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It’s the roadmap to your essay, it’s the forecast for your argument, it’s...your introduction paragraph, and writing one can feel pretty intimidating. The introduction paragraph is a part of just about every kind of academic writing , from persuasive essays to research papers. But that doesn’t mean writing one is easy!
If trying to write an intro paragraph makes you feel like a Muggle trying to do magic, trust us: you aren’t alone. But there are some tips and tricks that can make the process easier—and that’s where we come in.
In this article, we’re going to explain how to write a captivating intro paragraph by covering the following info:
- A discussion of what an introduction paragraph is and its purpose in an essay
- An overview of the most effective introduction paragraph format, with explanations of the three main parts of an intro paragraph
- An analysis of real intro paragraph examples, with a discussion of what works and what doesn’t
- A list of four top tips on how to write an introduction paragraph
Are you ready? Let’s begin!
What Is an Introduction Paragraph?
An introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of an essay , paper, or other type of academic writing. Argumentative essays , book reports, research papers, and even personal essays are common types of writing that require an introduction paragraph. Whether you’re writing a research paper for a science course or an argumentative essay for English class , you’re going to have to write an intro paragraph.
So what’s the purpose of an intro paragraph? As a reader’s first impression of your essay, the intro paragraph should introduce the topic of your paper.
Your introduction will also state any claims, questions, or issues that your paper will focus on. This is commonly known as your paper’s thesis . This condenses the overall point of your paper into one or two short sentences that your reader can come back and reference later.
But intro paragraphs need to do a bit more than just introduce your topic. An intro paragraph is also supposed to grab your reader’s attention. The intro paragraph is your chance to provide just enough info and intrigue to make your reader say, “Hey, this topic sounds interesting. I think I’ll keep reading this essay!” That can help your essay stand out from the crowd.
In most cases, an intro paragraph will be relatively short. A good intro will be clear, brief, purposeful, and focused. While there are some exceptions to this rule, it’s common for intro paragraphs to consist of three to five sentences .
Effectively introducing your essay’s topic, purpose, and getting your reader invested in your essay sounds like a lot to ask from one little paragraph, huh? In the next section, we’ll demystify the intro paragraph format by breaking it down into its core parts . When you learn how to approach each part of an intro, writing one won’t seem so scary!
Once you figure out the three parts of an intro paragraph, writing one will be a piece of cake!
The 3 Main Parts of an Intro Paragraph
In general, an intro paragraph is going to have three main parts: a hook, context, and a thesis statement . Each of these pieces of the intro plays a key role in acquainting the reader with the topic and purpose of your essay.
Below, we’ll explain how to start an introduction paragraph by writing an effective hook, providing context, and crafting a thesis statement. When you put these elements together, you’ll have an intro paragraph that does a great job of making a great first impression on your audience!
Intro Paragraph Part 1: The Hook
When it comes to how to start an introduction paragraph, o ne of the most common approaches is to start with something called a hook.
What does hook mean here, though? Think of it this way: it’s like when you start a new Netflix series: you look up a few hours (and a few episodes) later and you say, “Whoa. I guess I must be hooked on this show!”
That’s how the hook is supposed to work in an intro paragrap h: it should get your reader interested enough that they don’t want to press the proverbial “pause” button while they’re reading it . In other words, a hook is designed to grab your reader’s attention and keep them reading your essay!
This means that the hook comes first in the intro paragraph format—it’ll be the opening sentence of your intro.
It’s important to realize that there are many different ways to write a good hook. But generally speaking, hooks must include these two things: what your topic is, and the angle you’re taking on that topic in your essay.
One approach to writing a hook that works is starting with a general, but interesting, statement on your topic. In this type of hook, you’re trying to provide a broad introduction to your topic and your angle on the topic in an engaging way .
For example, if you’re writing an essay about the role of the government in the American healthcare system, your hook might look something like this:
There's a growing movement to require that the federal government provide affordable, effective healthcare for all Americans.
This hook introduces the essay topic in a broad way (government and healthcare) by presenting a general statement on the topic. But the assumption presented in the hook can also be seen as controversial, which gets readers interested in learning more about what the writer—and the essay—has to say.
In other words, the statement above fulfills the goals of a good hook: it’s intriguing and provides a general introduction to the essay topic.
Intro Paragraph Part 2: Context
Once you’ve provided an attention-grabbing hook, you’ll want to give more context about your essay topic. Context refers to additional details that reveal the specific focus of your paper. So, whereas the hook provides a general introduction to your topic, context starts helping readers understand what exactly you’re going to be writing about
You can include anywhere from one to several sentences of context in your intro, depending on your teacher’s expectations, the length of your paper, and complexity of your topic. In these context-providing sentences, you want to begin narrowing the focus of your intro. You can do this by describing a specific issue or question about your topic that you’ll address in your essay. It also helps readers start to understand why the topic you’re writing about matters and why they should read about it.
So, what counts as context for an intro paragraph? Context can be any important details or descriptions that provide background on existing perspectives, common cultural attitudes, or a specific situation or controversy relating to your essay topic. The context you include should acquaint your reader with the issues, questions, or events that motivated you to write an essay on your topic...and that your reader should know in order to understand your thesis.
For instance, if you’re writing an essay analyzing the consequences of sexism in Hollywood, the context you include after your hook might make reference to the #metoo and #timesup movements that have generated public support for victims of sexual harassment.
The key takeaway here is that context establishes why you’re addressing your topic and what makes it important. It also sets you up for success on the final piece of an intro paragraph: the thesis statement.
Elle Woods' statement offers a specific point of view on the topic of murder...which means it could serve as a pretty decent thesis statement!
