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Analysis Essay, a la Shmoop. Did you hate The Hunger Games movie but love

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the book?

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Do the Kay Jewelers commercials make you want to puke?

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To answer these questions...

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... you must first analyze a text or film or TV show or ad...

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... and then form an evaluation and support it.

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You can't just say, "Two and a Half Men sucks" then cross your arms, pout, and refuse to

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say another word about it. The easy part of this kind of essay is that

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it asks for your opinion. And we know you've got plenty of those.

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Here's your chance to tear The Rime of the Ancient Mariner a new one.

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In order to score points in this paper, you don't have to be a brown noser who claims

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to love everything your teacher made you read or watch.

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In fact, essays are often more interesting when the writer does take issue with the work

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in question. However, the tricky part of this kind of essay

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is that you will have to explain the why.

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Why did it suck? Why was it awesome?

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If you think an easy solution would be to claim that something is just average...

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...it's an acceptable opinion, but... you'd still have to explain why it's just "meh."

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And to support your opinion, you will have to analyze the material.

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So no short cuts for you unless you're enlisting in the army.

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The main focus, as you analyze—whatever it is you're analyzing...

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...is to first get a really, really firm grasp on the material.

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It might mean staring at a painting for hours...

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...or watching a movie a couple times...

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...or eating a diverse range of items from the menu of the restaurant you are reviewing.

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Know your material well, and it will be easier to take it apart and support your evaluation.

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When we say, "take it apart," we mean exactly what we say.

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Dissect it. Slice it down the middle, peel it open, and watch its little heart beating.

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What makes it tick? What makes it stop ticking?

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Ask yourself questions about it: What are its various parts?

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How do they all come together?

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Examine it closely to discern its meaning or significance and to support your evaluation.

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If it's great, what works? Why is it great? What made it so?

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If it's a fail, what exactly is ineffective about it?

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Do you just not like the way it's looking at you?

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Hey, wait a minute.

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If you're arguing that your opinion on something is valid, are you not writing an Argument

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Essay?"

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Bravo for being sharper than an elven sword!

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There are no watertight divisions between essays, and elements of argumentation creep

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into most essays.

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If it helps, you can think of Analysis Essays being like a type of argument essay that focuses

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on other things...

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...things that you did not think of or create...

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things that you have to give your opinion on, or evaluate or analyze.

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All right, you're ready, Daniel-san.

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Find your critical thinking cap, and make sure it still fits.

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If it doesn't, you may have to settle for your critical thinking sombrero. It's not

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as fashionable, but it should get the job done.

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