits, your thesis statement might be: 'Remote work presents an opportunity for increased flexibility and work-life balance, benefiting employees and employers alike in today's interconnected world.'

Alternatively, if you believe that remote work has notable drawbacks, your thesis statement might be: 'While remote work offers flexibility, it can also lead to feelings of isolation and challenges in collaboration, necessitating a balanced approach to its implementation.'

Your thesis statement guides the rest of your analytical essay, so make sure it clearly expresses your viewpoint on the benefits and drawbacks of remote work.

Step 3: Write Topic Sentences

After you have your thesis statement about the benefits and drawbacks of remote work, you need to come up with topic sentences for each paragraph while writing an analytical essay. These sentences introduce the main point of each paragraph and help to structure your essay.

Let's say your first paragraph is about the benefits of remote work. Your topic sentence might be: 'Remote work offers employees increased flexibility and autonomy, enabling them to better manage their work-life balance.'

For the next paragraph discussing the drawbacks of remote work, your topic sentence could be: 'However, remote work can also lead to feelings of isolation and difficulties in communication and collaboration with colleagues.'

And for the paragraph about potential solutions to the challenges of remote work, your topic sentence might be: 'To mitigate the drawbacks of remote work, companies can implement strategies such as regular check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and flexible work arrangements.'

Each topic sentence should relate back to your thesis statement about the benefits and drawbacks of remote work and provide a clear focus for the paragraph that follows.

Step 4: Create an Outline

Now that you have your thesis statement and topic sentences, it's time to create an analytical essay outline to ensure your essay flows logically. Here's an outline prepared by our analytical essay writer based on the example of discussing the benefits and drawbacks of remote work:

Step 5: Write Your First Draft

Now that you have your outline, it's time to start writing your first draft. Begin by expanding upon each point in your outline, making sure to connect your ideas smoothly and logically. Don't worry too much about perfection at this stage; the goal is to get your ideas down on paper. You can always revise and polish your draft later.

As you write, keep referring back to your thesis statement to ensure that your arguments align with your main argument. Additionally, make sure each paragraph flows naturally into the next, maintaining coherence throughout your essay.

Once you've completed your first draft, take a break and then come back to review and revise it. Look for areas where you can strengthen your arguments, clarify your points, and improve the overall structure and flow of your essay.

Remember, writing is a process, and it's okay to go through multiple drafts before you're satisfied with the final result. Take your time and be patient with yourself as you work towards creating a well-crafted essay on the benefits and drawbacks of remote work.

Step 6: Revise and Proofread

Once you've completed your first draft, it's essential to revise and proofread your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and correctness. Here's how to approach this step:

• Check if your ideas make sense and if they support your main point.
• Make sure your writing style stays the same and your format follows the rules.
• Double-check your facts and make sure you've covered everything important.
• Cut out any extra words and make your sentences clear and short.
• Look for mistakes in spelling and grammar.
• Ask someone to read your essay and give you feedback.

What is the Purpose of an Analytical Essay?

Analytical essays aim to analyze texts or topics, presenting a clear argument. They deepen understanding by evaluating evidence and uncovering underlying meanings. These essays promote critical thinking, challenging readers to consider different viewpoints.

They're also great for improving critical thinking skills. By breaking down complex ideas and presenting them clearly, they encourage readers to think for themselves and reach their own conclusions.

This type of essay also adds to academic discussions by offering fresh insights. By analyzing existing research and literature, they bring new perspectives or shine a light on overlooked parts of a topic. This keeps academic conversations lively and encourages more exploration in the field.

Analytical Essay Examples

Check out our essay samples to see theory in action. Crafted by our dissertation services , they show how analytical thinking applies to real situations, helping you understand concepts better.

With our tips on how to write an analytical essay, you're ready to boost your writing skills and craft essays that captivate your audience. With practice, you'll become a pro at analytical writing, ready to tackle any topic with confidence. And, if you need help to buy essay online , just drop us a line saying ' do my homework for me ' and we'll jump right in!

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How to Write an Analytical Essay?

What is an analytical essay.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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• Writing Tips

 How to Write a Perfect Analytical Paragraph

8-minute read

• 30th January 2023

If you are looking up how to write an analytical paragraph, you are most likely writing an argumentative or analytical essay. Analytical essays are similar to other essays, such as descriptive essays, in that you have a central idea, organize supporting ideas into body paragraphs, and make conclusions.

However, analytical essays differ from other essays because the writer must go further. They require the writer to interpret and analyze a given text or information using evidence to support their central idea or thesis statement. This analysis takes place in analytical paragraphs, or body paragraphs, if you are writing an analytical essay .

In this article, you’ll learn the components of a perfect analytical paragraph: the topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and conclusion. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is an Analytical Paragraph?

An analytical paragraph is a paragraph that breaks down a piece of literature, an idea, or a concept into smaller parts and analyzes each part to understand the whole. Being able to write an effective and successful analytical paragraph reflects a writer’s critical thinking and organizational writing skills. All in all, like any other type of writing, writing an analytical paragraph requires skill and practice.

Write the Topic Sentence

A topic sentence is usually the first, or sometimes second, sentence at the beginning of anybody paragraph. Your topic sentence should contain one main idea related to the thesis statement . If it is not related to your thesis statement, then you are likely off topic.

Pro Tip: If your topic sentence is the second sentence of your paragraph, then your first sentence should be a transitional sentence .

Let’s look at a thesis statement and some topic sentences to get a better idea.

Topic: Examine and analyze the marriages in George Eliot’s Middlemarch .

Thesis Statement: Eliot uses three different marriages to give depth to everyday people and show the reader the struggles of marriage within the nineteenth century’s societal standards of submissive roles, class range, and financial status.

Topic Sentence 1: Lydgate and Rosamond had a terrible marriage in Middlemarch , like all other marriages during this time.

This topic sentence is not effective because it is not specific enough and does not directly relate to the thesis statement. It does not mention how their “terrible” marriage is related to submissive roles, class range, or financial status. Additionally, the overly generalized language of “all” marriages being terrible marriages during this time is a weak argument.

Topic Sentence 2: Financial matters play a huge role in the Lydgate and Rosamond marriage, as Lydgate has no money and Rosamond is a big spender.

This topic sentence is effective because it directly supports the thesis statement. It is focused on the financial status of this marriage.

Provide Evidence

The type of evidence you use to support your topic sentence will largely depend on the topic of your analytical essay. For example, if you are writing an essay related to a work of literature, you will need to provide direct quotes, paraphrasing, specific details, or a summary from the work to support your main idea. If your topic is related to analyzing data, then you may use figures, statistics, or charts and graph evidence to support your topic sentence.

Regardless of what type of evidence you provide, it must be appropriate and directly relate to and support your topic sentence.

For example, if we take the above thesis and topic sentence, we might select direct quotes, paraphrases, or summaries from the novel Middlemarch that depict the marriage’s financial stress.

Pro Tip: When using direct quotes, make sure you always provide an in-text citation and use correct punctuation to ensure your essay is neat and clean.

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Once you have provided evidence, you should analyze it to illustrate its significance and how it relates to the topic sentence. In your analysis, you can discuss how an author uses certain literary devices to emphasize character traits, themes, patterns, and connections in a literary work.

Be sure that your analysis always connects to the topic sentence/main idea of the paragraph. Avoid introducing new ideas in this section. Save those for later paragraphs or consider creating a new one to explore and analyze the new point.

Conclude Your Paragraph

When closing an analytical paragraph, you can consider doing two things:

●  Briefly emphasize the main point your reader should take away after having read the paragraph.

●  Begin a transition if the analysis continues into the next paragraph. (This strategy may be more suitable for longer, more in-depth analytical essays).

Using the above example topic sentence, we might conclude the paragraph as follows:

Notice how this concluding statement not only emphasizes the main points from the paragraph but also ties back into the thesis statement.

Writing Tips For Analytical Paragraphs

Leave out first person language.

Avoid using language such as “in my opinion,” “from my perspective,” or “I think.” While the analysis is your interpretation of a text or information, you should rely on and focus on using evidence to support your ideas. Overall, you should aim to maintain an objective tone .

Instead of saying “I think Rosamond is manipulative,” you should use evidence from the text to show that she was manipulative. For example, “Rosamond shows a pattern of manipulation throughout Middlemarch , specifically toward her husband. For instance, she says, ‘…’”

Do Writing Exercises

When writing, especially in the early drafts of an essay, it is typical to find the main idea of a paragraph at the end. This is a natural course for our thinking process. However, the main idea should be presented as your topic sentence at the beginning of this paragraph. Additionally, most students leave this main idea at the end because they do not identify it as the main idea.

To overcome this dilemma, try a looping prewriting exercise . In this exercise, you write continuously for a designated time (maybe 10 minutes, your choice). At the end of that time, read over what you’ve written and circle the main idea of the text (this is usually at the end). In the next cycle, you start with this main idea at the beginning and further examine and analyze it.

This is a wonderful exercise to help you pick out main ideas and delve deeper into your analysis.

Get Feedback

If you are a student, there are several options to get feedback for free. Ask a friend to read your essay. Go to your writing center to get feedback and help with your writing. Go to your professor’s office hours with your writing or questions to get detailed advice. More often than not, they are happy to see you take advantage of their expertise.

As a working professional, writer, or author, you can look to fellow authors or bookish friends to read your work. You can find free beta readers online from sites such as Goodreads to get feedback from your target audience. You can also find writing groups on social media platforms.

Proofread Your Work

It can be easy to finish writing an essay and think “Finally, I’m done!” Unfortunately, that is only half the process. Be sure to always read and reread your writing before hitting submit. Check for stray commas, spelling errors, or awkward sentences to make your main ideas and hard work shine. Learn about 6 Quick and Easy Tips for Proofreading you can do at home.

Writing an analytical paragraph doesn’t have to be stressful. Be sure to include a topic sentence at the beginning of your paragraph that connects to the thesis statement. Provide a variety of evidence to support your main idea, analyze the text by highlighting literary devices used, themes, and patterns, and end with a brief concluding statement.

If you need more help with writing analysis, descriptive essays, or any other type of essay, then Proofed is here to help. Try our free trial today!

What Is a Topic Sentence?

A topic sentence goes at the beginning of a body paragraph and clearly states the main idea of the paragraph.

How Do I Organize an Analytical Paragraph?

An analytical paragraph has four components: topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and conclusion. The topic sentence is the most important part of any body paragraph because it establishes the main idea of the paragraph and relates to the thesis statement.

What Makes a Good Analytical Paragraph?

A good analytical paragraph has a clear topic sentence, strong evidence, and a thorough analysis that reflects the writer’s critical thinking and writing skills. It should conclude by emphasizing the main idea of the paragraph and how it supports the essay overall.

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The Power of Analysis: Tips and Tricks for Writing Analysis Essays: Home

Crystal sosa.

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• Super Search Webpage Where to start your research.
• Scribbr Textual analysis guide.
• Analyzing Texts Prezi Presentation A prezi presentation on analyzing texts.
• Writing Essays Guide A guide to writing essays/
• Why is it important?
• Explanation & Example
• Different Types of Analysis Essays

Text analysis and writing analysis texts are important skills to develop as they allow individuals to critically engage with written material, understand underlying themes and arguments, and communicate their own ideas in a clear and effective manner. These skills are essential in academic and professional settings, as well as in everyday life, as they enable individuals to evaluate information and make informed decisions.

What is Text Analysis?

Text analysis is the process of examining and interpreting a written or spoken text to understand its meaning, structure, and context. It involves breaking down the text into its constituent parts, such as words, phrases, and sentences, and analyzing how they work together to convey a particular message or idea.

Text analysis can be used to explore a wide range of textual material, including literature, poetry, speeches, and news articles, and it is often employed in academic research, literary criticism, and media analysis. By analyzing texts, we can gain deeper insights into their meanings, uncover hidden messages and themes, and better understand the social and cultural contexts in which they were produced.

What is an Analysis Essay?

An analysis essay is a type of essay that requires the writer to analyze and interpret a particular text or topic. The goal of an analysis essay is to break down the text or topic into smaller parts and examine each part carefully. This allows the writer to make connections between different parts of the text or topic and develop a more comprehensive understanding of it.

In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses the first-person point of view and vivid descriptions of the protagonist’s surroundings to convey the protagonist’s psychological deterioration. By limiting the reader’s understanding of the story’s events to the protagonist’s perspective, Gilman creates a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia, mirroring the protagonist’s own feelings. Additionally, the use of sensory language, such as the “smooch of rain,” and descriptions of the “yellow wallpaper” and its “sprawling flamboyant patterns,” further emphasize the protagonist’s sensory and emotional experience. Through these techniques, Gilman effectively communicates the protagonist’s descent into madness and the effects of societal oppression on women’s mental health.

There are several different types of analysis essays, including:

Literary Analysis Essays: These essays examine a work of literature and analyze various literary devices such as character development, plot, theme, and symbolism.

Rhetorical Analysis Essays: These essays examine how authors use language and rhetoric to persuade their audience, focusing on the author's tone, word choice, and use of rhetorical devices.

Film Analysis Essays: These essays analyze a film's themes, characters, and visual elements, such as cinematography and sound.

Visual Analysis Essays: These essays analyze visual art, such as paintings or sculptures, and explore how the artwork's elements work together to create meaning.

Historical Analysis Essays: These essays analyze historical events or documents and examine their causes, effects, and implications.

Comparative Analysis Essays: These essays compare and contrast two or more works, focusing on similarities and differences between them.

Process Analysis Essays: These essays explain how to do something or how something works, providing a step-by-step analysis of a process.

Analyzing Texts

• General Tips
• How to Analyze
• What to Analyze

When writing an essay, it's essential to analyze your topic thoroughly. Here are some suggestions for analyzing your topic:

Read carefully: Start by reading your text or prompt carefully. Make sure you understand the key points and what the text or prompt is asking you to do.

Analyze the text or topic thoroughly: Analyze the text or topic thoroughly by breaking it down into smaller parts and examining each part carefully. This will help you make connections between different parts of the text or topic and develop a more comprehensive understanding of it.

Identify key concepts: Identify the key concepts, themes, and ideas in the text or prompt. This will help you focus your analysis.

Take notes: Take notes on important details and concepts as you read. This will help you remember what you've read and organize your thoughts.

Consider different perspectives: Consider different perspectives and interpretations of the text or prompt. This can help you create a more well-rounded analysis.

Use evidence: Use evidence from the text or outside sources to support your analysis. This can help you make your argument stronger and more convincing.

Formulate your thesis statement: Based on your analysis of the essay, formulate your thesis statement. This should be a clear and concise statement that summarizes your main argument.

Use clear and concise language: Use clear and concise language to communicate your ideas effectively. Avoid using overly complicated language that may confuse your reader.

Revise and edit: Revise and edit your essay carefully to ensure that it is clear, concise, and free of errors.

• Understanding the assignment: Make sure you fully understand the assignment and the purpose of the analysis. This will help you focus your analysis and ensure that you are meeting the requirements of the assignment.

Read the essay multiple times: Reading the essay multiple times will help you to identify the author's main argument, key points, and supporting evidence.

Take notes: As you read the essay, take notes on key points, quotes, and examples. This will help you to organize your thoughts and identify patterns in the author's argument.

Take breaks: It's important to take breaks while reading academic essays to avoid burnout. Take a break every 20-30 minutes and do something completely different, like going for a walk or listening to music. This can help you to stay refreshed and engaged.

Highlight or underline key points: As you read, highlight or underline key points, arguments, and evidence that stand out to you. This will help you to remember and analyze important information later.