Intro Paragraph Part 3: The Thesis
The final key part of how to write an intro paragraph is the thesis statement. The thesis statement is the backbone of your introduction: it conveys your argument or point of view on your topic in a clear, concise, and compelling way . The thesis is usually the last sentence of your intro paragraph.
Whether it’s making a claim, outlining key points, or stating a hypothesis, your thesis statement will tell your reader exactly what idea(s) are going to be addressed in your essay. A good thesis statement will be clear, straightforward, and highlight the overall point you’re trying to make.
Some instructors also ask students to include an essay map as part of their thesis. An essay map is a section that outlines the major topics a paper will address. So for instance, say you’re writing a paper that argues for the importance of public transport in rural communities. Your thesis and essay map might look like this:
Having public transport in rural communities helps people improve their economic situation by giving them reliable transportation to their job, reducing the amount of money they spend on gas, and providing new and unionized work .
The underlined section is the essay map because it touches on the three big things the writer will talk about later. It literally maps out the rest of the essay!
So let’s review: Your thesis takes the idea you’ve introduced in your hook and context and wraps it up. Think of it like a television episode: the hook sets the scene by presenting a general statement and/or interesting idea that sucks you in. The context advances the plot by describing the topic in more detail and helping readers understand why the topic is important. And finally, the thesis statement provides the climax by telling the reader what you have to say about the topic.
The thesis statement is the most important part of the intro. Without it, your reader won’t know what the purpose of your essay is! And for a piece of writing to be effective, it needs to have a clear purpose. Your thesis statement conveys that purpose , so it’s important to put careful thought into writing a clear and compelling thesis statement.
How To Write an Introduction Paragraph: Example and Analysis
Now that we’ve provided an intro paragraph outline and have explained the three key parts of an intro paragraph, let’s take a look at an intro paragraph in action.
To show you how an intro paragraph works, we’ve included a sample introduction paragraph below, followed by an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.
Example of Introduction Paragraph
While college students in the U.S. are struggling with how to pay for college, there is another surprising demographic that’s affected by the pressure to pay for college: families and parents. In the face of tuition price tags that total more than $100,000 (as a low estimate), families must make difficult decisions about how to save for their children’s college education. Charting a feasible path to saving for college is further complicated by the FAFSA’s estimates for an “Expected Family Contribution”—an amount of money that is rarely feasible for most American families. Due to these challenging financial circumstances and cultural pressure to give one’s children the best possible chance of success in adulthood, many families are going into serious debt to pay for their children’s college education. The U.S. government should move toward bearing more of the financial burden of college education.
Example of Introduction Paragraph: Analysis
Before we dive into analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of this example intro paragraph, let’s establish the essay topic. The sample intro indicates that t he essay topic will focus on one specific issue: who should cover the cost of college education in the U.S., and why. Both the hook and the context help us identify the topic, while the thesis in the last sentence tells us why this topic matters to the writer—they think the U.S. Government needs to help finance college education. This is also the writer’s argument, which they’ll cover in the body of their essay.
Now that we’ve identified the essay topic presented in the sample intro, let’s dig into some analysis. To pin down its strengths and weaknesses, we’re going to use the following three questions to guide our example of introduction paragraph analysis:
- Does this intro provide an attention-grabbing opening sentence that conveys the essay topic?
- Does this intro provide relevant, engaging context about the essay topic?
- Does this intro provide a thesis statement that establishes the writer’s point of view on the topic and what specific aspects of the issue the essay will address?
Now, let’s use the questions above to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this sample intro paragraph.
Does the Intro Have a Good Hook?
First, the intro starts out with an attention-grabbing hook . The writer starts by presenting an assumption (that the U.S. federal government bears most of the financial burden of college education), which makes the topic relatable to a wide audience of readers. Also note that the hook relates to the general topic of the essay, which is the high cost of college education.
The hook then takes a surprising turn by presenting a counterclaim : that American families, rather than students, feel the true burden of paying for college. Some readers will have a strong emotional reaction to this provocative counterclaim, which will make them want to keep reading! As such, this intro provides an effective opening sentence that conveys the essay topic.
Does the Intro Give Context?
T he second, third, and fourth sentences of the intro provide contextual details that reveal the specific focus of the writer’s paper . Remember: the context helps readers start to zoom in on what the paper will focus on, and what aspect of the general topic (college costs) will be discussed later on.
The context in this intro reveals the intent and direction of the paper by explaining why the issue of families financing college is important. In other words, the context helps readers understand why this issue matters , and what aspects of this issue will be addressed in the paper.
To provide effective context, the writer refers to issues (the exorbitant cost of college and high levels of family debt) that have received a lot of recent scholarly and media attention. These sentences of context also elaborate on the interesting perspective included in the hook: that American families are most affected by college costs.
Does the Intro Have a Thesis?
Finally, this intro provides a thesis statement that conveys the writer’s point of view on the issue of financing college education. This writer believes that the U.S. government should do more to pay for students’ college educations.
However, the thesis statement doesn’t give us any details about why the writer has made this claim or why this will help American families . There isn’t an essay map that helps readers understand what points the writer will make in the essay.
To revise this thesis statement so that it establishes the specific aspects of the topic that the essay will address, the writer could add the following to the beginning of the thesis statement:
The U.S. government should take on more of the financial burden of college education because other countries have shown this can improve education rates while reducing levels of familial poverty.
Check out the new section in bold. Not only does it clarify that the writer is talking about the pressure put on families, it touches on the big topics the writer will address in the paper: improving education rates and reduction of poverty. So not only do we have a clearer argumentative statement in this thesis, we also have an essay map!
So, let’s recap our analysis. This sample intro paragraph does an effective job of providing an engaging hook and relatable, interesting context, but the thesis statement needs some work ! As you write your own intro paragraphs, you might consider using the questions above to evaluate and revise your work. Doing this will help ensure you’ve covered all of your bases and written an intro that your readers will find interesting!
