Analytical essay writing guide

What's an Analytical Essay?

An analytic essay, alternatively referred to as an analytical essay, is regarded to as  a form of academic writing where the writer is tasked with scrutinizing and interpreting a specific subject, concept, or text. The principal objective of such an essay is to thoroughly examine the subject matter and articulate a reasoned argument or interpretation grounded in evidence and critical analysis.

Key characteristics of an analytic essay include:

1. 
   

   Emphasis on Analysis: The focus lies on dissecting the topic or text rather than merely summarizing it. This entails breaking down the subject into its constituent parts, examining their interrelationships, and assessing their significance.

   
   


2. 
   

   Thesis Statement: Typically, an analytic essay commences with a clear and succinct thesis statement that outlines the main argument or interpretation to be explored. This statement should be precise and open to debate, providing readers with a roadmap for understanding the essay's trajectory.

   
   


3. 
   

   Use of Evidence and Support: Analytic essays hinge on evidence to bolster their arguments. This evidence may originate from the analyzed text, scholarly sources, or other pertinent materials. Writers should incorporate quotations, examples, and references to substantiate their analysis and demonstrate their comprehension of the subject matter.

   
   


4. 
   

   Critical Thinking: Analytic essays necessitate the application of critical thinking skills to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments, discern patterns and themes, and draw logical conclusions. Writers should question assumptions, contemplate alternative interpretations, and engage with intricate ideas.

   
   


5. 
   

   Structure and Organization: Analogous to other academic essays, analytic essays typically adhere to a structured format comprising an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction contextualizes the analysis and presents the thesis statement, while the body paragraphs expound upon the argument with supporting evidence and analysis. The conclusion recapitulates the main points and underscores the significance of the analysis.

   
   


6. 
   

   Clarity and Coherence: Analytic essays must exhibit lucidity and coherence to guide readers through the analysis effectively. Writers should employ clear and concise language, eschew jargon or unnecessary complexity, and ensure that their arguments cohere logically.

   
   

In essence, an analytic essay mandates meticulous analysis, critical thinking, and adept communication skills to delve into a topic or text comprehensively and articulate a persuasive argument or interpretation.

When analyzing something, the idea is always to find the finer details. Similarly, an analytical essay is a paper that goes beyond providing a summary. The assignment is about using facts to support your main idea (essay topic). Anlytical essays don't just look at the positive side of issues, but  also explore and provides the negative aspects of a topic in detail. Analytical papers are common assignments in college and university. Note that analysis essays are slightly different from other academic papers.

Analytical essays strive to answer the question of what, where, and when. The aim is not just an attempt to pull readers into agreeing with you hence  are often devoid of strong persuasive language, which commonly features in other types of research papers.

How to Write an Analytical Essay

Writing is defined as a focused expression of thoughts. Better writing comes with studying and practic so effort is necessary for you to learn how to write a great analytical essay. Aside from the good grades that every student wants, your commitment to writing an outstanding analytical essay can be rewarding. First, your perceptions will improve so fast that you won't believe it. Second, writing an outstanding analytical essay will challenge your critical thinking capabilities, which enhances your overall thinking capabilities. Third, you'll perfect your writing skills which gives you an edge when it comes to other subjects.

Aside from the author, readers also benefit from well-written analytical essays.  Experts in different fields like architecture, politics, art, e.t.c. often publish their original articles.  Once made accessible to the general public, the pieces can be sources of essential information.

Therefore learning how to write an analytical essay is a  lifelong skill.

Like any other academic paper, an analytical essay should have the following components:

• An appropriate analytical essay topic


• A brief but detailed and catchy analytical essay introduction


• A strong thesis statement that supports the main idea


• Relevant examples that support and provide detailed information about the main idea


• An analysis that links back to the thesis statement


• A conclusion

• The title

The title comes before anything else. If the tutor assigns a topic, make sure you understand the prompt before you start writing your analysis. If not then that means you'll have to first come up with an appropriate analytical essay topic. The thumb rule is to find a title that's neither too broad nor overly narrow.

If you choose a broad topic, you'll be having too many ideas to write about. Consequently, research will be an uphill task. On the other hand, a narrow analysis topic might be easy to research however the downside is you'll run short of ideas. This means that you will experience difficulties writing a good analysis.To find the ideal title Brainstorm  on several ideas, find out the available information, and then choose the best out of the list.