Ask questions: Ask yourself questions as you read to help you engage critically with the text. What is the author's argument? What evidence do they use to support their claims? What are the strengths and weaknesses of their argument?

Engage in active reading: Instead of passively reading, engage in active reading by asking questions, making connections to other readings or personal experiences, and reflecting on what you've read.

Find a discussion partner: Find someone to discuss the essay with, whether it's a classmate, a friend, or a teacher. Discussing the essay can help you to process and analyze the information more deeply, and can also help you to stay engaged.

• Identify the author's purpose and audience: Consider why the author wrote the essay and who their intended audience is. This will help you to better understand the author's perspective and the purpose of their argument.

Analyze the structure of the essay: Consider how the essay is structured and how this supports the author's argument. Look for patterns in the organization of ideas and the use of transitions.

Evaluate the author's use of evidence: Evaluate the author's use of evidence and how it supports their argument. Consider whether the evidence is credible, relevant, and sufficient to support the author's claims.

Consider the author's tone and style: Consider the author's tone and style and how it contributes to their argument. Look for patterns in the use of language, imagery, and rhetorical devices.

Consider the context : Consider the context in which the essay was written, such as the author's background, the time period, and any societal or cultural factors that may have influenced their perspective.

Evaluate the evidence: Evaluate the evidence presented in the essay and consider whether it is sufficient to support the author's argument. Look for any biases or assumptions that may be present in the evidence.

Consider alternative viewpoints: Consider alternative viewpoints and arguments that may challenge the author's perspective. This can help you to engage critically with the text and develop a more well-rounded understanding of the topic.

• Last Updated: Jun 21, 2023 1:01 PM
• URL: https://odessa.libguides.com/analysis

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5 Steps to Write a Great Analytical Essay

General Education

Do you need to write an analytical essay for school? What sets this kind of essay apart from other types, and what must you include when you write your own analytical essay? In this guide, we break down the process of writing an analytical essay by explaining the key factors your essay needs to have, providing you with an outline to help you structure your essay, and analyzing a complete analytical essay example so you can see what a finished essay looks like.

What Is an Analytical Essay?

Before you begin writing an analytical essay, you must know what this type of essay is and what it includes. Analytical essays analyze something, often (but not always) a piece of writing or a film.

An analytical essay is more than just a synopsis of the issue though; in this type of essay you need to go beyond surface-level analysis and look at what the key arguments/points of this issue are and why. If you’re writing an analytical essay about a piece of writing, you’ll look into how the text was written and why the author chose to write it that way. Instead of summarizing, an analytical essay typically takes a narrower focus and looks at areas such as major themes in the work, how the author constructed and supported their argument, how the essay used literary devices to enhance its messages, etc.

While you certainly want people to agree with what you’ve written, unlike with persuasive and argumentative essays, your main purpose when writing an analytical essay isn’t to try to convert readers to your side of the issue. Therefore, you won’t be using strong persuasive language like you would in those essay types. Rather, your goal is to have enough analysis and examples that the strength of your argument is clear to readers.

Besides typical essay components like an introduction and conclusion, a good analytical essay will include:

• A thesis that states your main argument
• Analysis that relates back to your thesis and supports it
• Examples to support your analysis and allow a more in-depth look at the issue

In the rest of this article, we’ll explain how to include each of these in your analytical essay.

How to Structure Your Analytical Essay

Analytical essays are structured similarly to many other essays you’ve written, with an introduction (including a thesis), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below is an outline you can follow when structuring your essay, and in the next section we go into more detail on how to write an analytical essay.

Introduction

Your introduction will begin with some sort of attention-grabbing sentence to get your audience interested, then you’ll give a few sentences setting up the topic so that readers have some context, and you’ll end with your thesis statement. Your introduction will include:

• Brief background information explaining the issue/text
• Your thesis

Body Paragraphs

Your analytical essay will typically have three or four body paragraphs, each covering a different point of analysis. Begin each body paragraph with a sentence that sets up the main point you’ll be discussing. Then you’ll give some analysis on that point, backing it up with evidence to support your claim. Continue analyzing and giving evidence for your analysis until you’re out of strong points for the topic. At the end of each body paragraph, you may choose to have a transition sentence that sets up what the next paragraph will be about, but this isn’t required. Body paragraphs will include:

• Introductory sentence explaining what you’ll cover in the paragraph (sort of like a mini-thesis)
• Analysis point
• Evidence (either passages from the text or data/facts) that supports the analysis
• (Repeat analysis and evidence until you run out of examples)

You won’t be making any new points in your conclusion; at this point you’re just reiterating key points you’ve already made and wrapping things up. Begin by rephrasing your thesis and summarizing the main points you made in the essay. Someone who reads just your conclusion should be able to come away with a basic idea of what your essay was about and how it was structured. After this, you may choose to make some final concluding thoughts, potentially by connecting your essay topic to larger issues to show why it’s important. A conclusion will include:

• Paraphrase of thesis
• Summary of key points of analysis
• Final concluding thought(s)

5 Steps for Writing an Analytical Essay

Follow these five tips to break down writing an analytical essay into manageable steps. By the end, you’ll have a fully-crafted analytical essay with both in-depth analysis and enough evidence to support your argument. All of these steps use the completed analytical essay in the next section as an example.

#1: Pick a Topic

You may have already had a topic assigned to you, and if that’s the case, you can skip this step. However, if you haven’t, or if the topic you’ve been assigned is broad enough that you still need to narrow it down, then you’ll need to decide on a topic for yourself. Choosing the right topic can mean the difference between an analytical essay that’s easy to research (and gets you a good grade) and one that takes hours just to find a few decent points to analyze

Before you decide on an analytical essay topic, do a bit of research to make sure you have enough examples to support your analysis. If you choose a topic that’s too narrow, you’ll struggle to find enough to write about.

For example, say your teacher assigns you to write an analytical essay about the theme in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath of exposing injustices against migrants. For it to be an analytical essay, you can’t just recount the injustices characters in the book faced; that’s only a summary and doesn’t include analysis. You need to choose a topic that allows you to analyze the theme. One of the best ways to explore a theme is to analyze how the author made his/her argument. One example here is that Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters (short chapters that didn’t relate to the plot or contain the main characters of the book) to show what life was like for migrants as a whole during the Dust Bowl.

You could write about how Steinbeck used literary devices throughout the whole book, but, in the essay below, I chose to just focus on the intercalary chapters since they gave me enough examples. Having a narrower focus will nearly always result in a tighter and more convincing essay (and can make compiling examples less overwhelming).

#2: Write a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the most important sentence of your essay; a reader should be able to read just your thesis and understand what the entire essay is about and what you’ll be analyzing. When you begin writing, remember that each sentence in your analytical essay should relate back to your thesis

In the analytical essay example below, the thesis is the final sentence of the first paragraph (the traditional spot for it). The thesis is: “In The Grapes of Wrath’s intercalary chapters, John Steinbeck employs a variety of literary devices and stylistic choices to better expose the injustices committed against migrants in the 1930s.” So what will this essay analyze? How Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants could have it. Crystal clear.

#3: Do Research to Find Your Main Points

This is where you determine the bulk of your analysis--the information that makes your essay an analytical essay. My preferred method is to list every idea that I can think of, then research each of those and use the three or four strongest ones for your essay. Weaker points may be those that don’t relate back to the thesis, that you don’t have much analysis to discuss, or that you can’t find good examples for. A good rule of thumb is to have one body paragraph per main point

This essay has four main points, each of which analyzes a different literary device Steinbeck uses to better illustrate how difficult life was for migrants during the Dust Bowl. The four literary devices and their impact on the book are:

• Lack of individual names in intercalary chapters to illustrate the scope of the problem
• Parallels to the Bible to induce sympathy for the migrants
• Non-showy, often grammatically-incorrect language so the migrants are more realistic and relatable to readers
• Nature-related metaphors to affect the mood of the writing and reflect the plight of the migrants

#4: Find Excerpts or Evidence to Support Your Analysis

Now that you have your main points, you need to back them up. If you’re writing a paper about a text or film, use passages/clips from it as your main source of evidence. If you’re writing about something else, your evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as surveys, experiments, quotes from knowledgeable sources etc. Any evidence that would work for a regular research paper works here.

In this example, I quoted multiple passages from The Grapes of Wrath  in each paragraph to support my argument. You should be able to back up every claim you make with evidence in order to have a strong essay.

#5: Put It All Together

Now it's time to begin writing your essay, if you haven’t already. Create an introductory paragraph that ends with the thesis, make a body paragraph for each of your main points, including both analysis and evidence to back up your claims, and wrap it all up with a conclusion that recaps your thesis and main points and potentially explains the big picture importance of the topic.

Analytical Essay Example + Analysis

So that you can see for yourself what a completed analytical essay looks like, here’s an essay I wrote back in my high school days. It’s followed by analysis of how I structured my essay, what its strengths are, and how it could be improved.

One way Steinbeck illustrates the connections all migrant people possessed and the struggles they faced is by refraining from using specific titles and names in his intercalary chapters. While The Grapes of Wrath focuses on the Joad family, the intercalary chapters show that all migrants share the same struggles and triumphs as the Joads. No individual names are used in these chapters; instead the people are referred to as part of a group. Steinbeck writes, “Frantic men pounded on the doors of the doctors; and the doctors were busy.  And sad men left word at country stores for the coroner to send a car,” (555). By using generic terms, Steinbeck shows how the migrants are all linked because they have gone through the same experiences. The grievances committed against one family were committed against thousands of other families; the abuse extends far beyond what the Joads experienced. The Grapes of Wrath frequently refers to the importance of coming together; how, when people connect with others their power and influence multiplies immensely. Throughout the novel, the goal of the migrants, the key to their triumph, has been to unite. While their plans are repeatedly frustrated by the government and police, Steinbeck’s intercalary chapters provide a way for the migrants to relate to one another because they have encountered the same experiences. Hundreds of thousands of migrants fled to the promised land of California, but Steinbeck was aware that numbers alone were impersonal and lacked the passion he desired to spread. Steinbeck created the intercalary chapters to show the massive numbers of people suffering, and he created the Joad family to evoke compassion from readers.  Because readers come to sympathize with the Joads, they become more sensitive to the struggles of migrants in general. However, John Steinbeck frequently made clear that the Joads were not an isolated incident; they were not unique. Their struggles and triumphs were part of something greater. Refraining from specific names in his intercalary chapters allows Steinbeck to show the vastness of the atrocities committed against migrants.

Steinbeck also creates significant parallels to the Bible in his intercalary chapters in order to enhance his writing and characters. By using simple sentences and stylized writing, Steinbeck evokes Biblical passages. The migrants despair, “No work till spring. No work,” (556).  Short, direct sentences help to better convey the desperateness of the migrants’ situation. Throughout his novel, John Steinbeck makes connections to the Bible through his characters and storyline. Jim Casy’s allusions to Christ and the cycle of drought and flooding are clear biblical references.  By choosing to relate The Grapes of Wrath to the Bible, Steinbeck’s characters become greater than themselves. Starving migrants become more than destitute vagrants; they are now the chosen people escaping to the promised land. When a forgotten man dies alone and unnoticed, it becomes a tragedy. Steinbeck writes, “If [the migrants] were shot at, they did not run, but splashed sullenly away; and if they were hit, they sank tiredly in the mud,” (556). Injustices committed against the migrants become greater because they are seen as children of God through Steinbeck’s choice of language. Referencing the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s novel and purpose: to create understanding for the dispossessed.  It is easy for people to feel disdain for shabby vagabonds, but connecting them to such a fundamental aspect of Christianity induces sympathy from readers who might have otherwise disregarded the migrants as so many other people did.

The simple, uneducated dialogue Steinbeck employs also helps to create a more honest and meaningful representation of the migrants, and it makes the migrants more relatable to readers. Steinbeck chooses to accurately represent the language of the migrants in order to more clearly illustrate their lives and make them seem more like real paper than just characters in a book. The migrants lament, “They ain’t gonna be no kinda work for three months,” (555). There are multiple grammatical errors in that single sentence, but it vividly conveys the despair the migrants felt better than a technically perfect sentence would. The Grapes of Wrath is intended to show the severe difficulties facing the migrants so Steinbeck employs a clear, pragmatic style of writing.  Steinbeck shows the harsh, truthful realities of the migrants’ lives and he would be hypocritical if he chose to give the migrants a more refined voice and not portray them with all their shortcomings. The depiction of the migrants as imperfect through their language also makes them easier to relate to. Steinbeck’s primary audience was the middle class, the less affluent of society. Repeatedly in The Grapes of Wrath , the wealthy make it obvious that they scorn the plight of the migrants. The wealthy, not bad luck or natural disasters, were the prominent cause of the suffering of migrant families such as the Joads. Thus, Steinbeck turns to the less prosperous for support in his novel. When referring to the superior living conditions barnyard animals have, the migrants remark, “Them’s horses-we’re men,” (556).  The perfect simplicity of this quote expresses the absurdness of the migrants’ situation better than any flowery expression could.

In The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck uses metaphors, particularly about nature, in order to illustrate the mood and the overall plight of migrants. Throughout most of the book, the land is described as dusty, barren, and dead. Towards the end, however; floods come and the landscape begins to change. At the end of chapter twenty-nine, Steinbeck describes a hill after the floods saying, “Tiny points of grass came through the earth, and in a few days the hills were pale green with the beginning year,” (556). This description offers a stark contrast from the earlier passages which were filled with despair and destruction. Steinbeck’s tone from the beginning of the chapter changes drastically. Early in the chapter, Steinbeck had used heavy imagery in order to convey the destruction caused by the rain, “The streams and the little rivers edged up to the bank sides and worked at willows and tree roots, bent the willows deep in the current, cut out the roots of cottonwoods and brought down the trees,” (553). However, at the end of the chapter the rain has caused new life to grow in California. The new grass becomes a metaphor representing hope. When the migrants are at a loss over how they will survive the winter, the grass offers reassurance. The story of the migrants in the intercalary chapters parallels that of the Joads. At the end of the novel, the family is breaking apart and has been forced to flee their home. However, both the book and final intercalary chapter end on a hopeful note after so much suffering has occurred. The grass metaphor strengthens Steinbeck’s message because it offers a tangible example of hope. Through his language Steinbeck’s themes become apparent at the end of the novel. Steinbeck affirms that persistence, even when problems appear insurmountable, leads to success. These metaphors help to strengthen Steinbeck’s themes in The Grapes of Wrath because they provide a more memorable way to recall important messages.

John Steinbeck’s language choices help to intensify his writing in his intercalary chapters and allow him to more clearly show how difficult life for migrants could be. Refraining from using specific names and terms allows Steinbeck to show that many thousands of migrants suffered through the same wrongs. Imitating the style of the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s characters and connects them to the Bible, perhaps the most famous book in history. When Steinbeck writes in the imperfect dialogue of the migrants, he creates a more accurate portrayal and makes the migrants easier to relate to for a less affluent audience. Metaphors, particularly relating to nature, strengthen the themes in The Grapes of Wrath by enhancing the mood Steinbeck wants readers to feel at different points in the book. Overall, the intercalary chapters that Steinbeck includes improve his novel by making it more memorable and reinforcing the themes Steinbeck embraces throughout the novel. Exemplary stylistic devices further persuade readers of John Steinbeck’s personal beliefs. Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath to bring to light cruelties against migrants, and by using literary devices effectively, he continuously reminds readers of his purpose. Steinbeck’s impressive language choices in his intercalary chapters advance the entire novel and help to create a classic work of literature that people still are able to relate to today. 