4 Tips for How To Write an Introduction Paragraph
Now that we’ve gone over an example of introduction paragraph analysis, let’s talk about how to write an introduction paragraph of your own. Keep reading for four tips for writing a successful intro paragraph for any essay.
Tip 1: Analyze Your Essay Prompt
If you’re having trouble with how to start an introduction paragraph, analyze your essay prompt! Most teachers give you some kind of assignment sheet, formal instructions, or prompt to set the expectations for an essay they’ve assigned, right? Those instructions can help guide you as you write your intro paragraph!
Because they’ll be reading and responding to your essay, you want to make sure you meet your teacher’s expectations for an intro paragraph . For instance, if they’ve provided specific instructions about how long the intro should be or where the thesis statement should be located, be sure to follow them!
The type of paper you’re writing can give you clues as to how to approach your intro as well. If you’re writing a research paper, your professor might expect you to provide a research question or state a hypothesis in your intro. If you’re writing an argumentative essay, you’ll need to make sure your intro overviews the context surrounding your argument and your thesis statement includes a clear, defensible claim.
Using the parameters set out by your instructor and assignment sheet can put some easy-to-follow boundaries in place for things like your intro’s length, structure, and content. Following these guidelines can free you up to focus on other aspects of your intro... like coming up with an exciting hook and conveying your point of view on your topic!
Tip 2: Narrow Your Topic
You can’t write an intro paragraph without first identifying your topic. To make your intro as effective as possible, you need to define the parameters of your topic clearly—and you need to be specific.
For example, let’s say you want to write about college football. “NCAA football” is too broad of a topic for a paper. There is a lot to talk about in terms of college football! It would be tough to write an intro paragraph that’s focused, purposeful, and engaging on this topic. In fact, if you did try to address this whole topic, you’d probably end up writing a book!
Instead, you should narrow broad topics to identify a specific question, claim, or issue pertaining to some aspect of NCAA football for your intro to be effective. So, for instance, you could frame your topic as, “How can college professors better support NCAA football players in academics?” This focused topic pertaining to NCAA football would give you a more manageable angle to discuss in your paper.
So before you think about writing your intro, ask yourself: Is my essay topic specific, focused, and logical? Does it convey an issue or question that I can explore over the course of several pages? Once you’ve established a good topic, you’ll have the foundation you need to write an effective intro paragraph .
Once you've figured out your topic, it's time to hit the books!
Tip 3: Do Your Research
This tip is tightly intertwined with the one above, and it’s crucial to writing a good intro: do your research! And, guess what? This tip applies to all papers—even ones that aren’t technically research papers.
Here’s why you need to do some research: getting the lay of the land on what others have said about your topic—whether that’s scholars and researchers or the mass media— will help you narrow your topic, write an engaging hook, and provide relatable context.
You don't want to sit down to write your intro without a solid understanding of the different perspectives on your topic. Whether those are the perspectives of experts or the general public, these points of view will help you write your intro in a way that is intriguing and compelling for your audience of readers.
Tip 4: Write Multiple Drafts
Some say to write your intro first; others say write it last. The truth is, there isn’t a right or wrong time to write your intro—but you do need to have enough time to write multiple drafts .
Oftentimes, your professor will ask you to write multiple drafts of your paper, which gives you a built-in way to make sure you revise your intro. Another approach you could take is to write out a rough draft of your intro before you begin writing your essay, then revise it multiple times as you draft out your paper.
Here’s why this approach can work: as you write your paper, you’ll probably come up with new insights on your topic that you didn’t have right from the start. You can use these “light bulb” moments to reevaluate your intro and make revisions that keep it in line with your developing essay draft.
Once you’ve written your entire essay, consider going back and revising your intro again . You can ask yourself these questions as you evaluate your intro:
- Is my hook still relevant to the way I’ve approached the topic in my essay?
- Do I provide enough appropriate context to introduce my essay?
- Now that my essay is written, does my thesis statement still accurately reflect the point of view that I present in my essay?
Using these questions as a guide and putting your intro through multiple revisions will help ensure that you’ve written the best intro for the final draft of your essay. Also, revising your writing is always a good thing to do—and this applies to your intro, too!
What's Next?
Your college essays also need great intro paragraphs. Here’s a guide that focuses on how to write the perfect intro for your admissions essays.
Of course, the intro is just one part of your college essay . This article will teach you how to write a college essay that makes admissions counselors sit up and take notice.
Are you trying to write an analytical essay? Our step-by-step guide can help you knock it out of the park.
Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!
Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.
Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.
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How to Write an Analytical Essay
Developing an analytical argument is one of the most useful skills to learn in school and in University. It helps in your professional career, when making personal decisions, and just navigating life. We analyze things all the time every day, but learning how to write an analytical paper formalizes the process and creates a mental template to follow. In this article, you will learn what is an analytical essay, how to choose a good topic, receive step-by-step instructions for each paragraph, and get other useful tips.
What Is an Analytical Essay?
One of the most common college assignments, an analytical essay asks you to carefully analyze a specific topic. The topic can range from current events, movies, books, news stories, a period In history, or anything that requires further understanding. Analytical essays prove a point using claims backed by evidence. They do not use emotional appeals and personal anecdotes, rather they build an analytical argument using logic and facts. Unlike a persuasive essay where you only need to analyze one side of an issue, when writing an analytical essay both sides must be understood and presented. In the end, you should cover your personal viewpoints of whether you agree or disagree with what you are analyzing.
Analytical Essay Outline
The first thing to consider is the analytical essay format. An analytical essay is usually between 500 and 1,000 words, which means that it can follow the classic five paragraph format of essays with an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. If you need to write a longer or more detailed analysis, you can expand on the number of body paragraphs. Developing an outline is useful to plan the eventual essay and get an overview of the structure. Many people skip making an outline but it is worth it because the time you spend planning will help guide your research and make writing the actual essay take less time. Let's have a look at a typical analytical essay outline.
