An analytical essay, however, requires you to go beyond a cursory review of the topic and consider the main arguments and points of this subject, as well as why they are essential. If you are writing an analytical essay about a piece of writing, you will examine the writing style and motivations of the author.
An analytical essay, as opposed to summarizing, usually has a more specific emphasis and examines the main topics of the work, how the author developed and supported their thesis, how the essay employed literary tricks to improve its messages, etc.
Similar to many other essays you have written, analytical essays have an introduction (containing a thesis statement), multiple body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You can publish your essay on WordPress and make quick settings through WordPress plugins.
The following are the key characteristics of analytical writing:
- It is not a summary! Since there is no need to summarize information, you must develop your analytical skills.
- A thesis statement that presents an argument based on what you have read or experienced is a requirement.
- Every claim you make must be supported by research; therefore, to prevent plagiarism, you must provide quotes and references.
- The topic phrases that link the paragraphs must have a clear structure.
Contrary to persuasive and argumentative essays, your main goal when writing an analytical essay isn’t to persuade readers to agree with your side of the issue, even if you want them to. Therefore, unlike in those essay genres, you won’t be using solid persuasive language. Instead, you should aim to provide readers with enough analysis and examples to make it evident how strong your position is.
Basic Parts of an Analytical Essay
The basic parts of an analytical essay are:
- Introduction
Your introduction will start with an attention-grabbing sentence or essay hook to draw the reader in, followed by a few sentences that lay up the subject so that readers have some background information, and then your thesis statement. The choice of topic can make the difference between an analytical essay that is simple to study (and earns you a good score) and one that requires hours of research only to discover a few worthwhile topics to evaluate. Included in your introduction will be:
- A hook
- Detailed background information on the subject or text
- Your argument
The most crucial line in your essay is your thesis; a reader should be able to understand the main idea and the subject of your analysis by reading your thesis simply.
- Body Paragraphs
Each of the three or four body paragraphs in your analytical essay should address a distinct aspect of the analysis. Each body paragraph should begin with a sentence introducing the critical idea you will address. After that, you will analyze that point and provide analysis and supporting evidence for your claim.
Keep studying and supporting your arguments with proof until you run out of arguments in favor of the topic. You can choose to conclude each body paragraph with a transitional sentence that introduces the topic of the following paragraph, but it’s not necessary. Body sentences will comprise:
- Describe in the opening sentence what will be discussed in the paragraph (sort of like a mini-thesis)
- evaluation point
- Citations from the text or facts and statistics that support the analysis (Repeat analysis and evidence until you run out of examples)
- Concluding Part
Your conclusion won’t contain any fresh ideas; at this point, all you’re doing is restating your main points and calling it a day. Start by restating your thesis and listing the key ideas you discussed throughout the essay.
Just reading your conclusion should be enough to give someone a general understanding of the subject and the organization of your essay. You may then want to offer some last remarks by drawing connections between your essay topic and more general topics to highlight its significance. A summary will include:
- Statement of the Thesis
- Key analysis points summarized
- Your final thoughts
Conclusion
You need to properly understand the structure described above to formulate an impactful analytical essay. Do not miss out on essential points, and give your best effort.