This essay sticks pretty closely to the standard analytical essay outline. It starts with an introduction, where I chose to use a quote to start off the essay. (This became my favorite way to start essays in high school because, if I wasn’t sure what to say, I could outsource the work and find a quote that related to what I’d be writing about.) The quote in this essay doesn’t relate to the themes I’m discussing quite as much as it could, but it’s still a slightly different way to start an essay and can intrigue readers. I then give a bit of background on The Grapes of Wrath and its themes before ending the intro paragraph with my thesis: that Steinbeck used literary devices in intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants had it.

Each of my four body paragraphs is formatted in roughly the same way: an intro sentence that explains what I’ll be discussing, analysis of that main point, and at least two quotes from the book as evidence.

My conclusion restates my thesis, summarizes each of four points I discussed in my body paragraphs, and ends the essay by briefly discussing how Steinbeck’s writing helped introduce a world of readers to the injustices migrants experienced during the dust bowl.

What does this analytical essay example do well? For starters, it contains everything that a strong analytical essay should, and it makes that easy to find. The thesis clearly lays out what the essay will be about, the first sentence of each of the body paragraph introduces the topic it’ll cover, and the conclusion neatly recaps all the main points. Within each of the body paragraphs, there’s analysis along with multiple excerpts from the book in order to add legitimacy to my points.

Additionally, the essay does a good job of taking an in-depth look at the issue introduced in the thesis. Four ways Steinbeck used literary devices are discussed, and for each of the examples are given and analysis is provided so readers can understand why Steinbeck included those devices and how they helped shaped how readers viewed migrants and their plight.

Where could this essay be improved? I believe the weakest body paragraph is the third one, the one that discusses how Steinbeck used plain, grammatically incorrect language to both accurately depict the migrants and make them more relatable to readers. The paragraph tries to touch on both of those reasons and ends up being somewhat unfocused as a result. It would have been better for it to focus on just one of those reasons (likely how it made the migrants more relatable) in order to be clearer and more effective. It’s a good example of how adding more ideas to an essay often doesn’t make it better if they don’t work with the rest of what you’re writing. This essay also could explain the excerpts that are included more and how they relate to the points being made. Sometimes they’re just dropped in the essay with the expectation that the readers will make the connection between the example and the analysis. This is perhaps especially true in the second body paragraph, the one that discusses similarities to Biblical passages. Additional analysis of the quotes would have strengthened it.

Summary: How to Write an Analytical Essay

What is an analytical essay? A critical analytical essay analyzes a topic, often a text or film. The analysis paper uses evidence to support the argument, such as excerpts from the piece of writing. All analytical papers include a thesis, analysis of the topic, and evidence to support that analysis.

When developing an analytical essay outline and writing your essay, follow these five steps:

Reading analytical essay examples can also give you a better sense of how to structure your essay and what to include in it.

What's Next?

Learning about different writing styles in school? There are four main writing styles, and it's important to understand each of them. Learn about them in our guide to writing styles , complete with examples.

Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Literary devices can both be used to enhance your writing and communication. Check out this list of 31 literary devices to learn more !

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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How to Write an Analytical Essay

Last Updated: August 6, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 16 testimonials and 81% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 3,993,826 times.

Writing an analytical essay can seem daunting, especially if you've never done it before. Don't worry! Take a deep breath, buy yourself a caffeinated beverage, and follow these steps to create a well-crafted analytical essay.

Prewriting for Your Essay

• For example, "Stanley Kubrick's The Shining uses a repeating motif of Native American culture and art to comment on America's history of colonizing Native Americans' lands" is an analytical thesis. It is analyzing a particular text and setting forth an argument about it in the form of a thesis statement.

• If you're writing an analytical essay about a work of fiction, you could focus your argument on what motivates a specific character or group of characters. Or, you could argue why a certain line or paragraph is central to the work as a whole. For example: Explore the concept of vengeance in the epic poem Beowulf .
• If you're writing about a historical event, try focusing on the forces that contributed to what happened.
• If you're writing about scientific research or findings, follow the scientific method to analyze your results.

• Look for repeated imagery, metaphors, phrases, or ideas. Things that repeat are often important. See if you can decipher why these things are so crucial. Do they repeat in the same way each time, or differently?
• How does the text work? If you're writing a rhetorical analysis, for example, you might analyze how the author uses logical appeals to support her argument and decide whether you think the argument is effective. If you're analyzing a creative work, consider things like imagery, visuals in a film, etc. If you're analyzing research, you may want to consider the methods and results and analyze whether the experiment is a good design.
• A mind map can be helpful to some people. Start with your central topic, and arrange smaller ideas around it in bubbles. Connect the bubbles to identify patterns and how things are related.
• Good brainstorming can be all over the place. In fact, that can be a good way to start off! Don't discount any ideas just yet. Write down any element or fact that you think of as you examine your topic.

• This is an analytical thesis because it examines a text and makes a particular claim.
• The claim is "arguable," meaning it's not a statement of pure fact that nobody could contest. An analytical essay takes a side and makes an argument.
• Make sure your thesis is narrow enough to fit the scope of your assignment. "Revenge in Beowulf could be a PhD dissertation, it's so broad. It's probably much too big for a student essay. However, arguing that one character's revenge is more honorable than another's is manageable within a shorter student essay.
• Unless instructed to write one, avoid the "three-prong" thesis that presents three points to be discussed later. These thesis statements usually limit your analysis too much and give your argument a formulaic feel. It's okay to state generally what your argument will be.

• Example of supporting evidence : To support a claim that the dragon’s vengeance was more righteous than Grendel's mother's, look at the passages in the poem that discuss the events leading up to each monster’s attack, the attacks themselves, as well as the reactions to those attacks. Don't: ignore or twist evidence to fit your thesis. Do: adjust your thesis to a more nuanced position as you learn more about the topic.

• If you're not quite sure how all your evidence fits together, don't worry! Making an outline can help you figure out how your argument should progress.
• You can also make a more informal outline that groups your ideas together in large groups. From there, you can decide what to talk about where.
• Your essay will be as long as it needs to be to adequately discuss your topic. A common mistake students make is to choose a large topic and then allow only 3 body paragraphs to discuss it. This makes essays feel shallow or rushed. Don't be afraid to spend enough time discussing each detail!

Writing Your Essay

• Example introduction : Revenge was a legally recognized right in ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The many revenges in the epic poem Beowulf show that retribution was an essential part of the Anglo-Saxon age. However, not all revenges are created alike. The poet's portrayal of these revenges suggests that the dragon was more honorable in his act of revenge than Grendel's mother.
• This introduction gives your readers information they should know to understand your argument, and then presents an argument about the complexity of a general topic (revenge) in the poem. This type of argument can be interesting because it suggests that the reader needs to think about the text very carefully and not take it at face value. Don't: include filler and fluff sentences beginning with "In modern society" or "Throughout time." Do: briefly mention the title, author, and publication date of the text you're analyzing.

• Example topic sentence : The key to differentiating between the two attacks is the notion of excessive retribution.
• Example analysis : Grendel's mother does not simply want vengeance, as per the Medieval concept of ‘an eye for an eye.’ Instead, she wants to take a life for a life while also throwing Hrothgar’s kingdom into chaos.
• Example evidence : Instead of simply killing Aeschere, and thus enacting just revenge, she “quickly [snatches] up” that nobleman and, with him “tight in her clutches,” she leaves for the fen (1294). She does this to lure Beowulf away from Heorot so she can kill him as well.
• The formula "CEE" may help you remember: Claim-Evidence-Explanation. Whenever you present a claim, make sure you present evidence to support that claim and explain how the evidence relates to your claim.

• Example of a quote : Instead of simply killing Aeschere, and thus enacting just revenge, she “quickly [snatches] up” that nobleman and, with him “tight in her clutches,” she leaves for the fen (1294).
• Example of a paraphrased sentence : The female Grendel enters Heorot, snatches up one of the men sleeping inside it, and runs away to the fen (1294).

• Example conclusion : The concept of an ‘eye for an eye’ was very present in the early Medieval world. However, by comparing the attacks of both Grendel's mother and the dragon, the medieval world’s perception of righteous vengeance versus unjust revenge is made clear. While the dragon acts out in the only way he knows how, Grendel's mother attacks with evil intent.
• Example conclusion with a ‘bigger world connection’: The concept of an ‘eye for an eye’ was very present in the early Medieval world. However, by comparing the attacks of both Grendel's mother and the dragon, the medieval world’s perception of righteous vengeance versus unjust revenge is made clear. While the dragon acts out in the only way he knows how, Grendel's mother attacks with evil intent. As we saw from the study of other characters, these portrayals may tie into an early Medieval perception that women had greater potential for evil.

Finalizing Your Essay

• Make sure to also format your essay correctly. For example, using a 12-pt standard font (like Arial or Times New Roman) and 1" margins is standard.

• If you are analyzing a film, look up the list of characters online. Check two or three sources to make sure that you have the correct spelling.

Analytical Essay Writing Help

Community Q&A

• Ask yourself "What am I trying to prove?" The answer should be in your thesis. If not, go back and fix it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are writing a formal analysis or critique, then avoid using colloquial writing . Though informal language may bring some color to a paper, you do not want to risk weakening your argument by influencing it with verbal slang. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Avoid being too vague. Vagueness leaves room for misinterpretation and in a coherent, analytical essay, leaving room for misinterpretation decreases the effectiveness of your argument. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERARYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001.pdf
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-can-i-create-stronger-analysis-.html
• ↑ https://academics.umw.edu/writing-fredericksburg/files/2011/09/Basic-Outlines.pdf
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-an-intro--conclusion----body-paragraph.html
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-incorporate-quotes-.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html
• ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/proofreading

About This Article

To write an analytical essay, first write an introduction that gives your reader background information and introduces your thesis. Then, write body paragraphs in support of your thesis that include a topic sentence, an analysis of some part of the text, and evidence from the text that supports your analysis. You can use direct quotes from the text that support your point of view or paraphrase if you’re trying to summarize information. Finally, complete your essay with a conclusion that reiterates your thesis and your primary support for it. To learn from our English reviewer how to come up with your thesis statement and find evidence that supports it, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The Ultimate Guide to Analytical Essay Writing: How to Craft an A-Grade Paper?

25 January, 2021

17 minutes read

Author:  Kate Smith

An analytical essay is often considered the most challenging piece of writing. However, those who have dealt with it at least once are a step closer to calling themselves masters of essay writing. This type of paper requires plenty of analytical skills to carry out an in-depth analysis of the assigned topic. Yet, the main goal of an analytical essay is not only to demonstrate your ability to learn the basics of the theme.

You also need to think critically, analyze facts, express your standpoint, and clearly show a deep understanding of key concepts. In short, your main task as an author is to prove the validity of your views by coming up with strong arguments that do not beg any questions.

The given guide provides a full analytical essay definition, as well as specifies its features and structural aspects. The following information will help you properly start your paper, choose a relevant topic, and come up with compelling conclusions. 

What is an Analytical Essay?

An analytical essay is a piece of writing aimed to provide a thorough analysis of a definite phenomenon using persuasive arguments and supporting assertions. Analysis in the analytical essay writing process stands for a method of research that allows one to study specific features of an object. Analytical papers also have to do with analysis of a specific problem; that is consideration of the problem itself and identification of its key patterns. The subject matter of analysis can be a well-known or little-studied scientific phenomenon, artistic work, historical event, social problem, etc.

The content of an analytical essay will totally depend on the object that has been chosen for analysis. Thus, when shedding light on any kind of scientific work, an analytical essay can be devoted to the analysis of research credibility, its relevance, or the adequacy of conclusions. When considering a work of art, an essay writer can focus on the analysis of the author’s artistic techniques or issues raised in the book. For this reason, it is essential to accurately determine the topic and subject matter of your future analytical essay.

Steps to Take Before Writing

The preparational stage of analytical essay writing cannot be omitted. It lays the basis for the A-grade paper and should be carefully completed. If you don’t know how to start an analytical essay, read a few handy tips that will ensure a solid foundation for your paper.  

Define a subject matter

You first need to clearly understand the issue you will base your essay on. Since analytical essays imply an in-depth analysis of a specific problem, you need to define its core. Try to split the analysis into several components and provide arguments taken either from a book, a research, a scientific work, or a movie (depending on the subject matter of your analysis), and support your views comprehensively.

Decide on the content of your analytical essay

If you are a student who was given an analytical essay topic, read the task several times before you are 100% sure that you clearly understand the requirements as to the analytical essay format. In case you were lucky to choose the topic of the analytical paper by yourself, make sure the theme you will be dealing with is familiar or at least seems interesting to you. 

Remember that different subject matters require a different approach to their analysis. If you examine some literature work, you can prove your opinion based on the deeds of a certain or several characters. But if you have been assigned the task to elaborate on some historic events, analyze their main causes, driving forces that have affected their course, and their global consequences.  

Take care of the proper start

Don’t forget to start your analytical essay with a thesis statement. It is a sentence or a couple of sentences that aim to summarize the key statements of your paper. A thesis statement should provide readers with a preliminary idea of what your essay is all about.  

Find extra reasoning

Make sure your thesis is supported by compelling arguments. To find enough evidence, you should carry out a thorough analysis of the assigned topic. List the crucial points of your research and ponder over the ways they can be used to prove your final opinion. 

Elaborate the outline

A sound outline elaborated at the preparation stage will help you ensure a proper analytical essay structure and make the overall writing process easier. As a rule, an analytical essay consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your outline plan should include the key arguments you want to discuss in each paragraph. 

Analytical Essay Thesis

A thesis statement represents the central idea of your paper and must serve as strong proof of your standpoint. While elaborating your thesis statement, it is crucial to include it at the end of the first paragraph and thus set a direction for the overall paper. 

Analytical Essay Outline

An outline is not a required element of analytical essays writing and should not be included in the text, but it can greatly facilitate the whole process of paper writing.

The analytical essay structure looks as follows:

Introduction

In the introduction of an analytical essay, you will need to identify your paper’s subject matter. Mention the purpose of your work and specify its scope of research. Don’t forget to include a thesis to let readers know what your work is about.

Body Section

As has already been mentioned, the body section covers three or more main paragraphs, each being supported with arguments and details. Besides, you need to provide a small conclusion to each statement to make your essay sound professional and persuasive. 

At this stage, you need to summarize the points elucidated in your paper and make sure there is a smooth and logical transition from the body section to the concluding part of the text. If you don’t know how to conclude an analytical essay, try to restate the thesis statement without copying it word for word.  