- Introduction
- ~ Background information
- ~ Thesis statement
- Body paragraph 1
- ~ Topic sentence
- ~ Supporting evidence
- ~ Transition to body paragraph to
- Body paragraph 2
- ~ Transition to body paragraph 3
- Body paragraph 3
- ~ Transition to conclusion
- ~ Summary of major points
- ~ Restate the thesis
- ~ Key takeaways
Analytical Essay Introduction
Writing an introduction for analytical papers is no different than writing an introduction for any other type of essay. The introduction is the first thing somebody reads so it's important to both engage the reader as well as make sure they understand what the paper is going to be about. A good introduction provides background information, clearly states what the goal of the paper is, and hints at the claims you are going to make.
The very first sentence should be a hook. This means that it should capture the reader's attention and compel them to read the rest of the essay. A hook can be a curious fact, a joke, an engaging question, essentially anything that's connected to your topic and also interesting.
Next, you need to give background information about the topic you are analyzing. If it is a piece of work done by somebody else like a book or a movie then this is where you give the title, year of release, name of the director/author, etc. If it is an academic subject or an abstract concept then this is where you give some brief background so that the audience gets an understanding of the topic.
Next, you need to clearly state your thesis. A thesis statement is essentially the main purpose of your essay. It is one or two sentences that clearly identify the issue you are going to analyze, hints at the claim you are trying to make, and states your opinion if you have one.
Thesis Statement
Coming up with a good thesis statement is one of the biggest challenges of any type of essay writing. A thesis statement clearly states the purpose of your essay in one or two sentences. A good thesis statement gives the reader an understanding of what the essay is about. For analytical essays, a thesis statement presents specifically what you analyzed and the conclusion you drew.
Each body paragraph should present evidence that backs up the claims you make in your thesis statement, so coming up with a clear and specific thesis is vitally important when writing an analytical essay. A thesis statement that is too broad can be difficult to prove in an analytical essay which is why it needs to be specific. Let's take a look at the following thesis statements:
- Climate change is one of the biggest problems in the world right now.
- Video games are going to be more important in the future.
- Reality television is bad for teenagers.
The topics being analyzed are interesting but the thesis statements are too broad to be covered in just one essay. Exactly how the topics will be analyzed are not mentioned, leaving the reader with no idea how you are going to approach the issue. The following are better versions of these thesis statements.
- Youth activism is one of the driving forces in the climate change debate and is affecting policy changes in governments.
- The gamification of education is making video games essential to the future of humanity.
- False versions of reality expressed in reality television shows are negatively impacting teenagers’ self-esteem.
These thesis statements analyze the main topics of climate change, video games, and reality television, but they focus on specific elements and include an opinion. This gives the paper direction and informs the reader exactly what the paper will be about. They further clearly identify the way the topic will be analyzed and can help you present specific evidence in the body paragraphs.
Analytical Essay Body
In a five paragraph structure, there are three body paragraphs, but in an analytical essay, you might have more. The body paragraphs contain the meat of your essay, the evidence that supports your thesis statement. Each body paragraph should discuss a particular claim or piece of evidence and follows a specific format.
- Topic sentence that clearly states the direction of analysis for the paragraph
- The main piece of evidence for your claim
- Supporting information
- Transition to the next paragraph
The first sentence of your body paragraph should give the reader an idea of the specific issue that the paragraph will talk about. For example, if the essay is about the gamification of education, the topic sentence for the first body paragraph can be “Educational video games are being used in many third world countries to help children who cannot access standard schooling systems”. This topic sentence clearly explains what the paragraph will be about and allows you to provide factual evidence.
A good topic sentence helps the reader keep track of and structures the flow of your analysis paper. Imagine having a conversation with a friend about a topic. The main pieces of support you make for your claim are topic sentences.
The rest of the body paragraph includes factual information that proves the validity of your topic sentence. Each body paragraph should talk about only one issue, so make sure that the evidence you provide is related only to the specific claim you are making in that paragraph. It can be tempting to provide as much evidence as possible, but analytical papers that are too dense with information can be hard to read and understand, so only mention the most important facts and figures.
End each body paragraph with a brief restatement of the topic sentence, emphasizing how the evidence you've presented backs up the claim. This is a great way of transitioning to the next body paragraph that contains a different piece of evidence and analysis from a different point of view. A one-sentence summary or another kind of transition statement helps the essay flow better and builds a more convincing overall argument.
Analytical Essay Conclusion
The conclusion of an analysis essay restates all the main points in a concise way. This is not the place to add new information or provide new points of analysis, rather it is a summary of the essay presented in a way to make the main purpose clear. In general, this is the format of a conclusion paragraph for an analysis paper.
- Restate the thesis
- Summarize the main topic sentences
- Provide key pieces of evidence
- Author's thoughts on possible further analysis
If someone can understand the purpose of your paper just by reading the conclusion then you have written a good conclusion paragraph. By restating your thesis at the beginning you reminded the reader of the main purpose of your essay. After going through three body paragraphs this is important so that the reader makes connections between the evidence presented and the thesis statement.
Follow this up with a brief summary of the main claims and analysis in each body paragraph. Since you have already presented evidence backing up the claims, rephrase the main topic sentences and put together a convincing argument for your points. Make sure you don't include new evidence or points of analysis in the conclusion because this might confuse the reader. The conclusion paragraph only recaps and summarizes information. If you have a new point of analysis then add a new body paragraph.
Finally, end the conclusion paragraph with some of your own thoughts. Explain why the topic is important, why your perspective adds new information, how your analysis compares to experts in the field, etc.