Analytical Essay Ideas for Your Inspiration

1. Analyze the mood of a specific book


2. Should high school students wear uniforms?


3. Is it necessary to control the price of medicines in the US?


4. What are the qualities of effective leadership?


5. Do subordinate staff members suffer physical burnout than the management team?


6. Is equality a realizable goal?


7. Do parrots really talk?


8. Is love a chemical reaction?


9. Why are people afraid of animals?


10. How can learning institutions tackle bullying?


11. Why do romantic relationships fail?


12. Why do people suffer from insomnia?


13. An analysis of LGBTQ in the Christian world


14. Do cats make better pets than dogs?


15. Analyze trends in gender roles.


16. Are school assignments necessary?


17. Access to certain books can promote immorality


18. An analysis of the reasons behind the growing number of zoos


19. Why can't we fly?


20. Why do we have many strong people and few weak people?


21. Is fashion harmful to young people?


22. Can't parents shape the future of their kids?


23. The effects of pets on a child's life.


24. An analysis of the effects of insurance on health


25. Should the poor be exempted from paying taxes?


26. Elementary school students should or shouldn't watch news broadcasts


27. An analysis of the causes of substance abuse


28. Why do people steal?

• Brainstorming

Now you already have an interesting topic. The next step is to brainstorm. Brainstorming is taking advantage of your brain's untapped energies to come up with ideas. It's a crucial stage when writing an analytical essay. For one, it's what you need when you have  too many ideas, and narrowing down is the only option. Critically looking at what you have helps you to isolate the most appropriate points. That's the recipe for writing a good analytical piece. The alternative scenario is where you have a shortage of ideas and brainstorming will enable you to find more ideas. You can use the brainstorming opprtunity to expound on what you already have. Bottom-line is to make sure each point adds value to your essay.

So, how do you go about it?

• Break down the main ideas: This option works in several ways. Take an essay example like The Relationship between Colonial Powers and Tropical Fruits. You'll brainstorm the title in general or approach it holistically.

The second option is to break the title into sub-headings. Still on the above essay topic, you can brainstorm by asking questions like:

• How many colonial powers were trading in the Caribbean islands, and when was that?


• Which types of tropical fruits were available?


• How did the availability of the different types of tropical fruits affect competition between the various colonial powers?

• Third, identify a term you've overused when brainstorming the title or the subtitle and think about it critically. For instance, you might realize you used "tropical fruits" or "colonial powers" more times than other terms. Focus on those and find relevant information to write about.

• Bulleting/Listing: Research words and phrases related to your title, then write them down. It's alright to include words that don't support the main idea. Remember, you'll formulate a thesis statement during the actual paper writing process. Controversy and a debate-like mood is your ticket to writing a good paper.  It also helps to have several  bullets from which to pick the best ideas to help you write an  excellent analytical paper.

• Strictly 3 and not 8 perspectives: When using this approach, see to it that you explore matching and mismatching relationships. Besides fetching more ideas, it helps create the much-needed controversy. So, make sure to map it, describe it, and trace it.

You might know the components of an analysis essay in and out however coming up with an easy-to-understand piece is a different ball game. That's because students often mix up their ideas, making it difficult to follow their arguments. To overcome that common challenge, it's best to create an outline of your analytical essay. It's the only way to arrange your ideas coherently.

An Analytical Essay Outline/the Structure of an Analytical Essay

Creating the outline (draft) is the first step of writing an analysis. Sadly, most students consider outlines as time-consuming and  unnecessary procedures. This is wrong becuase the structure helps you  arrange your ideas clearly and sensibly. Therefore, it's an essential part of learning how to write a great analytical essay.