Analytical Essay Examples

Writing an analytical essay may seem to be a thorny way. If you are still not sure how to properly craft one, try to find some examples that will help you go in the right direction. Below, there are some great examples of analytical essays. Take a look at their structure and try to write something similar based on your views and ideas:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeR4i4RIZIj448W3KVFyHP-eS3QPN7gW/view

https://stlcc.edu/docs/student-support/academic-support/college-writing-center/rhetorical-analysis-sample-essay.pdf

https://www.germanna.eduhttp://handmadewriting.com/wp-content/uploads/tutoring/handouts/Literary-Analysis-Sample-Paper.pdf

30 Analytical Essay Topics

If you were allowed to choose the theme for your paper by yourself, check on the following analytical essay topics. Each of them can bring you the highest score:

General topics

• The influence of social networks on the life of teens
• Are salaries of football players too high?
• Wearing uniforms in schools should be banned
• A person in society: the problems of loneliness and privacy
• Sociology of corporate relationships
• Does the observation of space need more investments?
• Should the voting age in the UK be decreased?
• Reasons why capital punishment should be brought back in the UK
• A world with no rules: a new human era or a road to the global collapse?
• Life without technologies: will modern people survive?
• Should scientists test drugs on animals to fight cancer?
• The problem of keeping the balance between career and family life
• The importance of listening to your body 
• Problems caused by the lack of communication
• Food addiction and the problems it causes
• Problems of vaccination in the XXI century
• Does evil really rule the world?
• How does body size affect life quality?
• Pros and cons of video games 
• The role of a family model in the life and career of a person

Analytical Essay Topics on Literature

• “Robinson Crusoe”: fantasy vs reality
• Observation of the artistic uniqueness in the comedy by W. Shakespeare “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 
• Observe the social problems in the novel by John Steinbeck “The Grapes of Wrath”
• Convulsions and death of the “little man” in the networks of impersonal, alienated forces in the novel “The Metamorphosis”
• Observation of the problems of a man on a plagued land in the novel “The Plague”
• Revolt of the protagonist in the novel by J. Salinger “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Observation of friendship and love in the fate of humanity in the XX century
• The triumph of immorality in the novel by F. Sagan “Hello Sadness”
• Observation of the personality of an American student in the novel by J. Salinger “The Catcher in the Rye”
• Eternal tragedies of humanity in the tragedy by W. Shakespeare “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”

How to Write a Well-Structured Analytical Essay With a Solid Argument

Writing an analytical essay with a clear structure might be challenging unless you are thoroughly prepared. We decided to help you out and create a detailed guide listing the main things to consider when creating an analytical essay outline. You need to explain your main idea in a concise way to bring your point across. As analytical writing has high requirements, it pays off to find an analytical essay example and analyze how this text was written. It will allow you to understand the analytical essay format better and learn how to provide substantive analysis on various topics. Read on to learn how to write a top-level analytical paper and submit it on time.

Main Tips for Writing an Analytical Essay

An analytical essay should provide a comprehensive analysis of a chosen topic. What makes an analysis essay different from other assignments is that it includes a personal opinion of an author. This is why analytical writing should be persuasive.

Below, we have rounded up the key tips you need to follow when producing an analytical essay outline and the main body of your text. Read on to learn more about the analytical essay format and create a text that will fully meet the requirements.

Select an Analytical Essay Topic

Before creating an analytical essay outline, make sure to pick a topic that you are interested in. It should be provocative enough to engage your readers. A widely-debated topic will help you write an analytical essay that grabs the attention of a wide audience.

Consider your goals and conduct thorough research to see if you have enough sources to support the main thesis of your analysis essay.

Come Up With a Strong Analytical Thesis Statement

When writing an analytical essay, start by formulating a thesis statement that includes the topic and the main goal of your text. It will help you create an analytical essay outline and show your readers what you will discuss in your analysis essay.

Add it to the last paragraph of your analytical essay introduction. Due to this, your analytical essay outline will look better structured. Look at any analytical essay example to see how you can introduce your subject. In most cases, one sentence will suffice to state your analysis essay’s goal. However, a complex analytical essay outline might require you to use two sentences for a thesis statement.

Write an Analytical Essay Body with a Clear Structure

Your analytical essay outline should include 3-4 paragraphs. However, a literary analysis essay usually consists of 5 paragraphs. When it comes to analytical writing, it is important to cover a different point in each section of the main body of an analysis paper.

After writing an analytical essay, check whether each paragraph contains an introduction and the main point. Besides, it should contain evidence. An expertly written analytical essay outline will help you reach out to your target audience more effectively.

Conduct Research Before Writing an Analytical Essay Outline

While this step is preparatory, it is a must for those who want to write a well-grounded analytical paper.

• First, select the best ideas for your essay
• Then, emphasize the problems with works written by other researchers
• Finally, write your analytical essay outline to demonstrate what approach you want to take

Examine the context and find examples to illustrate the scope of the issue. You may draw parallels to emphasize your point and make your topic more relatable.

Analyze the Implications of the Evidence

After listing your pieces of evidence and demonstrating how it is related to your thesis, show why it is important. You need to explore it deeply and use it to support your argument. It will make your analytical essay outline well-grounded facts.

Write an Analytical Essay Conclusion

Whether you write a literary analysis essay or other types of assignments, there is no need to add any new data at the end of your analysis paper. Instead, summarize the arguments you mentioned in your analytical essay outline. The conclusion of your analysis essay should be short and clear. Here, you need to demonstrate that you have achieved your goals.

Analytical Essay Writing Tips

If you want to get the highest grade for your analytical essay, you need to know a little bit more than just the basics of paper writing. Read these handy tips to write a perfect essay you will be proud of:

• Double-check your paper for spelling and grammar mistakes. In case your essay contains too many errors, neither an in-depth analysis nor the elaborate writing style will make it look any better. Situations when essays of great value in terms of research and a message they convey are poorly assessed because of the abundance of mistakes are not rare. Make sure you have enough time to proofread your paper before submission. Also, you may consider asking somebody to take a fresh look at your essay and check it for you.
• Reading your analytical essay out loud helps you discover all types of errors or weak phrases. This method might seem a bit uncomfortable, but it has proved to be very effective for many students. Note that silent reading of your paper isn’t even half as helpful as reading it aloud. 
• Another great idea to check on the rhythm and flow of your paper is to ask someone to read it for you. While listening to the text, you could perceive it from another perspective and discover even more inconsistencies and mistakes.  
• Double-check the facts you use in your analytical essay. The names of people, books, research, publications, as well as dates of historical events are too important to be misspelled. Things like these show your professionalism and the way you treat your readers.

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Literary Analysis Essay: Student Guidelines & Examples

• Icon Calendar 4 August 2024
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A literary analysis essay is a document that allows a student to read a novel, poem, short story, or another text to examine how an author utilizes some knowledge, such as literary devices, and interpret its significance to society. In writing, the five components of literary analysis are a thesis statement, textual evidence, analysis of literary devices (such as theme, character, and symbolism), context (historical, cultural, or biographical), and a coherent essay structure (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion). Principally, this article is a guideline on how to write a literary analysis essay because it offers valid insights, including a definition, its format, some literary devices and conflicts, ways of appraising a literature text, examination types, possible topics, a basic outline template, example, step-by-step technical details, what to include, and common mistakes to avoid, which one should observe to produce a high-quality document.

General Aspects

A unique academic activity of literary essay writing provides students with a particular intellectual capacity to produce various documents to meet key requirements of educational institutions, including high schools, colleges, and universities. As such, gaining insights into how to write all types of essays is critical to their academic success. Practically, different papers have unique essay structures, outlines, and contents, explaining why individuals must embrace a culture of reading guidelines on how to write various academic texts. Reading this article is essential because it equips learners, scholars, researchers, and anyone who uses writing to communicate ideas and concepts about how to write a literary analysis essay.

What Is a Literary Analysis Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a literary analysis essay is a scholarly document that critically analyses, examines, and interprets a specific piece of literature or an assigned text to explore an author’s writing approach and explain an actual meaning of their work. Basically, students must understand that a literary analysis essay is different from other types of papers, including analytical and cause-and-effect compositions, because such writing explores an assigned text and interprets its implications for society (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). As such, the main purpose of writing a literary analysis essay is to break down a specific literature text and explore its themes, characters, plots, settings, symbols, narrative techniques, and other elements to understand author’s intentions and work’s significance. Through this analytical process, people not only gain a deeper understanding of a particular work under review but also hone critical thinking and analytical skills (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). Typically, individuals may not see a direct connection between poems, novels, and plays and what happens in real life in their communities. Therefore, a literary analysis essay helps students to analyze a specific piece of information that authors put across in such texts to draw a connection between their content and real-life scenarios like immorality (Lauritzen, 2021). In terms of pages and words, the length of a literary analysis essay depends on academic levels and particular assignment requirements, while general writing guidelines are:

High School

• Length: 2-4 pages
• Word Count: 500-1,000 words

College (Undergraduate)

• Length: 4-6 pages
• Word Count: 1,000-1,500 words

University (Upper-Level Undergraduate)

• Length: 5-8 pages
• Word Count: 1,250-2,000 words

Master’s

• Length: 6-12 pages
• Word Count: 1,500-3,000 words
• Length: 12+ pages
• Word Count : 3,000+ words

Note: Some sections of a literary analysis essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, depending on educational requirements. In writing, literary analysis is a basic process of examining and interpreting a specific text to understand its deeper meanings, themes, and literary devices. For example, the five components of literary analysis are a thesis statement, textual evidence, analysis of literary devices (such as theme, character, and symbolism), context (historical, cultural, or biographical), and a coherent essay structure (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) that follows typical academic standards (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). Moreover, writing literary analysis essays can be challenging as they require critical thinking, detailed textual evidence, and coherent argumentation, but they become manageable with practice and understanding of literary devices. In turn, to start a literary analysis essay, people begin with a captivating hook that grabs a reader’s attention, provide brief background information about a literature text and its author, and clearly state a central thesis that presents a main argument or focus of an entire examination.

Students should focus on how an author utilizes literary devices to emphasize a plot, themes, and protagonists’ attitudes and behavior when writing literary analysis essays. The primary devices include allegory, metaphor, simile, symbolism, flashbacks, foreshadowing, hyperbole, imagery, personification, and motif (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). Because each device makes a poem or short story relevant in exploring a societal issue, focusing on each helps to shape a literary analysis essay. Ideally, students writing such papers must educate readers about rhetorical devices and how they empower an author to contextualize an issue in contemporary society.

Literary Devices

1️⃣ Allegory

Authors utilize allegory to incorporate a deeper meaning, concept, or idea. As such, readers may fail to grasp its application in an essay if they do not analyze a literature work from a literary perspective (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). An example of an allegory is George Orwell’s depiction of animals fighting for equality in his novel “Animal Farm.” A casual reading may result in a different interpretation of this text from an author’s intention of depicting the Russian Revolution. Therefore, when writing a literary analysis essay, students should highlight how an assigned text they are analyzing uses this device to hide a deeper meaning of an idea or concept.

2️⃣ Metaphor

Metaphor is standard in short stories and other texts. For example, authors use this device as a figure of speech to describe an object or action in a manner that defies a literal understanding of nature or the world (Lauritzen, 2021). An example of a metaphor is, “I could observe a white blanket of snow running into the horizon along the streets of New York.” While it is true that snow can cover entire streets, it is a lie to conclude that the snow is a blanket. Therefore, when writing a literary analysis essay, students must address how an author of a literature text uses metaphors to express ideas better. They should discuss how this device gives readers a striking image that arouses their intellectual curiosity.

When reading a specific text for analysis, students must notice how an author utilizes similes as figures of speech that compare two things by emphasizing their similarities. One can identify this device by assessing contexts where an author uses the terms ‘like’ or ‘as’ to establish a relationship (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). An example of a simile is when an essay includes: “He ran as fast as a cheetah.” In this case, an author compares an individual’s ability to run with a cheetah, which humanity considers the fastest animal on Earth. When writing a literary analysis essay of a literature composition, individuals should explain how an author uses some characteristics of one object to compare it with another.

4️⃣ Symbolism

Symbolism depicts authors’ traditions of using symbols to emphasize deeper meanings and qualities within their texts. When writing a text for a literal analysis essay, students should focus on how an author uses words to depict hidden ideas and concepts (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). An example of symbolism is an author’s statement, “Tears of joy flowed freely in the faces of everyone who witnessed the wedding.” While people associate tears with sadness, this statement depicts them as evidence of happiness in a multitude. From this perspective, students performing a literary analysis essay of a novel should emphasize how an author uses words to symbolize deeper meanings.

5️⃣ Flashback

Flashback allows authors to emphasize an actual significance of past events or experiences to present ones. An example of this device is when an author of a novel claims, “She stood on the podium, reflecting on how her childhood experience with domestic violence had shaped her illustrious career as an activist.” In this statement, a person introduces an activist’s past as essential in understanding why they chose their career path. In this respect, individuals conducting a literary analysis essay should explain how an author uses past events to convey to an intended audience important information (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). In turn, this writing strategy helps one to understand a character’s background and how it shaped their present reality.

6️⃣ Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a writing technique that allows authors to inform a target audience about an event yet to happen in a given story. An example of a flashback in a novel is when an author states, “As the boys retreated to their respective rooms, the vocal one vowed to revenge the abuse visited upon them by the school bully.” This statement prepares readers for a later event where one person acts to punish another individual who occasionally bullies students. In writing, foreshadowing is a right choice for an entire analysis of any literature composition (Lauritzen, 2021). Therefore, when writing a literary analysis essay, learners should highlight how an author speaks of events that will unfold later in a story.

7️⃣ Hyperbole

When writing stories or essays, authors often use hyperboles to exaggerate or stretch an actual truth to express a feeling or emphasize an idea or concept. However, what they put across is literary impossible. An example of this writing technique is when a novelist claims, “Students were dying of thirst.” While an author intends to emphasize a deep thirst that students had, probably because of going for long without drinking anything, a literal meaning of such a text is that students were dying because of thirst, which is not valid. Moreover, analyzing a particular use of hyperbole allows people to present compelling analysis papers (Lauritzen, 2021). As such, when writing a literary analysis essay of a novel, people should explain how a novelist uses words to exaggerate ideas or concepts, defying a literal understanding of a given scenario.

8️⃣ Imagery

Imagery is a writing technique where authors use powerful sensory language to evoke a reader’s imagination or emotions. An example of imagery is when a poet states, “The odor from his sweaty shirt was a sufficient repulsive agent.” Upon reading this line, one imagines a shirt stinking because of sweat to the point of making someone avoid it. For example, an imagery device, allows readers to visualize what they read (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). So, when writing a literary analysis essay, students should emphasize how an author uses words that compel a target audience to visualize an imaginary world and feel part of a given story.

9️⃣ Personification

Authors use a personification device when they want to give an object, animal, or something nonhuman human-like qualities. An example of personification in a sentence is when an author of a short story writes, “The flowers in the decorated pots were begging for water.” This sentence equates flowers with human beings by describing them using a particular human-like quality of begging. Naturally, plants do not beg because they cannot speak or gesture. In turn, personification is a literary device that allows authors to provide different themes and interpretations via natural and human concepts (Lauritzen, 2021). Therefore, when writing a literary analysis essay, people should describe how an author utilizes personification by identifying sentences describing objects, animals, and other things using qualities that nature assigns to humans.

Novelists utilize motifs when they incorporate a recurring pattern, such as an idea, throughout a unique story to reinforce their plot or a particular theme. An example of a motif is when an author of Harry Potter highlights Harry’s scar several times throughout the text. In this respect, readers get a single idea that the scar is central to understanding a given story, specifically a unique role of Harry and his experiences. In writing, authors use a motif device to show and explain some motivations and actions of main characters and their reasons for what they did in that way or another (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). Therefore, when students are analyzing a short story, they should explain how an author utilizes motifs in an observed composition to reinforce its main idea, theme, or plot when writing their essays.

Conflict is a writing theme that novelists, poets, and authors of short stories or poems often use to make their literature work relevant to an intended audience. In a simple definition, conflict is a literary device that authors use to depict a struggle between opposing forces (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). Moreover, its purpose is to create contrast in an entire story. From this view, conflict in literature includes privilege versus lack, nature versus humanity, protagonist versus society, human versus technology, hero versus fate, and person versus self.

1️⃣ Privilege vs. Lack

In most short stories, authors contrast people from a wealthy background who appear privileged and those from a poor background who suffer from lack. Typically, this contrast happens when authors emphasize an actual significance of material things in writing an entire story, such as a car and a house, or social status, like a good education and a secure neighborhood.