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Steps For How to Write an Analytical Essay
Before you actually start writing an analytical essay there are several steps you can take to make the process easier. The more preparation work you do beforehand, the easier the writing will go and the essay will have better flow and structure overall. These are the steps you should take before you even start writing.
- Brainstorm different topic ideas
- Research a few topics you like
- Choose a topic you like that has enough information to back up your claims
- Come up with a thesis statement to help direct your research
- Make an outline
Each time you remember: 'Oh, I need someone to write my essay for me ', it might be tempting to choose the first topic that pops into your head, but choosing the right topic is one of the most important aspects of analytical writing.
Once you have a few different topic ideas, conduct brief research on them to see if you really find them interesting and if there is enough information for you to write a convincing essay.
Now that you have a topic and know some information about it you should come up with a thesis statement so that you have a question in mind when conducting in-depth research to find evidence to support your claim.
Take notes while doing research and put them into an outline so that you can easily recover the information when writing your essay and you get an idea of the overall flow. An outline helps collect information as well as build a convincing argument.
Choose a Topic
The good thing about analytical essay topics is that anything can be analyzed so anything can be a topic. The bad news is that with so many options it can be challenging to find one actually worth analyzing. First things first, if your teacher has assigned a list of topics to choose from, go over the list and pick out the ones you find interesting. If your teacher has assigned a list of options then It is your job to explore one of the topics in a unique and interesting way. If you can choose any topic you want, go over a list of potential topics and conduct brief research to narrow them down to just two or three. The topic you choose should be based on a few things:
- If you are genuinely interested in the topic it will make the research and writing more fun
- The topic should have enough research for you to back your claims
- The topic should not be too broad so that you cannot fully explore it in one essay
- Try and find a unique way of approaching the topic
Congratulations, you have just finished the first step of how to write an analytical essay!
Write an Analytical Thesis Statement
Now that you have a topic in mind and have done adequate research your next challenge when writing an analytical essay is to come up with a thesis statement. A thesis statement is one or two sentences towards the end of an introductory paragraph that clearly states the purpose of the essay. A thesis statement directs the entire essay and tells the reader what to expect. Why write a thesis statement so early? Because coming up with a thesis statement early will help direct your research. Not only does this save time, but it also helps structure the essay and arguments in your mind as you discover new information.
A good thesis statement clearly states the specific topic you are going to talk about, what exactly you are going to analyze, and includes your opinion. For example, the thesis statement “The gamification of education is making video games essential to the future of humanity”, clearly tells the audience the essay will be about video games and their impact on education.
Organize the Body of Your Essay
Body paragraphs are the place in an analysis paper where you provide evidence to show the reader that your findings are valid. Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that describes what is going to be discussed in that paragraph. Each body paragraph should only talk about one specific point of analysis or evidence. Each body paragraph should highlight a piece of evidence that backs up your original thesis. Organize your body paragraphs in a way that builds an argument from various viewpoints while ensuring that there is good flow and each individual argument is easy to understand.
Do research
Now that you have a thesis statement and understand the overall structure of the body paragraphs it is time to actually find the information you need to back up your analysis. Research your topic thoroughly while focusing on information related to your thesis. Make a list of information that backs up your claim and check if the sources are reliable or not. Choose three or four of the most relevant pieces of information that back up your claim and conduct further research on that information in particular. Fill in relevant information into your outline and record where you found the information. Doing research when writing an analytical essay doesn't have to take a long time or be boring, it can be fun if you enjoy the topic and conduct well-directed research.
Use Evidence Effectively
For an analytical essay to be convincing it needs facts, but presenting the facts in a robotic way isn't persuasive or engaging. Use the evidence and information you find in your research but craft a story around it. You can state a statistic like “30% of children in third world countries use education applications or say “30% of children in developing countries without access to formal education now use education applications to get high school degrees and pull their families out of poverty”.
Use Contrasting Opinions
It may seem counterproductive to include opinions that disagree with your opinion into your analytical paper, but it is a great way of building a convincing argument in an analysis paper. Find the strongest contrasting opinion and make a body paragraph where you explain why that viewpoint is incorrect using evidence. This builds a strong argument because it shows that you have considered opposing viewpoints, and by undermining the strongest one you strengthen your argument.
Write an Effective Summary
A conclusion paragraph is essentially a summary of all the main points of the essay. A well-written conclusion recaps the most important elements of the essay in just a few sentences. You can do this by restating the thesis to remind the readers about the purpose of the essay, and then restating the topic sentences from each body paragraph to summarize the strongest pieces of evidence backing up your claim. Finally, in a sentence or two explain why the topic is important and how your analysis is unique.
Just a few more things and you will know how to write an analysis essay!
If You Need Help With Any of the Steps Above
Feel free to use our dissertation services .
Analytical Essay Topics
As mentioned above, finding the right topic is vitally important when it comes to answering the question of how to write an analytical essay. Which is why we have this section devoted entirely to it. Remember that a good topic:
- Is something you generally find interesting
- Should attract a reader's attention
- Should not be too broad
- Needs enough quality research to present evidence
- Asks a question that is important
Finding a good topic for an analytical paper isn't easy, but make sure you spend enough time pinpointing something that fulfills the criteria. A good topic is the difference between enjoying the writing process and getting a good grade, or finding it a chore and getting a bad grade. You might also find it helpful to explore an article on how to write a reflection paper to get more information.
Here is a list of good analytical essay topics to get you started.
Topics about psychology
Here are some topics on psychology essay writing
- What qualifies as a mental disorder?
- Why do more young people feel lonely?
- What is the effect of lockdowns on mental health?
- Is happiness an illusion?
- What are effective methods of coping with depression?