Here's how to structure your analytical essay:

The Introduction: Finding attention-grabbing but relevant words is the best way to write an analytical essay introduction. A provocative question or startling statement works well. However, ensure you link your introduction to the main essay idea. A well-written analysis introduction features:

• The essay hook


• A few sentences to explain your main idea


• Transition sentence


• The thesis statement

As the word hints, the hook helps to grab a reader's attention. So, it must be interesting enough to achieve its purpose. It's also advisable to have a short hook preferrably a sentence or two. In addition, ensure the hook links back to your analytical essay topic. Here are suggestions that can help you formulate an excellent hook:

• Find a relevant joke (anecdote)


• It can be an interesting fact


• Fetch interesting statistics


• Use a rhetorical question


• Use literary terms like metaphors or similes


• Quotable quotes by famous people


• An organized combination of any of the above

The thesis statement forms the basis of your arguments. Its primary function is to help you back your claim. It also reveals to the reader what your main idea is. Featuring statistics, research findings, facts, and examples can help formulate a strong thesis statement.

For example, you'll consider the scientific methods when writing an analytical essay about scientific research. On the other hand, you'll mention the external factors like manuscripts and books that inspired you to analyze historical events.

Rightly so, research is mandatory when crafting your thesis statement.

Also, a good thesis statement is debatable and controversial. That means that the kind of details you'll provide is crucial when writing the thesis. Remember to avoid vagueness or an overly long thesis statement. Brief and to the point is the way to go.

Unless otherwise stated in the prompts, avoid a three pronged thesis statement. Besides sounding mechanical, the three-prong approach inhibits your creativity. There's no specific format for writing an analytical essay introduction. However, make sure to avoid filler words and sentences. They really add no value to your piece. Also, steer clear from first-person narration that expresses your opinions. Examples include  phrases such as  "according to me…" or "In my opinion…" Since you're analyzing a specific subject, sharing your opinion weakens the paper. Lastly, remember to include the title, author, and publication date of what you're analyzing.

The Body Paragraphs

Often the length of the paper. Will determine the number of paragraphs an analytical essay will have. However, a five hundred word analytical essay will always have three body paragraphs. Longer papers may mean having additional paragraphs.

Like other essay assignments, the sentences in each paragraph must link to each other and the main idea. The structure of your paragraphs matters. Here's how to arrange the sentences:

The CEE (Claim-Evidence-Explanation) is a formula that can help you to write clear and engaging paragraphs. Alternatively, you can use the PEEL paragraph structure (Point-Evidence-Elaborate-Link.) While at it, ensure you understand when to quote and when to paraphrase.

Quotation is using the exact words as they appear in the text. Ensure you use quotation marks in your paper.  Also, make sure to format accordingly—adhere to MLA, Chicago, or APA formatting guidelines.

On the other hand, paraphrasing is rewriting the idea presented. Often, paraphrasing provides a summary of the original text you're analyzing. It's an excellent option whenever you want to compress a significant amount of information without leaving out essential details.

The Conclusion

Lastly, your essay must have a conclusion. Just like the introduction, a well-written conclusion provides a summary of what your analysis is about. However, the one difference is that introducing a new idea in your conclusion is prohibited. An ideal analytical essay conclusion comprises:

• A clearly paraphrased thesis statement


• A summary of the main ideas captured in the analysis


• Final thoughts that connect to a bigger issue in order to reveal the importance of the analysis

Summary of the Format of an Analytical Essay

Editing and Proofreading

Did you know that professional writers also proofread and edit their work? Sometimes, these experts can even request their peers to help them identify areas of improvement. Similarly, your analysis is still incomplete if you skip this last step.

Aside from identifying typos and correcting them, proofreading helps you to identify open questions. By answering any unclear arguments, you'll be able to hand in a coherent piece. That sets you on the path of scoring excellent grades.

In Summary

Learning how to write an analytical essay gives you an edge in your academic journey. Analytical skills are also helpful in different real-life situations. When faced with such an assignment , you  don't want to confuse an analysis with other types of papers, say an argumentative research paper or a descriptive essay so, ensure you have all the aspects of writing an outstanding analytical essay at your figure tips.

Lastly, there's no shame in asking for help from your tutors or professional academic writers if the need arises.

FAQs

How do you write an analytical paragraph?

Analytical essays are no different from other academic papers essays. The CEE (Claim-Evidence-Explanation) or PEEL paragraph structure (Point-Evidence-Elaborate-Link) are two formulas to help you write excellent analytical paragraphs.

How do you end an analytical essay?

At the end of your analytical essay, ensure you don't introduce a new idea. Instead, provide a summary of what your analysis is about. Remember to point out the reader to the main argument too.

Here is a video detailing how to write an analytical essay