2️⃣ Nature vs. Humanity

When writing a short story, authors may create a scenario where nature conflicts with humanity, such as when natural events, like floods and earthquakes, cause irreversible damage to communities. Essentially, this contrast emphasizes a real danger of human encroachment into natural habitats, including forests through deforestation and oceans through offshore oil drilling.

3️⃣ Protagonist vs. Society

Authors of various texts, particularly novels and short stories, depict a struggle between a protagonist and a society. In this writing type of conflict, main characters may challenge acceptable societal norms, practices, or values, although they are against humanity’s progress. As such, an example is where a protagonist fights against corruption in public service or immorality in society despite everyone else being comfortable with a status quo.

4️⃣ Human vs. Technology

In today’s age of technology, authors produce texts that highlight a conflict between humans and various systems. An example is where an author emphasizes some drawbacks of social media by emphasizing their negative impact on adolescents’ academic performance and sociability. While some authors may hail technology as critical to human progress, they pinpoint its harmful impacts on individuals’ physical, mental, or social well-being and write about such aspects.

5️⃣ Hero vs. Fate

Most novels and short stories have a hero who defies a unique nature or a status quo and suffers a painful fate at the end, such as death. This writing scenario depicts conflict because society expects heroes to survive anything that comes their way, including battles and disease. Therefore, by showing heroes as subject to fate, authors emphasize that humans are limited and no one can defy nature.

6️⃣ Person vs. Self

When writing fiction, authors tend to depict individuals’ struggles with some aspects of their personality, such as greed for material wealth or hunger for power. This conflict helps readers to understand human frailty and its implications on individuals, their families, and society. In most instances, people utilize this writing approach to emphasize a moral lesson to readers.

Literature Appraisal

After reading novels or short stories, students can appraise an author’s literature work for writing their essays. For example, people evaluate auhtor’s effectiveness in communicating a central idea, an actual relevance of plot twists, a particular choice of characters, and a real relevance of an assigned text to contemporary society (Lauritzen, 2021). In analysis essay writing, appraising a literature work involves judging it across various dimensions to show whether an author produced a text of good quality and relevance.

Communicating a Central Idea

Authors make their literature work relevant and impactful when effectively communicating a central idea, such as a particular value of sacrifice. For example, authors write their literature works with specific purposes, and, in each of them, there is a central idea or message that is communicated to readers (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). Notably, effective communication entails many things, including using correct language, incorporating examples, establishing a background, and making an intended audience feel part of a presented story.

Relevance of Plot Twist

A particular plot of a story is a guideline that directs a target audience’s intellectual engagement with a literature work. Simply put, a plot is what a given story is all about (P. Manyak & A. Manyak, 2021). However, authors often introduce a plot twist in their work for various reasons, including intensifying intented audience’s emotions. While such twists are essential to make a whole story captivating, they should be relevant to avoid disrupting a logical flow of a text or having logical fallacies. In writing, a plot twist where a protagonist develops a severe sickness should not end with their death because it would disrupt an entire story. However, such a twist can enrich an entire story by depicting a main character as resilient.

The Choice of Characters

Characters make any literature text, like a novel or short story, riveting because they are action figures. Authors assign different characters various roles, although some of them take on multiple roles. When writing a literary analysis essay, students should explain whether an author has assigned every role to a particular character it deserves. It would be frustrating for an intented audience to encounter a scenario where a particular hero in a story is cowardly and naïve (Thexton et al., 2019). In such a scenario, people should judge a particular choice of characters as inappropriate.

Relevance of a Literature Text

Although fiction depicts unreal situations, this writing aims to stimulate a reader’s intellect by allowing people to draw certain conclusions. Essentially, this outcome involves drawing a connection between some ideas in a literature text and what happens in real life (Bump, 2022). Hence, a novel or short story that does not allow readers to make such connections fails to stimulate an analysis of intellect because it is irrelevant to a real world.

When reading a text for literary analysis, students should decide what type of essay they want to produce. Generally, students focus on two outcomes when writing a literary analysis essay: interpreting or evaluating an assigned literature composition (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). In writing, a primary focus that students choose determines a particular type of analysis they will conduct. The following literary analyses are the most common essay types because they focus on a literature text (the first ten) and its relevance to society (the last six).

When writing a literary analysis essay, students should choose a topic relevant to a literature composition they seek to analyze. Doing so requires them to read an assigned text and determine what theme most likely fits their purpose of writing an analysis essay (Lauritzen, 2021). While it is common for students to pick a theme that an author of a literature work highlights in a title, one can choose different literary analysis essay topics. The following topics are appropriate for writing a good literary analysis essay because they suggest a particular concept of investigation, evaluation, or interpretation.

• Exploring Symbolism and Other Themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
• Narrative Techniques in “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
• Modern Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Female Characters
• The American Dream Through the Lens of “The Great Gatsby”
• Embracing the Gothic: Examination of “The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole
• The Significance of Gender in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• Imagery in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”
• The Structural Features of the Poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
• How William Shakespeare Uses Language in “Romeo and Juliet”
• Betrayal in Mary Shelley’s Novel “Frankenstein”

Outline Template

I. Introduction

• A short summary of a literature composition
• Thesis statement

II. First body paragraph

• Topic sentence 1: A sentence that emphasizes an idea in a thesis statement that a person supports or defends in the rest of a given paragraph.
• Evidence 1: A quote from a text.
• Analysis 1: Explaining who says a quote and a specific context of their words.
• Concluding sentence 1: A transition to a next paragraph.

III. Second body paragraph

• Topic sentence 2: A sentence that emphasizes an idea in a thesis statement that a person supports or defends in the rest of a given paragraph.
• Evidence 2: A quote from a text.
• Analysis 2: Explaining who says a quote and a specific context of their words.
• Concluding sentence 2: A transition to a next paragraph.

IV. Third body paragraph

• Topic sentence 3: A sentence that emphasizes an idea in a thesis statement that a person supports or defends in the rest of a given paragraph.
• Evidence 3: A quote from a text.
• Analysis 3: Explaining who says a quote and a specific context of their words.
• Concluding sentence 3: A transition to a next paragraph.

Note: Repeat the above pattern for first, second, and third body paragraphs and add other paragraphs depending on a college essay length of a literary analysis.

V. Conclusion

• Restate a thesis
• Summarize main points presented in body paragraphs
• Show why a chosen literature text is important by relating its ideas to society.

VI. List of Sources

• Cite a chosen literature work and other credible sources in accordance with citation rules of APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, or other formats.

Literary Analysis Essay Example

Topic: Fear as a Central Theme in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”

Introduction

Fear is a strong emotion that helps humans to avoid danger. As such, it is an eloquent characteristic of most people’s personalities, meaning it is a foundation for personal weaknesses or strengths. In “Lord of the Flies,” William Golding makes fear a central theme by depicting three main characters, Jack, Ralph, and Piggy, as individuals living in a constant unease state.

Body Paragraph 1

Jack is uneasy throughout the story because he believes a beast lives amongst them. For example, he confirms his fear by saying, “We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!” (Golding, 1954, p. 98). While this statement depicts someone ready to face a beast, reading through the text reveals that Jack spoke the words out of fear. In this case, he uses his fear of the beast to control and manipulate his peers. Arguably, he exploits others’ fear to conceal his own.

Body Paragraph 2

Although Ralph is also fearful, the cause of his fear is different. While his peers fear the beast, what makes him uneasy is the fear of never being rescued after the boys failed to keep the rescue fire burning. For instance, he exclaims, “I’m chief… There’s no signal showing. There may be a ship out there. Are you all off your rockers?” (Golding, 1954, p. 116). Basically, he is visibly angry at his peers for failing to realize the importance of fire to their well-being. In essence, Ralph’s attempt to see the fire as a savior is based on his fear of the beast.

Body Paragraph 3

On his part, Piggy is more afraid of Jack than the beast. For example, he says about Jack, “I’m scared of him … but if you stand out of the way he’d hurt the next thing. And that’s me” (Golding, 1954, p. 100). His avoidance of Jack is a convenient way of dealing with his uneasiness. To a greater extent, Piggy’s fear of Jack creates another fear: his friends shunning him. Hence, fear is a powerful emotion that shapes Piggy’s experiences in the story.

Golding’s novel depicts fear as a powerful influence on the behavior and experiences of the three main characters. Many people can relate the story to their individual lives by seeing how each boy deals with his fear. Ultimately, the novel is relevant to society because it depicts fear as a powerful influence on people’s personalities.

Golding, William. (1954).  Lord of the Flies . Penguin Group.

Steps on How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

Writing a perfect literary analysis essay is a technical process that requires writers to observe certain procedures. For example, to write a literary analysis essay, people develop a clear thesis, use textual evidence to support their analysis, examine literary devices, such as theme, character, and symbolism, and structure their papers with a coherent introduction, several body paragraphs, and a logical conclusion (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). Most importantly, this essay writing approach helps students to avoid mistakes that may affect an overall quality or relevance of literary analysis essays. Some silent rules people should observe include preparing oneself for reading a literature work, setting up a particular stage for writing a literary analysis essay, starting a writing process, and wrapping up a paper to perfect an entire document.

Step 1: Preparation

At this stage, students prepare to write a literary analysis essay by defining their essay topics. The most important thing they should consider is a unique title of a literature composition they seek to analyze and its purpose or significance to society (Lauritzen, 2021). A next action is to prepare ideas for their papers, which requires them to understand their intentions. Typically, ideas come from reading an assigned text one seeks to evaluate or interpret in their essays. Furthermore, students should proceed to consider their audiences by focusing on their level of education and other characteristics that make them critique a literature work under analysis. As a result, this step aims to give students a proper mindset before writing a literary analysis essay.

Step 2: Stage Set Up

In a second step of writing a literary analysis essay, students are ready to begin writing. At this stage, people know their missions and need to make right arrangements (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). A first task is to read a chosen text they seek to analyze critically. They should not only reread a whole text but also make notes of key concepts, ideas, and themes they find useful or relevant to their literary analysis essays (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). A next task is to create a clear and well-organized outline to guide their writing. In turn, people can improve their literary analysis essays by incorporating research into this stage, which is vital in producing an annotated bibliography to ensure all evidence and quotes taken from credible sources are cited properly to avoid plagiarism.

Step 3: Writing Process

Writing a first draft of a literary analysis essay is a third step in this journey. In this case, students can write a first draft prone to countless mistakes. Basicall, a main idea of this initial document is to allow people to capture all the ideas they believe will make their papers impactful (Lauritzen, 2021). At this stage, students add or delete information and alter a paper’s outline to fit their essays. People should ensure an introduction sets a paper’s background and defines its purpose through a strong thesis statement (Marchetti & O’Dell, 2018). Then, an essay’s body section should critically analyze an assigned text by addressing central themes, characters, and literary devices to write about. For example, the three parts of a literary analysis paragraph are a topic sentence, textual evidence, and an entire examination (Cordell & Pennington, 2020). Finally, a conclusion part should restate a central thesis and interpret a discussed literature work by relating its ideas to contemporary society. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a literary analysis essay are:

• In [Title of a Literature Work], [Author] intricately explores a unique theme of [Theme], underlying various complexities of [Specific Aspect] through a particular use of [Literary Device].
• A particular novel/play/poem [Title] by [Author] presents a profound and compelling exploration of [Subject], using [Literary Element] to provide deeper meanings behind [Main Topic].
• [Author]’s [Title] masterfully covers corresponding intricacies of [Topic], employing [Literary Device] to illustrate how [Specific Aspect] influences an overall narrative.
• Set against a scene of [Setting], [Title] by [Author] vividly portrays [Main Topic], using [Literary Device] to highlight various nuances and complexities of [Theme].
• Through a compelling narrative of [Title], [Author] examines a complex nature of [Theme], utilizing [Literary Device] to shed light on [Specific Aspect] and its impact on main characters and its plot.
• [Title] by [Author] offers a compelling depiction of [Theme/Idea], weaving together [Literary Element] and [Literary Device] to create a rich and nuanced portrayal of [Specific Aspect].
• In [Title], [Author] employs [Literary Device] to illustrate [Idea], exploring how [Theme] is reflected in corresponding actions and motivations of main characters.
• A literature work [Title] by [Author] is a significant exploration of [Theme/Subject], utilizing [Literary Device] to underline deeper layers of [Specific Aspect] and its implications on an overall narrative.
• [Author]’s [Title] provides a unique perspective on [Theme], using [Literary Element] to discover potential intricacies of [Specific Aspect] and its influence on an overall story.
• Through an effective use of [Literary Device], [Author] in [Title] reveals [Theme/Message], skillfully examining how [Specific Aspect] shapes main characters and their interactions.

How to Construct a Thesis for a Literary Analysis Essay

A main purpose of a good literary analysis thesis statement is to give a target audience a writer’s agenda: what they seek to accomplish in an assigned literature composition, such as defend an argument, challenge a concept, or critique an entire text by focusing on its structure or any other quality in their essays. Notably, students can choose from different formats of thesis statements depending on a particular type of analysis they seek to undertake (Lauritzen, 2021). In writing, a first type is an argumentative thesis, which applies to an argumentative or a persuasive essay with controversial research topics or ideas. Then, a second type is an analytical thesis applicable in an analytical essay where learners seek to analyze a concept or idea, such as characters. Finally, a third type is an explanatory thesis, which is used in an explanatory essay where people explain a phenomenon, such as technology’s influence on healthcare.

Step 4: Wrapping Up

This step is a last stage when writing a literary analysis essay, where students focus on perfecting their documents. As such, a first task is to read and rereadan entire document to identify mistakes and inconsistencies. They should revise a literary analysis essay to correct such errors, which includes editing and ensuring all essential components are addressed: topic sentences, concluding sentences, transitions, proper style (APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian) formatting, and proper citations (Lauritzen, 2021). Simply put, students should ensure their final essays are perfect by eliminating grammatical and formatting mistakes and logical inconsistencies.

What to Include

Common Mistakes

• Lack of a Clear Thesis Statement: Not presenting a concise argument or main point about a specific literature text.
• Plot Summary Instead of Analysis: Merely recounting a basic plot instead of analyzing its elements and significance for writing.
• Ignoring Textual Evidence: Not providing direct quotes or specific examples from an assigned literature text to support analysis.
• Overlooking a Thesis: Straying from a main argument and failing to consistently support a central thesis.
• Inadequate Introduction and Conclusion: Starting or ending an essay weakly without effectively framing an entire literary analysis.
• Biased Analysis: Offering shallow interpretations without covering deeper meanings and complexities.
• Neglecting Literary Devices: Failing to examine a particular use of literary techniques, like symbolism, metaphors, and foreshadowing.
• Ignoring Historical and Cultural Context: Not considering a unique influence of a historical and cultural background on an assigned text.
• Poor Organization and Structure: Presenting ideas in a disorganized manner, making a literary analysis essay difficult to follow after writing a complete paper.
• Grammatical and Typographical Errors: Allowing spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes to distract from a particular content.

An excellent literary analysis essay evaluates other literature compositions to provide a new perspective on their significance. In writing, a good literary analysis essay should have an introduction, a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Moreover, body paragraphs should have evidence to support a central concept under investigation. Finally, by considering a conclusion part, this paragraph must summarize key ideas presented in a complete paper. In turn, some tips to consider when writing a literary analysis essay are:

• Based on the information above, students require valid knowledge to write a high-quality literary analysis essay.
• A first task is to choose a good essay’s topic.
• A second aspect is to read a literature composition under analysis to understand its plot, central themes, characters, and other essential information, including plot twists, literary devices, and climax.
• Narrow a topic by focusing on one or two elements, such as plots, characters, themes, structures, or concepts.
• Perfect a literary analysis essay by eliminating all writing mistakes: grammar, formatting, and illogical flow of ideas and thought.
• Proofread a final paper before presenting a final essay to readers.