Topics about pop culture
- Why DOTA is the perfect game
- What is the impact of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
- An analysis of the history of Science Fiction
- Why blank is the best music genre
- The rise and fall of Kanye West
Topics about art and history
- How does World War II still affect us?
- An analysis of postmodern art.
- Are all artists geniuses?
- What is the influence of the Renaissance?
- What are the lessons learned from war?
Analytical Essay Examples
I assume you are going to use the examples that are already on the website
Despite the difference in doctrines, the Jews, Christians, and Muslims have in one way or another related in accordance to their faith and beliefs. The three monotheistic religions are known for their high regard for their disparities despite the similarities they manifest. It is not only a matter that concerns the religions themselves, but also the society given the world is slowly changing and more people have begun to question the existence of each religion in essence. While, the similarities may be just but subtle, the extent of reach is relatively wide, and for that cause the standing of these religion need some inspection. Noteworthy, there are common features in the religions such as the tenacious adherence by certain groups, which may also pose the question regarding not only lack of choice but also the need to be considered one.
A major consequence of war is in its ability to demolish traditional values and introducing drastic changes the perceptions of the world among those who experience the horror and devastation that define war. For military personnel, assuming a normal life after war is a form of torture because for such an individual visualizing the society from an optimistic perspective is relatively difficult considering that it always in the brink of war which threatens the peace that may be prevailing. Hemmingway uses this story to reminisce about his life after participating in the First World War. It was from his experience in the war as a driver for the Italian Army that he developed depression and he experienced multiple injuries.
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How to Write an Analytical Essay in 6 Steps
An analytical essay is an essay that meticulously and methodically examines a single topic to draw conclusions or prove theories. Although they are used in many fields, analytical essays are often used with art and literature to break down works’ creative themes and explore their deeper meanings and symbolism .
Analytical essays are a staple in academics, so if you’re a student, chances are you’ll write one sooner or later. This guide addresses all the major concerns about how to write an analytical essay, such as the preferred structure and what to put in the outline. Let’s start with an in-depth answer to the question, what is an analytical essay? Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly
What is an analytical essay?
One of the seven main types of essay , analytical essays intricately examine a single topic to explain specific arguments or prove the author’s theories. They commonly deal with creative works like art, literature, film, or music, dissecting the creator’s artistic themes and revealing hidden meanings. However, they can also address other issues in realms like science, politics, and society.
Analytical essays are a type of expository essay , so they’re not supposed to express bias, opinions , or persuasions . Even when the author is trying to prove their own theory (or disprove an opposing theory), their argument should stick solely to facts and logic and keep the author’s personal feelings to a minimum.
An analytical essay example could be a deep dive into the character of Hamlet, but this topic itself could have multiple interpretations. Your essay could focus on whether or not Hamlet truly loved Ophelia, question the motives for his constant hesitation, or even attempt to prove the theory that he was mentally ill—after all, he did see apparitions!
How to structure an analytical essay
Although analytical essays tend to be more detailed, specific, or technical than other essays, they still follow the same loose essay structure as the rest:
1 Introduction
3 Conclusion
The introduction is where you present your thesis statement and prepare your reader for what follows. Because analytical essays focus on a single topic, the introduction should give all the background information and context necessary for the reader to understand the writer’s argument. Save the actual analysis of your topic for the body.
The body is the nucleus of your essay. Here you explain each separate point and offer evidence to support the thesis, breaking up your argument into paragraphs. While the introduction and conclusion are each usually just a single paragraph, the body is composed of many different paragraphs and often stretches out over pages, thereby making up most of the essay.
Every paragraph in the body still relates to your chosen topic and your thesis, but each paragraph should make a different point or focus on a different piece of evidence. For example, if your topic is about how Edgar Allan Poe uses the theme of death in his writing, one paragraph could explore the use of death in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” while a different paragraph could explore death in “The Raven,” and so on.
Finally, the conclusion wraps everything up. Conclusions usually don’t introduce new evidence or supporting details but instead reiterate the previous points and bring them all together to strengthen your original thesis. At this point your reader has sufficient background to understand the topic. With your evidential examples in mind, they’ll be more receptive to your main argument when you present it one last time.
How to write an analytical essay in 6 steps
The process of writing an analytical essay largely follows the same guidelines as all essay writing . Here we break down each individual step from start to finish.
1 Choose your topic
This step may be optional if your topic has been given to you as an assignment. If not, though, you should choose your topic with care.
Your topic should be specific enough that you’re able to discuss it thoroughly. If you choose a broad topic like “love in novels from Victorian England,” it’s unlikely you’ll be able to cover all Victorian novels in a single analytical essay (or even ten analytical essays!). However, narrowing the topic down to something such as “love in Jane Austen novels” makes your task more achievable.
That said, don’t be too specific, or you won’t have enough material to cover. Try to find a good middle ground: specific enough that you can discuss everything but general enough that you’ll be able to find enough research and supporting evidence.
2 Research your topic
Once you know your topic, you can begin collecting data and evidence to discuss it. If your analytical essay is about a creative work, you may want to spend time reviewing or evaluating that work, such as watching a film closely or studying the details of a painting. It’s also useful to review other people’s critiques of that work to inspire new ideas or reveal details you hadn’t noticed before.
Don’t forget to write down where you get your information, including page numbers for books or time codes if you’re watching visual media. You may need to reference these in your essay, so making a quick note about where you find your information while researching saves time later when you’re citing your sources .
It helps to know your thesis from the onset. However, you may realize during your research that your original thesis is not as strong as you thought. If this happens, don’t be afraid to modify it or choose a new one. In any case, by the time your research is finished, you should know what your thesis will be.
3 Create an outline
An essay outline gives you the opportunity to organize all your thoughts and research so you can put them in the optimal order. Ideally, you’ll have finished your research by now and made notes of everything you want to say in your analytical essay. The outline is your chance to decide when to talk about each point.