Bump, J. F. (2022). The value of literature, today and tomorrow. Literature , 2 (1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/literature2010001

Cordell, R., & Pennington, J. (2020). Creating literary analysis . LibreTexts.

Lauritzen, J. (2021). Read, write, and cite . Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Manyak, P. C., & Manyak, A. (2021). Literary analysis and writing: An integrated instructional routine. The Reading Teacher , 74 (4), 395–405. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1959

Marchetti, A., & O’Dell, R. (2018). Beyond literary analysis: Teaching students to write with passion and authority about any text . Heinemann.

Thexton, T., Prasad, A., & Mills, A. J. (2019). Learning empathy through literature. Culture and Organization , 25 (2), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759551.2019.1569339

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How to Write an Analytical Essay in 4 Steps & Analysis Example

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How to Write an Analysis Essay: Examples + Writing Guide

An analysis / analytical essay is a standard assignment in college or university. You might be asked to conduct an in-depth analysis of a research paper, a report, a movie, a company, a book, or an event. In this article, you’ll find out how to write an analysis paper introduction, thesis, main body, and conclusion, and analytical essay example.

So, what is an analytical essay? This type of assignment implies that you set up an argument and analyze it using a range of claims. The claims should be supported by appropriate empirical evidence. Note that you need to explore both the positive and negative sides of the issue fully.

Analytical skills are the key to getting through your academic career. Moreover, they can be useful in many real-life situations. Keep reading this article by Custom-writing experts to learn how to write an analysis!

❓ What Is an Analytical Essay?

• 🤔 Getting Started

📑 Analytical Essay Outline

• 📔 Choosing a Title
• 💁 Writing an Introduction
• 🏋 Writing a Body
• 🏁 Writing a Conclusion

🔗 References

Before you learn how to start an analysis essay, you should understand some fundamentals of writing this type of paper. It implies that you analyze an argument using a range of claims supported by facts . It is essential to understand that in your analysis essay, you’ll need to explore the negative sides of the issue and the positive ones. That’s what distinguishes an analytical essay from, say, a persuasive one.

These are the steps to write an academic paper :

• Review the literature . Before starting any paper, you should familiarize yourself with what has already been written in the field. And the analytical essay is no exception. The easiest way is to search on the web for the information.
• Brainstorm ideas. After you’ve done your search, it is time for a brainstorm! Make a list of topics for your analysis essay, and then choose the best one. Generate your thesis statement in the same way.
• Prepare an outline . Now, when you’ve decided on the topic and the thesis statement of your analytical essay, think of its structure. Below you will find more detailed information on how your paper should be structured.
• Write the first draft. You’ve done a lot of work by now. Congratulations! Your next goal is to write the first version of your analysis essay, using all the notes that you have. Remember, you don’t need to make it perfect!
• Polish your draft. Now take your time to polish and edit your draft to transform it into the paper’s final version.

You are usually assigned to analyze an article, a book, a movie, or an event. If you need to write your analytical essay on a book or an article, you’ll have to analyze the style of the text, its main points, and the author’s purported goals.

🤔 Analytical Essay: Getting Started

The key to writing an analysis paper is to choose an argument that you will defend throughout it. For example: maybe you are writing a critical analysis paper on George Orwell’s Animal Farm The first and imperative task is to think about your thesis statement. In the case of Animal Farm , the argument could be:

In Orwell’s Animal Farm , rhetoric and language prove to be more effective ways to keep social control than physical power.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives a great explanation of the thesis statement , how to create one, and what its function is.

But that’s not all. Once you have your thesis statement, you need to break down how you will approach your analysis essay to prove your thesis. To do this, follow these steps:

• Define the main goal(s) of your analysis . Remember that it is impossible to address each and every aspect in a single paper. Know your goal and focus on it.
• Conduct research , both online and offline, to clarify the issue contained within your thesis statement.
• Identify the main parts of the issue by looking at each part separately to see how it works.
• Try to clearly understand how each part works.
• Identify the links between the various aspects of the topic .
• By using the information you found, try to solve your main problem .

At this point, you should have a clear understanding of both the topic and your thesis statement. You should also have a clear direction for your analysis paper firmly planted in your mind and recorded in writing.

This will give you what you need to produce the paper’s outline.

An outline is the starting point for your work. A typical analytical essay features the usual essay structure. A 500-word essay should consist of a one-paragraph introduction, a three-paragraph body, and a one-paragraph conclusion. Find below a great analytical essay outline sample. Feel free to use it as an example when doing your own work!

Analysis Essay: Introduction

• Start with a startling statement or provocative question.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal”. Animal Farm abounds in ironic and provocative phrases to start an analytical essay.

• Introduce the work and its author.
• Give background information that would help the reader understand your opinion.
• Formulate a thesis statement informing the reader about the purpose of the essay. Essay format does not presuppose telling everything possible on the given topic. Thus, a thesis statement tells what you are going to say, implying what you will not discuss, establishing the limits.

In Animal Farm, Orwell uses different irony types to ridicule totalitarianism to manifest its inability to make every member of society equal and happy.

Analysis Essay: Body

The analytical essay structure requires 2-3 developmental paragraphs, each dedicated to one separate idea confirming your thesis statement. The following template should be used for each of the body paragraphs.

• Start with a topic sentence that supports an aspect of your thesis.

Dramatic irony is used in Animal Farm to point out society’s ignorance.

• Continue with textual evidence (paraphrase, summary, direct quotations, specific details). Use several examples that substantiate the topic sentence.

Animals are unaware of the fact that Boxer was never sent to the hospital. He was sent to the slaughterhouse. However, the reader and writer understand that this is a lie.

• Conclude with an explanation.

By allowing the readers to learn some essential facts before the characters, dramatic irony creates suspense and shows how easy it is to persuade and manipulate the public.

Analysis Essay Conclusion

The next four points will give you a short instruction on how to conclude an analytical essay.

• Never use new information or topics here.
• Restate your thesis in a different formulation.
• Summarize the body paragraphs.
• Comment on the analyzed text from a new perspective.

📔 Choosing a Title for Your Analysis Essay

Choosing a title seems like not a significant step, but it is actually very important. The title of your critical analysis paper should:

• Entice and engage the reader
• Be unique and capture the readers’ attention
• Provide an adequate explanation of the content of the essay in just a few carefully chosen words

In the Animal Farm example, your title could be:

“How Do the Pigs Manage to Keep Social Control on Animal Farm?”

Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze the media content.
• Analyze the specifics and history of hip-hop culture.  
• Sociological issues in the film Interstellar .
• Discuss the techniques M. Atwood uses to describe social issues in her novel The Handmaid’s Tale .
• Compare and analyze the paintings of Van Gogh and George Seurat.
• Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat . 
• Examine the juvenile crime rates.  
• Describe the influence of different parenting styles on children’s mind.
• Analyze the concept of the Ship of Theseus .
• Compare and analyze the various views on intelligence .
• Analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman .
• Discuss the techniques used by W. Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night’s Dream . 
• Analyze the biography of Frederic Chopin .
• Manifestation of the Chicano culture in the artwork An Ofrenda for Dolores del Rio .
• Similarities and differences of Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Spanish Empires .
• Describe the problem of stalking and its impact on human mental health.
• Examine the future of fashion .
• Analyze the topicality of the article Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene Interventions in Reducing Illness Absence .
• Discuss Thomas Paine’s impact on the success of American revolution.
• Meaningful messages in Recitatif by Toni Morrison .
• Explore the techniques used by directors in the film Killing Kennedy .  
• Compare the leadership styles of Tang Empress Wu Zetian and the Pharaoh Cleopatra .
• Evaluate the credibility of Kristof’s arguments in his article Remote Learning Is Often an Oxymoron.
• Analyze genetically modified food. 
• Examine the influence of Europeans on Indian tribes in The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson .
• Describe the rhetoric techniques used in The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde .
• The importance of fighting against violence in communities in the documentary film The Interrupters .
• Analyze indoor and outdoor pollution. 
• Analyze the issue of overprotective parenthood .
• Explore the connection between eating habits and advertisement.
• Discuss the urgence of global warming issue.  
• Influence of sleep on people’s body and mental health.
• Analyze the relationship between Christianity and sports .
• Discuss the concept of leadership and its significance for company efficiency. 
• Analyze the key lessons of the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.  
• Examine the specifics of nursing ethic.  
• The theme of emotional sufferings in the short story A Rose for Emily .  
• Analysis of bias in books for children .
• Analyze the rhetoric of the article Public Monuments .
• Describe the main messages in Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea .
• Explore the problem of structural racism in healthcare.
• The reasons of tango dance popularity.  
• The shortcomings of the American educational system in Waiting for Superman.
• Analyze and compare Erin’s Law and Megan’s Law. 
• Analyze the James Madison’s essay Federalist 10 .
• Examine symbols in the movie The Joker.   
• Compare the thematic connection and stylistic devices in the poems The Road Not Taken and Find Your Way . 
• Describe and analyze the life of Eddie Bernice Johnson.
• Explore the social classes in America. 
• Crucial strengths and weaknesses of the main translation theories .

💁 Writing Your Analytical Essay Introduction

You must understand how to compose an introduction to an analysis paper. The University of Wollongong describes the introduction as a “map” of any writing. When writing the introduction, follow these steps:

• Provide a lead-in for the reader by offering a general introduction to the topic of the paper.
• Include your thesis statement , which shifts the reader from the generalized introduction to the specific topic and its related issues to your unique take on the essay topic.
• Present a general outline of the analysis paper.

Watch this great video for further instructions on how to write an introduction to an analysis essay.

Example of an Analytical Essay Introduction

“Four legs good, two legs bad” is one of the many postulates invented by George Orwell for his characters in Animal Farm to vest them with socialist ideology and control over the animal population. The social revolution on Manor Farm was built on language instruments, first for the collective success of the animals, and later for the power consolidation by the pigs. The novel was written in 1945 when the transition from limitless freedoms of socialist countries transformed into dictatorship. Through his animal protagonists, the author analyzes the reasons for peoples’ belief in the totalitarian regime. In Orwell’s Animal Farm , rhetoric and language prove to be more effective ways to keep social control than physical power.

🏋 Writing Your Analytical Essay Body

The body of the paper may be compared to its heart. This is the part where you show off your talent for analysis by providing convincing, well-researched, and well-thought-out arguments to support your thesis statement. You have already gathered the information, and now all you may start crafting your paper.

To make the body of an analytical essay, keep the following in mind:

• Discuss one argument per paragraph , although each argument can relate to multiple issues
• Strike a balance between writing in an unbiased tone, while expressing your personal opinion
• Be reasonable when making judgments regarding any of the problems you discuss
• Remember to include the opposing point of view to create a balanced perspective

The bottom line is: you want to offer opposing views, but you must pose your arguments so they will counter those opposing views and prove your point of view. Follow these steps when constructing each body paragraph:

• Choose the main sentence. The main or topic sentence will be the first line in your essay. The topic sentence is responsible for presenting the argument you will discuss in the paragraph and demonstrate how this argument relates to the thesis statement.
• Provide the context for the topic sentence , whether it relates to a quote, a specific incident in society, or something else. Offer evidence on who, what, where, when, why, and how.
• Give your analysis of the argument and how it adequately proves your thesis.
• Write a closing sentence that sums up the paragraph and provides a transition to the following paragraph.

Example of an Analytical Essay Body

Literacy can grant power, provided that there are animals who cannot read or write. In the beginning, the animals’ literacy and intellect are relatively the same. Old Major is the cleverest pig; he is the kind old philosopher, like Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin. During his retirement, he develops a theory that all humans are the root of evil. His speech was the foundation for the pigs’ assumption of power. They refined his ideas into a new ideology and called it Animalism. They also learned how to read. It allowed the pigs to declare themselves the “mind workers.” Therefore, the pigs’ literacy assured the illiterate animals in their objective superiority.

Meanwhile, as the pigs were the intellectual elite, they were not supposed to work, which raised their social status by itself. Snowball tried to promote education among all the animals, but most of them failed to master the alphabet. This is a metaphor for the general public being predominantly ignorant and easy to manipulate. At the same time, Boxer and other animals that spend most of the day in hard work merely have no time to develop their intellect. Thus, the pigs’ intention to build a school for pig children was highly efficient. Unequal access to education and unequal ability to express one’s thoughts in perspective reinforce the social divide, making the pigs smarter and more powerful and undermining other animals’ self-esteem.

At this point, the pigs resort to propaganda and rhetoric. Squealer uses his oratorical gift to refine the pigs’ message to the other animals. Upon Napoleon’s order, he breaks the Seven Commandments of farm governance. At night, he climbs the ladder to change them, and once even falls from the ladder trying to change the commandment on alcohol. The “proletarian” animals soon forget what the Seven Commandments were like in the first place and are unsure if they have ever been altered. Further on, Minimus writes a poem praising Napoleon. Finally, Squealer replaces the Commandments with a single assertion: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Language is no longer used to convince. It is used to control and manipulate.

🏁 Writing Your Analytical Essay Conclusion

The conclusion is short and sweet. It summarizes everything you just wrote in the essay and wraps it up with a beautiful shiny bow. Follow these steps to write a convincing conclusion:

• Repeat the thesis statement and summarize your argument. Even when using the best summary generator for the task, reread it to make sure all the crucial points are included.
• Take your argument beyond what is simply stated in your paper. You want to show how it is essential in terms of the bigger picture. Also, you may dwell on the influence on citizens of the country.

Example of an Analytical Essay Conclusion

Because of everything mentioned above, it becomes clear that language and rhetoric can rise to power, establish authority, and manipulate ordinary people. Animal Farm is the simplified version of a communist society. It shows how wise philosophers’ good intentions can be used by mean leaders to gain unopposed power and unconditional trust. Unfortunately, this can lead to the death of many innocent animals, i.e., people, as totalitarianism has nothing to do with people’s rule. Therefore, language and oratory are potent tools that can keep people oppressed and weak, deprive them of any chance for improvement and growth, and make them think that there is no other possible existence.

Now you are ready to write an analysis essay! See, it’s easier than you thought.

Of course, it’s always helpful to see other analysis essay examples. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock provides some great examples of an analytical paper .

✏️ Analysis Essay FAQ

A great analytical paper should be well-structured, cohesive, and logically consistent. Each part of the essay should be in its place, creating a smooth and easy-to-read text. Most importantly, the statements should be objective and backed by arguments and examples.

It is a paper devoted to analyzing a certain topic or subject. An analysis essay is all about reviewing certain details of the subject and interpreting them. For example, such an analysis for a poem includes a description of artistic means that helped the poet convey the idea.

Writing an analytical essay on a book/movie/poem start with an outline. Point out what catches the eye when reviewing the subject. See how these details can be interpreted. Make sure that you refer to the main idea/message. Add an appropriate introduction and a logical conclusion.

Being more analytical in writing can be essential for a student. This is a skill that can be self-taught: try to start noticing subtle details and describe them. As you write, interpret the facts and strive to draw conclusions. Try to be as objective as possible.

• Elements of Analysis
• How Can I Create Stronger Analysis?
• How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay: Bucks.edu
• Essay Structure | – Harvard College Writing Center
• Analytical Writing: Looking Closely (Colostate.edu)
• Analytical Thesis Statements – University of Arizona
• Writing an analytic essay – UTSC – University of Toronto
• Organizing Your Analysis // Purdue Writing Lab
• How to Write an Analytical Essay: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
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New Rules for Teamwork

• Angus Dawson
• Katy George

Not that long ago, teams were typically composed of people with similar skills working in the same place. Their efforts were based on the idea that by working together in a well-managed process, they could deliver replicable results.