Outlines are typically broken up by paragraph. Each paragraph should explore an individual point you’re making and include your evidence or statistical data to back up that particular point. Be careful about trying to squeeze too much information into a single paragraph; if it looks excessive, try to break up the information into two or more paragraphs.
Feel free to move around or rearrange the order of paragraphs while outlining—that’s what this step is for! It’s much easier to fix structural problems now in the outline phase than later when writing.
4 Write your first draft
Now is the time you sit down and actually write the rough draft of your analytical essay. This step is by far the longest, so be sure to set aside ample time.
If you wrote your outline thoroughly, all you have to do is follow it paragraph by paragraph. Be sure to include each piece of evidence and data you had planned to include. Don’t worry about details like choosing the perfect wording or fixing every grammar mistake—you can do those later in the revisions phase. For now, focus solely on getting everything down.
Pay particular attention to how you start an essay. The introduction serves different purposes, such as telling the reader what to expect, providing background information, and above all presenting your thesis statement. Make sure your introduction checks all those boxes.
Likewise, be extra careful with your conclusion. There are special techniques for how to write a conclusion, such as using a powerful clincher and avoiding certain cliches like “in summary.” Conclusions usually hold more weight than the other paragraphs because they’re the last thing a person reads and can leave a lasting impression on them.
Finally, don’t forget to include transition sentences in between your body paragraphs when needed. Moving abruptly from one topic to the next can be jarring for the reader; transition sentences improve the essay’s flow and remove distractions.
5 Revise your draft
Your first draft is never meant to be perfect. Once you have all your ideas down on paper, it’s much easier to go back and revise . Now is the perfect time to improve your phrasing and word choice and edit out any unnecessary or tangential parts.
When you revise, pay particular attention to details. Try to find areas that you can remove to make your essay more succinct or passages that aren’t clear that need more explanation. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes: Will someone with no background knowledge still understand your points?
6 Proofread your essay
Last, it’s time to fix any grammar and spelling mistakes by proofreading . While it’s tempting to do this at the same time as your revisions, it’s best to do them separately so you don’t split your attention. This allows you to focus only on word choice, phrasing, and adding/removing content while revising and to concentrate solely on language mistakes during proofreading.
If you’re not confident in your grammar or spelling expertise, you can always use an app like Grammarly . Our app highlights any spelling or grammar mistakes directly in your text and gives proper suggestions on how to fix them. There are even features that help you choose the perfect word or adjust your writing to fit a certain tone. You can also copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.
Analytical essay outline example
If you’re having trouble, here’s an analytical essay example that shows how a proper outline or structure should look. The format here uses a five-paragraph essay structure, but for more complicated topics, you can add as many body paragraphs as you need.
Topic: Who is the real villain: Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
Introduction
- Briefly describe the plot of Macbeth for those who aren’t familiar with it
- Thesis statement : Lady Macbeth is the real villain of Macbeth because she manipulates her husband into committing an atrocious crime
Body Paragraph 1
- Murdering the king is all Lady Macbeth’s idea
- Macbeth is initially against it until Lady Macbeth convinces him
Body Paragraph 2
- Lady Macbeth has her own individual character arc where she is driven mad by her guilt
- Her guilt insinuates she knows her actions are villainous, with appropriate consequences
- Cite quotations from her “Out, damned spot!” speech
Body Paragraph 3
- Macbeth decides to listen to Lady Macbeth, so he is still guilty
- Speculate that he still would not have murdered the king if not for Lady Macbeth
- Macbeth remains the main character because most scenes revolve around him, but the person acting against him most is Lady Macbeth
- Remind reader that Macbeth didn’t want to murder the king until Lady Macbeth convinced him
- Clincher : Macbeth is still the hero albeit a tragic one. But his main antagonist is not Macduff or the king or even the prophecy itself; it’s his wife.
Analytical essay FAQs
An analytical essay is an essay that deeply examines a single topic, often a creative work, to reveal certain conclusions or prove theories held by the essay’s author.
How is an analytical essay structured?
Analytical essays are structured like most other essays: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. However, the body paragraphs have a stricter emphasis on facts, logic, and empirical evidence compared to other essays.
What are the steps to writing an analytical essay?
As with all essays, you first research and then organize all your points into a working outline. Next, you write the rough draft with all the data and evidence collected during your research. Revise the rough draft when it’s finished to improve the phrasing and add/remove certain parts. Last, proofread the essay for any grammar or spelling mistakes.
How to Write an Introduction to an Analytical Essay
Ideas to Make a Great Introduction for an Essay
The purpose of an analytical essay is to propose and support an argument. By analyzing the material on which the essay is based, the essay writer should develop a position regarding the accuracy of the original information. The introduction is one of the most important parts of an analytical essay. This is because it is in the introduction that the reader will receive his first impression of the essayist's position.
Understand the source material thoroughly. Every analytical essay is essentially a commentary on someone else's work. This means that an effective analytical essay writer is someone who is able to read and understand the source material exceptionally well.
Grab the reader's attention. By including a quotation or controversial statement in the first few lines of the introduction you generate interest in your essay. This increases the likelihood that your essay will leave an impression and actually influence the reader's opinion.
Summarize the source material. This summarization is sometimes referred to as an abstract and should be included in the introduction. The summary should inform the reader of the title and author of the source document as well as provide a brief synopsis of the source document's main points. By including this abstract in the introduction, the reader will have a better idea of the context in which your argument arose.
Finish with a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a concise sentence that outlines precisely what the main argument of your essay is. The thesis statement is going to be the main idea or position that the remainder of your essay is going to support. It is important that this position be an opinion rather than a fact, since it must be something that can be argued both for and against.