Today, companies of all types are called on to demonstrate integrated, cross-functional, project-based teamwork in their operations.

New ideas about teamwork are emerging, some based on experience, some guided by new practices, some made up on the fly. But none of this has yet cohered into a systematic approach to improving how teams work.

In this article, the authors set out new principles of teamwork that focus on continuous, real-time testing, learning, analysis, adaptation, and improvement.

Collaboration is more complex than ever—and more difficult to get right. Here’s how organizations can build better teams.

Idea in Brief

The changing reality.

Traditional thinking about teamwork has often been based on intuition and observation. But that approach isn’t well suited to today’s workplace, which demands that teams adapt to constant change and disruption.

The Problem

New ideas are emerging, some based on experience, some guided by new practices, some made up on the fly. But none of this has yet cohered into a systematic approach to improving how teams work.

The Way Forward

The authors set out a new, systematic approach to teamwork that relies on continuous, real-time testing, learning, analysis, adaptation, and improvement.

Not that long ago, teams were typically composed of people with similar skills working in the same place. Their efforts were based on the idea that by working together in a well-managed process, they could deliver replicable results. They primarily operated with efficiency and effectiveness but would frequently encounter obstacles, such as internal siloes or bureaucratic processes, that hindered their overall performance. In response, they began to innovate how they worked together, establishing the groundwork for a more flexible, cross-functional approach to their rituals and practices. From the Skunk Works engineers of the 1950s to Brazilian football in the 1960s to the aviation and surgical collaborations that delivered stunning improvements in the 1990s and early 2000s, organizations have continually searched for ways to enhance their teams’ effectiveness.

And what to do about it

• AD Angus Dawson is a senior partner in McKinsey & Company’s Sydney office.
• KG Katy George is a former chief people officer at McKinsey.

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• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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Canceling Memberships Is a Pain. New Biden Administration Rules Aim to Make It Easier.

A new set of rules could also require businesses to make it easier to reach customer-service agents.

By Sara Ruberg

A set of policies proposed by the Biden administration this week could make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions, speak to customer service agents, get flight refunds and more.

Officials said the effort, which was announced on Monday and spans several federal agencies, would tackle the ways that different businesses “add unnecessary headaches and hassles to people’s days,” according to a White House statement.

But it was not yet clear how long it would take to implement such a sweeping set of rules.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobbying group, said the regulations would “micromanage business practices” and cost Americans more time and money.

“Businesses succeed by being responsive to customers and have a far better track record of customer service, streamlined paperwork and prompt response times than the federal government,” the group said in a statement online.

Once a rule is in place, the agency that made the rule can pursue civil penalties against companies who don’t abide.

Here’s what to know about the initiative.

Hitting ‘unsubscribe’ could be much easier.

Canceling recurring payments and subscriptions would have to be as easy as signing up for them was in the first place, if a rule proposed by the Federal Trade Commission becomes finalized.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Tips and tricks for crafting engaging and effective essays.

Writing essays can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and strategies, you can create compelling and impactful pieces that captivate your audience. Whether you’re a student working on an academic paper or a professional honing your writing skills, these tips will help you craft essays that stand out.

Effective essays are not just about conveying information; they are about persuading, engaging, and inspiring readers. To achieve this, it’s essential to pay attention to various elements of the essay-writing process, from brainstorming ideas to polishing your final draft. By following these tips, you can elevate your writing and produce essays that leave a lasting impression.

Understanding the Essay Prompt

Before you start writing your essay, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the essay prompt or question provided by your instructor. The essay prompt serves as a roadmap for your essay and outlines the specific requirements or expectations.

Here are a few key things to consider when analyzing the essay prompt:

• Read the prompt carefully and identify the main topic or question being asked.
• Pay attention to any specific instructions or guidelines provided, such as word count, formatting requirements, or sources to be used.
• Identify key terms or phrases in the prompt that can help you determine the focus of your essay.

By understanding the essay prompt thoroughly, you can ensure that your essay addresses the topic effectively and meets the requirements set forth by your instructor.

Researching Your Topic Thoroughly

One of the key elements of writing an effective essay is conducting thorough research on your chosen topic. Research helps you gather the necessary information, facts, and examples to support your arguments and make your essay more convincing.

Here are some tips for researching your topic thoroughly:

By following these tips and conducting thorough research on your topic, you will be able to write a well-informed and persuasive essay that effectively communicates your ideas and arguments.

Creating a Strong Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a crucial element of any well-crafted essay. It serves as the main point or idea that you will be discussing and supporting throughout your paper. A strong thesis statement should be clear, specific, and arguable.

To create a strong thesis statement, follow these tips:

• Be specific: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main idea of your essay. Avoid vague or general statements.
• Be concise: Keep your thesis statement concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details or lengthy explanations.
• Be argumentative: Your thesis statement should present an argument or perspective that can be debated or discussed in your essay.
• Be relevant: Make sure your thesis statement is relevant to the topic of your essay and reflects the main point you want to make.
• Revise as needed: Don’t be afraid to revise your thesis statement as you work on your essay. It may change as you develop your ideas.

Remember, a strong thesis statement sets the tone for your entire essay and provides a roadmap for your readers to follow. Put time and effort into crafting a clear and compelling thesis statement to ensure your essay is effective and persuasive.

Developing a Clear Essay Structure

One of the key elements of writing an effective essay is developing a clear and logical structure. A well-structured essay helps the reader follow your argument and enhances the overall readability of your work. Here are some tips to help you develop a clear essay structure:

1. Start with a strong introduction: Begin your essay with an engaging introduction that introduces the topic and clearly states your thesis or main argument.

2. Organize your ideas: Before you start writing, outline the main points you want to cover in your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of ideas.

3. Use topic sentences: Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This helps the reader understand the purpose of each paragraph.

4. Provide evidence and analysis: Support your arguments with evidence and analysis to back up your main points. Make sure your evidence is relevant and directly supports your thesis.

5. Transition between paragraphs: Use transitional words and phrases to create flow between paragraphs and help the reader move smoothly from one idea to the next.

6. Conclude effectively: End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis. Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

By following these tips, you can develop a clear essay structure that will help you effectively communicate your ideas and engage your reader from start to finish.

Using Relevant Examples and Evidence

When writing an essay, it’s crucial to support your arguments and assertions with relevant examples and evidence. This not only adds credibility to your writing but also helps your readers better understand your points. Here are some tips on how to effectively use examples and evidence in your essays:

• Choose examples that are specific and relevant to the topic you’re discussing. Avoid using generic examples that may not directly support your argument.
• Provide concrete evidence to back up your claims. This could include statistics, research findings, or quotes from reliable sources.
• Interpret the examples and evidence you provide, explaining how they support your thesis or main argument. Don’t assume that the connection is obvious to your readers.
• Use a variety of examples to make your points more persuasive. Mixing personal anecdotes with scholarly evidence can make your essay more engaging and convincing.
• Cite your sources properly to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism. Follow the citation style required by your instructor or the publication you’re submitting to.

By integrating relevant examples and evidence into your essays, you can craft a more convincing and well-rounded piece of writing that resonates with your audience.

Editing and Proofreading Your Essay Carefully

Once you have finished writing your essay, the next crucial step is to edit and proofread it carefully. Editing and proofreading are essential parts of the writing process that help ensure your essay is polished and error-free. Here are some tips to help you effectively edit and proofread your essay:

1. Take a Break: Before you start editing, take a short break from your essay. This will help you approach the editing process with a fresh perspective.

2. Read Aloud: Reading your essay aloud can help you catch any awkward phrasing or grammatical errors that you may have missed while writing. It also helps you check the flow of your essay.

3. Check for Consistency: Make sure that your essay has a consistent style, tone, and voice throughout. Check for inconsistencies in formatting, punctuation, and language usage.

4. Remove Unnecessary Words: Look for any unnecessary words or phrases in your essay and remove them to make your writing more concise and clear.

5. Proofread for Errors: Carefully proofread your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Pay attention to commonly misused words and homophones.

6. Get Feedback: It’s always a good idea to get feedback from someone else. Ask a friend, classmate, or teacher to review your essay and provide constructive feedback.

By following these tips and taking the time to edit and proofread your essay carefully, you can improve the overall quality of your writing and make sure your ideas are effectively communicated to your readers.

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SEC approves tougher rules around auditor 'negligence'

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved a number of rule changes from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including one that would toughen the ethics rules around the liability of those who contribute to audit firm violations.

The changes to Rule 3502, "Responsibility Not to Knowingly or Recklessly Contribute to Violations," would crucially change the standard for an associated person's contributory liability for a firm violation from "recklessness" to "negligence" — though it would maintain the requirement that the person have "directly and substantially" contributed to the violation.

"The amendments to Rule 3502 are critical because moving the PCAOB contributory liability standard from recklessness to negligence aligns the rule with other negligence-based professional conduct standards, including the standard for sanctions by the commission for individuals negligently contributing to firm violations as well as certain state professional licensing requirements, that have long governed the accounting profession," the SEC's chief accountant, Paul Munter, said in a statement. "It also aligns the rule with the same standard of reasonable care that auditors are required to exercise when executing their professional duties."

SEC Commissioner Hester Pierce, who opposed the amendment as unnecessary, said in a statement, "It could have the unintended consequence of lowering audit quality and could worsen the trend toward fewer talented individuals entering the auditing profession."

"With this rulemaking, which updates a rule that is nearly 20 years old, the board has aligned PCAOB rules to what investors expect: that when an associated person's negligence directly and substantially contributes to firm violations, the PCAOB has tools to hold them accountable," said board chair Erica Williams, in a statement.

AS 1000, 1105 and 2301

The commission also approved the board's new AS 1000, "General Responsibilities of the Auditor in Conducting an Audit," along with related amendments to other standards, to "reaffirm, consolidate, and modernize the general principles and responsibilities of the auditor when conducting an audit."

Finally, it approved the PCAOB's amendments to AS 1105, "Audit Evidence," and AS 2301, "The Auditor's Response to the Risks of Material Misstatement," and conforming amendments, to address the use of technology-assisted data analysis in audit procedures. The changes specify and clarify auditors' responsibilities when they use such analytical tools in conducting audits.

"We thank our SEC colleagues for their review and approval of the PCAOB's standard-setting and rulemaking … . These changes are all wins for investors," Williams said in a statement. "One of the board's top strategic goals is to modernize our standards and rules to ensure they are best fit to protect investors from today's risks. Our markets are evolving every day. To keep investors protected in an era of rapid change, our standards and rules must keep up."

The amendments to Rule 3502 will become effective in 60 days, and do not apply to conduct before the effective date. AS 1000 will take effect for audits beginning on or after Dec. 15, 2024 (with a few specific exceptions). For AS 1105 and AS 2301, the amendments will take effect for audits for fiscal years beginning on or after Dec. 15, 2025.

The commission approved proposals from the PCAOB around contributory liability, the responsibilities of the auditor, and technology-assisted data analysis.

Greatland Corporation, the company behind Yearli, announced it has acquired Information Returns Inc.

In 2023, 125 violation cases of unauthorized access of tax return data were reported, the highest since 2018 —but instances of disclosure violations remains low.

Jeffrey Pawlow was most recently president of Engineered Tax Services, including the two he co-founded before their acquisition by ETS, The Growth Partnership and ABLE.

EisnerAmper, a Top 25 Firm based in New York, is adding the partners and colleagues of Krost CPAs, a Top 100 Firm based in the Los Angeles area, in a combination expected to close in September.

The guidance in Notice 2024-63 is for employers that want to employees' student loan payments.

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International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Amendments to the Definition of Activities That Are Not Exports, Reexports, Retransfers, or Temporary Imports

A Rule by the State Department on 08/15/2024

This document has been published in the Federal Register . Use the PDF linked in the document sidebar for the official electronic format.

• Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agency Department of State Agency/Docket Number Public Notice: 12422 CFR 22 CFR 120 Document Citation 89 FR 66210 Document Number 2024-18249 Document Type Rule Pages 66210-66214 (5 pages) Publication Date 08/15/2024 RIN 1400-AF26 Published Content - Document Details
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• Document Dates Published Content - Document Dates Effective Date 09/16/2024 Dates Text The rule is effective on September 16, 2024. Published Content - Document Dates

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Supplementary information:, summary of changes from the proposed rule, response to comments, regulatory analysis and notices, administrative procedure act, regulatory flexibility act, unfunded mandates reform act of 1995, congressional review act, executive orders 12372 and 13132, executive orders 12866, 13563, and 14094, executive order 12988, executive order 13175, paperwork reduction act, list of subjects in 22 cfr part 120, part 120—purpose and definitions.

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Department of State

• 22 CFR Part 120
• [Public Notice: 12422]
• RIN 1400-AF26

Department of State.

Final rule.

The Department of State (the Department) published a proposed rule on December 16, 2022, to include two new entries to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to expand the definition of “activities that are not exports, reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports.” The Department is now responding to the public comments received in response to that proposed rule and finalizing the proposed rule with changes.

The rule is effective on September 16, 2024.

Sarah Heidema, Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy, Department of State, telephone (202) 634-4981; email [email protected] ATTN: Regulatory Change, ITAR 120.54 additions.

On December 16, 2022, the Department of State published a proposed rule ( 87 FR 77046 ), to include two new entries to § 120.54 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to expand the definition of “activities that are not exports, reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports.” Activities listed in ITAR § 120.54 do not require an authorization from the Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). The Department has received delegated authority under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) ( 22 U.S.C. 2778 ) to issue regulations regarding the export of defense articles and defense services. It has long used this authority to define what events are controlled as exports and what events are not. Moreover, section 38(b) of the AECA also provides supporting authority, as the Department may by regulation except instances where a license would otherwise be required. Accordingly, the Department proposed this rule to amend ITAR § 120.54 in two ways. First, the proposed rule provided that, subject to certain conditions, the taking of U.S. defense articles outside a previously approved country by the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations personnel on a deployment or training exercise is not an export, reexport, retransfer, or temporary import. Second, the proposed rule provided that a foreign defense article that enters the United States, either permanently or temporarily, and that is subsequently exported from the United States pursuant to a license or other approval under this subchapter, is not subject to the reexport and retransfer requirements of this subchapter, provided it has not been modified, enhanced, upgraded, or otherwise altered or improved or had a U.S.-origin defense article incorporated into it. In that proposed rule, the Department requested comments from the public. The Department now provides responses to those comments and amends the ITAR, with changes from the proposed rule, through this final rulemaking.

The following are six changes the Department made in this final rule since the development and publication of the December 16, 2022, proposed rule ( 87 FR 77046 ). First, to provide additional clarity, the Department inverted the order of proposed paragraphs (a)(6)(i) ( print page 66211) and (ii). The first provision now notes there is no change in end-use or end-user, and the next provision is the requirement that the items be transported by and remain in the possession of the previously authorized armed forces or United Nations military personnel.

Second, the Department amended the text of proposed paragraph (a)(6)(ii), which will now become paragraph (a)(6)(i), by changing “subject defense article” to “defense article” to reduce unnecessary text.

Third, the Department amended the text of proposed paragraph (a)(6)(i), which will now become paragraph (a)(6)(ii), by adding the phrase “previously authorized” before “armed forces” to reinforce that the armed forces or United Nations (U.N.) military personnel transporting and in possession of the defense articles must be previously authorized end-users of the defense articles.

Fourth, the Department also amended the text of proposed paragraph (a)(6)(i), which will now become paragraph (a)(6)(ii), by revising the phrase “U.N. personnel” to “U.N. military personnel.” The Department added the additional word to ensure that non-military persons associated with U.N. missions, such as civilians, including police, working for various U.N. agencies are not mistakenly believed to be described by the provision.

For the fifth and sixth changes, the Department narrowed the scope of the proposed excluded list of activities that are not exports, reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports, by not excluding temporary imports into the United States, or subsequent exports. Although exports and temporary imports were originally included in the proposed rule, since publication and during the review period, the Department reassessed the inclusion of those activities in light of a comment received, information received from an interagency partner, and the intended purpose of the rule. More specifically, one commenter requested clarification that licenses for temporary imports would not be required under the proposed rule text. The response to this comment is discussed more below, but highlighted aspects of the proposed rule the Department was already focused on. In addition, the Department conferred with interagency partners regarding the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the system through which imports, including temporary imports, and exports are reported. Considerations of tracking temporary imports and a long process to change ACE reporting and coding options led the Department to reevaluate this aspect of its proposal in this particular rulemaking. Moreover, the intent of the proposed rule was to consider eliminating the need to submit reexport and retransfer requests for activities that are routinely approved and to provide clarity regarding subsequent control of unmodified foreign-origin defense articles that have been subject to ITAR control while in the United States. The resulting change in this rule does not impose any new obligation or requirement. Rather, it is a reduction in the scope of the broader exemption initially proposed.

Accordingly, the Department added a third limitation to proposed paragraph (a)(6). This third limitation in what will now become ITAR § 120.54(a)(6)(iii), “the defense article is not being exported from or temporarily imported into the United States,” prohibits the applicability of the provision for exports from the United States and temporary imports into the United States. The Department added this third limitation to avoid complications when transiting the U.S. border and to stay within the intent of this portion of the rule, which is to clarify policy regarding reexports and retransfers of defense articles previously authorized for export from the United States and in the possession of the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel. This makes express in the regulations a long-standing practice set forth since 2013 in DDTC's publicly available “Guidelines for Preparing Agreements.”

Similarly, the Department added a new paragraph (a)(7)(iii), using the same language as found in new paragraph (a)(6)(iii). The new paragraph (a)(7)(iii) states that a transfer of a wholly foreign defense article is not a controlled event, unless it is an export from, or a temporary import into, the United States. This addition is for clarification purposes only and reinforces that the transfer of a wholly foreign defense article outside of the United States and not otherwise subject to the ITAR does not require authorization.

Two commenters noted the two proposed entries to ITAR § 120.54 help clarify what activities are controlled events subject to the ITAR's jurisdiction. Specifically, both commenters noted the two new entries are appropriately narrow in construing events that are and are not controlled in a manner consistent with U.S. national security interests. One commenter expressed their agreement with proposed paragraph (a)(6) but not paragraph (a)(7). The commenter specifically stated paragraph (a)(7) “says that foreign defense articles, presumably meaning guns, ammunition, and other weapons, will not be subject to the normal procedures of a controlled event. I disagree with this because I believe controlling the flow of weapons is of the utmost importance, and even if the weapons come from a partner country, they deserve a certain level of scrutiny, even if it causes some frustration from interested parties. . . .” The Department notes paragraph (a)(7) is an accurate reflection of the current jurisdiction of the ITAR, which does not control transfers of foreign defense articles that originally entered the United States and have since been exported from the United States if the enumerated criteria in paragraph (a)(7)(i) to paragraph (a)(7)(iii) are all met. Like foreign persons who generally become subject to U.S. laws and regulations when they enter the United States, foreign defense articles that enter the United States generally become subject to U.S. laws and regulations, including the ITAR, while in the United States. However, U.S. laws and regulations generally do not govern the activities of foreign persons abroad. Similarly, foreign defense articles that leave the United States are no longer subject to the ITAR under the circumstances described in paragraph (a)(7). To help illustrate this concept, the Department notes the following scenario—U.S. Company A purchases a foreign defense article from Foreign Company B located outside the United States. The purchased foreign defense article is imported into the United States but U.S. Company A later realizes it no longer needs the foreign defense article and obtains the necessary DDTC authorization to export the foreign defense article back to Foreign Company B. Foreign Company B does not subsequently need further Department authorization to sell the returned foreign defense article to a separate party, assuming the criteria in paragraph (a)(7) are met. As a result, no change is being made to proposed paragraph (a)(7) in response to this comment.

Several commenters expressed appreciation for the Department's effort regarding new paragraph (a)(6). Specifically, these commenters noted proposed paragraph (a)(6) provides “positive assurance to [U.S.] partner countries' armed forces” of an understanding that was previously “only noted in DDTC's Guidelines for Preparing Agreements document” and applauded DDTC for making explicit in the regulations DDTC's long-standing policy expressed in that document that ( print page 66212) the taking of a defense article outside a previously approved country by the armed forces of a foreign government or international organization is not a controlled event, provided certain criteria are met. One commenter noted that it would simplify the process their country's armed forces must follow to take U.S. defense articles outside a previously approved country during a deployment or on exercises, while another expressed their belief that new paragraph (a)(6) would enhance interoperability amongst allies.

However, one commenter suggested the language of paragraph (a)(6) is too narrow and requested an expansion to enable other foreign or U.S. parties to an agreement (who are not the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations personnel) to take defenses articles on operations or deployments outside a previously approved country without requesting additional authorization from the Department. The commenter suggested a specific modification to the “Deployment Clause” language included in DDTC's “Guidelines for Preparing Agreements” to implement their suggestion. The Department emphasizes the goal of this rulemaking is to memorialize long-standing Department polices that were specified in the “Guidelines for Preparing Agreements.” Therefore, the Department notes its purposeful limited intent for this rulemaking to be applicable to activities of armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel. In contrast, the Department assesses that activities undertaken by other foreign or U.S. parties to an agreement who are not the armed forces of a foreign country or United Nations military personnel still warrant additional review and should continue to require authorization from the Department in order to take defenses articles outside a previously approved country. For these reasons, the Department is not revising the text of proposed paragraph (a)(6) in response to this comment.

Another commenter noted with respect to paragraph (a)(6) “that the proposed addition lacks any reference to related technical data.” Specifically, the commenter explained that “codifying the Department's long-standing policy without an explicit reference to `related technical data' might lead to confusion [as to] whether separate authorization is required for the export, reexport, retransfer or temporary import of technical data needed to operate the defense article and/or generated by the defense article.” Subsequently, the commenter suggested adding “and any related technical data” to the term “defense article” in ITAR § 120.54(a)(6). The Department notes, per ITAR § 120.31, “defense article” means any item or technical data designated in ITAR § 121.1; therefore, the addition of “and any related technical data” would be duplicative. For this reason, the Department is not making the changes proposed by this commenter.

As introduced above, one commenter requested that the Department provide clarification that, as a result of this rulemaking, licenses for temporary imports into the United States that meet the criteria of ITAR § 120.54(a)(6) are not required. The Department declines to adopt this recommendation for the reasons previously expressed in this preamble. Specifically, the Department wishes to stay within the intent of this portion of the rule, which is to clarify long-standing policy regarding reexports and retransfers outside of the United States of properly authorized defense articles previously exported from the United States and in the possession of the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel. The comment did, however, bring to the attention of the Department the issues which led to the inclusion of new paragraphs (a)(6)(iii) and (a)(7)(iii), as discussed above. The commenter also recommended a revision to proposed paragraph (a)(6) to enable the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations personnel to “[share] equipment with foreign partners that also have access to the same equipment, albeit via different licenses and agreements” during deployments and training exercises. The Department notes that foreign partners who have access to the same equipment via different licenses and agreements do not always have access to the same configuration of the equipment and thus foreign partners would not always have the ability to make an accurate determination as to whether their specific defense article configurations are the same. Therefore, the Department is not revising the text of the proposed rule as suggested by the commenter.

The same commenter also requested revisions to proposed paragraph (a)(6) to expand the entry to include third-party contractors in addition to the armed forces of a foreign government and United Nations personnel. The Department emphasizes that the goal of this rulemaking is to memorialize long-standing Department polices that were articulated in the “Guidelines for Preparing Agreements.” Therefore, the Department notes its purposeful limited intent for this rulemaking to apply only to the activities of the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel. In contrast, activities undertaken by other foreign or U.S. persons who are not the armed forces of a foreign country or United Nations military personnel should continue to require additional authorization from the Department. For these reasons, the Department is not making the changes suggested by this commenter.

The same commenter also requested that “end-use” be removed from proposed paragraph (a)(6)(ii) since Department export control licenses and agreements do not often explicitly include “use by a foreign government (armed forces) for deployment or training exercise,” even though such activity is often an implied end-use. The position of the Department is that the taking of a defense article subject to the reexport or retransfer requirements of the ITAR on a deployment or training exercise outside a previously approved country is not a change in end-use if the enumerated criteria in ITAR § 120.54(a)(6)(i) through (iii) are met. This Department position is applicable even if such deployments or training exercises are not explicitly included on a license or agreement. For this reason, the Department is not revising the text of the proposed rule as proposed by the commenter.

Regarding proposed paragraph (a)(7), the same commenter welcomed this new entry. The commenter further requested the Department provide clarification on several matters. First, the commenter requested clarification as to whether a foreign defense article will become subject to the ITAR's “reexport/retransfer license obligations if it had been modified, enhanced, upgraded or otherwise altered or improved in a manner that changed the basic performance of the item but did not have a U.S.-origin defense article incorporated while it is in the United States.” The Department confirms that in such a scenario the foreign defense article will be subject to the ITAR and will require reexport or retransfer authorizations for all subsequent transfers after it leaves the United States.

The commenter also requested the Department provide “a clear threshold for activities undertaken whilst the wholly foreign defense article is in the United States for controls to be triggered under ITAR § 120.54(a)(7)(i)” and to provide guidance on the meaning of “modified, enhanced, upgraded or otherwise altered or improved in a manner that changed the basic performance.” The Department does not believe it needs to offer definitions of commonly used terms and phrases such as “modified,” “enhanced,” “upgraded” ( print page 66213) or “otherwise altered or improved.” The regulated community should apply the ordinary meaning of those words consistent with how it has interpreted those terms as they already exist in the ITAR ( e.g., ITAR § 123.4(b)).

Finally, the commenter also requested the Department put in place “a mechanism in U.S. export licenses to indicate that a wholly foreign defense article has been modified, enhanced, upgraded or otherwise altered or improved in a manner that changed the basic performance of the item.” The commenter asserted that, if such a mechanism were not put in place, “that these changes [would] place the onus of identifying whether controls apply on foreign recipients [which] may lead to excessive and unnecessary licensing to avoid non-compliance.” The Department notes that an authorization would be required for a person modifying, enhancing, upgrading, or otherwise altering or improving a foreign defense article while in the United States. Therefore, the subsequent recipient of an altered or improved foreign defense article should have clear notice of whether the criteria in paragraph (a)(7)(i) are met. Consequently, the Department does not envision any excessive or unnecessary licensing will occur because of these changes. For this reason, the Department is not adopting the commenter's recommendation.

One commenter requested that the Department provide additional guidance regarding the word “transported” in paragraph (a)(6)(i). Specifically, the commenter requested guidance or amendments to the proposed rule that would enable transport of defense articles by third-party contractors in addition to the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations personnel. The Department notes its purposeful limited intent for this rulemaking to be applicable only to the activities of the armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel. In contrast, activities undertaken by other foreign or U.S. parties to an agreement that are not the armed forces of a foreign country or United Nations military personnel should generally be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and continue to require authorization from the Department. For this reason, the Department is not revising the text of the proposed rule in response to the comment.

The same commenter expressed their support for proposed paragraph (a)(7), noting that it is a “welcome clarification over an issue that has caused different risk-based approaches by [companies] over many years.” The commenter also requested the Department provide additional guidance regarding when a foreign defense article is imported into the United States for testing and how any generated test data should be controlled. In addition, the commenter requested the Department provide further clarification regarding how a foreign defense article that contains U.S.-origin defense articles should be treated when undergoing testing in a foreign country. The Department notes such requests are outside the scope of this rulemaking. For this reason, the Department is not revising the text of the proposed rule in response to this comment.

This rulemaking is exempt from the requirements of section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) as a military or foreign affairs function of the United States. Without prejudice to this determination, the Department elected to solicit comments on the proposed regulatory changes and has responded to those comments in this final rule.

Since this rule is exempt from the notice-and-comment rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553 , it does not require analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

This rulemaking does not involve a mandate that will result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any year and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions are deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rulemaking is not a major rule within the definition of 5 U.S.C. 804 .

This rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism implications to require consultations or warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities do not apply to this rulemaking.

Executive Orders 12866, as amended by Executive Orders 13563 and 14094, direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects; distributed impacts; and equity). Because the scope of this rule does not impose additional regulatory requirements or obligations, the Department believes costs associated with this rule will be minimal. Although the Department cannot determine based on available data how many fewer licenses will be submitted as a result of this rule, the amendments to the definition of activities that are not exports, reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports will relieve licensing burdens. Qualitatively, this rule should have significant benefits for industry. The rule will provide more certainty and clarity by expressly stating in regulatory text what was already in Guidelines published by the Department. Additionally, it should have helpful impacts on our nation's foreign policy, more clearly conveying that the Department does not attempt to impose restrictions on other nations transporting defense articles during deployments or training exercises to other foreign countries. In turn, this may also encourage other nations to purchase additional defense articles from U.S. industry. This rule is consistent with Executive Order 13563 , which emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing cost, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This rule has been designated a “significant regulatory action,” although not significant within the meaning of section 3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866 , by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under Executive Order 12866 .

The Department of State reviewed this rulemaking in light of Executive Order 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, minimize litigation, establish clear legal standards, and reduce burden.

The Department of State determined that this rulemaking will not have tribal implications, will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal governments, and will not preempt tribal law. Accordingly, ( print page 66214) Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rulemaking.

This final rule does not impose or revise any new information collections subject to 44 U.S.C. chapter 35 .

• Arms and munitions
• Classified information

For the reasons set forth above, the Department of State amends title 22, chapter I, subchapter M, part 120 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 120 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a , 2752 , 2753 , 2776 , 2778 , 2779 , 2779a , 2785 , 2794 , 2797 ; E.O. 13637 , 78 FR 16129 , 3 CFR , 2013 Comp., p. 223.

2. Amend § 120.54 by:

a. Removing the period at the end of paragraph (a)(5)(v) and adding a semicolon in its place; and

b. Adding paragraphs (a)(6) and (7).

The additions read as follows:

(6) The taking of a defense article subject to the reexport or retransfer requirements of this subchapter on a deployment or training exercise outside a previously approved country, provided:

(i) There is no change in end-use or end-user with respect to the defense article;

(ii) The defense article is transported by and remains in the possession of the previously authorized armed forces of a foreign government or United Nations military personnel; and

(iii) The defense article is not being exported from or temporarily imported into the United States; and

(7) The transfer of a foreign defense article previously imported into the United States that has since been exported from the United States pursuant to a license or other approval under this subchapter, provided:

(i) The foreign defense article was not modified, enhanced, upgraded, or otherwise altered or improved in a manner that changed the basic performance of the item prior to its return to the country from which it was imported or a third country;

(ii) A U.S.-origin defense article was not incorporated into the foreign defense article; and

(iii) The defense article is not being exported from or temporarily imported into the United States.

Bonnie D. Jenkins,

Under Secretary, Arms Control and International Security, Department of State.

[ FR Doc. 2024-18249 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]

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