- The recommended length for most analytical essay introductions is around eight sentences.
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Soren Bagley recently graduated from the University of Toledo with a B.A. in English Literature. He has been a professional writer for two years and his work has appeared on a wide variety of internet web sites, including Associated Content.com and Ehow.com.
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.
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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.
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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:
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“How Do the Pigs Manage to Keep Social Control on Animal Farm?”
💁 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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This resource helps me a lot. Thanks! You guys have great information. Do you think I can use these steps when taking a test? Could it be known as plagiarized if I just copy and paste the information?
Glad to help, Hazel! You can use it in your test but you should cite it accordingly
Thanks, very good information.
Thank you for your attention, Jaweria🙂!
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Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
Grab your reader's attention with the first words.
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
An introductory paragraph, as the opening of a conventional essay , composition , or report , is designed to grab people's attention. It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. In short, the opening paragraph is your chance to make a great first impression.
Writing a Good Introductory Paragraph
The primary purpose of an introductory paragraph is to pique the interest of your reader and identify the topic and purpose of the essay. It often ends with a thesis statement .
You can engage your readers right from the start through a number of tried-and-true ways. Posing a question, defining the key term, giving a brief anecdote , using a playful joke or emotional appeal, or pulling out an interesting fact are just a few approaches you can take. Use imagery, details, and sensory information to connect with the reader if you can. The key is to add intrigue along with just enough information so your readers want to find out more.
One way to do this is to come up with a brilliant opening line . Even the most mundane topics have aspects interesting enough to write about; otherwise, you wouldn't be writing about them, right?
When you begin writing a new piece, think about what your readers want or need to know. Use your knowledge of the topic to craft an opening line that will satisfy that need. You don't want to fall into the trap of what writers call "chasers" that bore your readers (such as "The dictionary defines...."). The introduction should make sense and hook the reader right from the start .
Make your introductory paragraph brief. Typically, just three or four sentences are enough to set the stage for both long and short essays. You can go into supporting information in the body of your essay, so don't tell the audience everything all at once.
Should You Write the Intro First?
You can always adjust your introductory paragraph later. Sometimes you just have to start writing. You can start at the beginning or dive right into the heart of your essay.
Your first draft may not have the best opening, but as you continue to write, new ideas will come to you, and your thoughts will develop a clearer focus. Take note of these and, as you work through revisions , refine and edit your opening.
If you're struggling with the opening, follow the lead of other writers and skip it for the moment. Many writers begin with the body and conclusion and come back to the introduction later. It's a useful, time-efficient approach if you find yourself stuck in those first few words.
Start where it's easiest to start. You can always go back to the beginning or rearrange later, especially if you have an outline completed or general framework informally mapped out. If you don't have an outline, even just starting to sketch one can help organize your thoughts and "prime the pump" as it were.
Successful Introductory Paragraphs
You can read all the advice you want about writing a compelling opening, but it's often easier to learn by example. Take a look at how some writers approached their essays and analyze why they work so well.
"As a lifelong crabber (that is, one who catches crabs, not a chronic complainer), I can tell you that anyone who has patience and a great love for the river is qualified to join the ranks of crabbers. However, if you want your first crabbing experience to be a successful one, you must come prepared."
– (Mary Zeigler, "How to Catch River Crabs" )
What did Zeigler do in her introduction? First, she wrote in a little joke, but it serves a dual purpose. Not only does it set the stage for her slightly more humorous approach to crabbing, but it also clarifies what type of "crabber" she's writing about. This is important if your subject has more than one meaning.
The other thing that makes this a successful introduction is the fact that Zeigler leaves us wondering. What do we have to be prepared for? Will the crabs jump up and latch onto you? Is it a messy job? What tools and gear do I need? She leaves us with questions, and that draws us in because now we want answers.
"Working part-time as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly has given me a great opportunity to observe human behavior. Sometimes I think of the shoppers as white rats in a lab experiment, and the aisles as a maze designed by a psychologist. Most of the rats—customers, I mean—follow a routine pattern, strolling up and down the aisles, checking through my chute, and then escaping through the exit hatch. But not everyone is so dependable. My research has revealed three distinct types of abnormal customer: the amnesiac, the super shopper, and the dawdler."
– "Shopping at the Pig"
This revised classification essay begins by painting a picture of an ordinary scenario: the grocery store. But when used as an opportunity to observe human nature, as this writer does, it turns from ordinary to fascinating.
Who is the amnesiac? Would I be classified as the dawdler by this cashier? The descriptive language and the analogy to rats in a maze add to the intrigue, and readers are left wanting more. For this reason, even though it's lengthy, this is an effective opening.
"In March 2006, I found myself, at 38, divorced, no kids, no home, and alone in a tiny rowing boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I hadn’t eaten a hot meal in two months. I’d had no human contact for weeks because my satellite phone had stopped working. All four of my oars were broken, patched up with duct tape and splints. I had tendinitis in my shoulders and saltwater sores on my backside.
"I couldn’t have been happier...."
– Roz Savage, " My Transoceanic Midlife Crisis ." Newsweek , March 20, 2011
Here is an example of reversing expectations. The introductory paragraph is filled with doom and gloom. We feel sorry for the writer but are left wondering whether the article will be a classic sob story. It is in the second paragraph where we find out that it's quite the opposite.
Those first few words of the second paragraph—which we cannot help but skim—surprise us and thus draw us in. How can the narrator be happy after all that sorrow? This reversal compels us to find out what happened.
Most people have had streaks where nothing seems to go right. Yet, it is the possibility of a turn of fortunes that compels us to keep going. This writer appealed to our emotions and a sense of shared experience to craft an effective read.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/Getty_general_to_specific_order-170920375-58b9a1f45f9b58af5c7d7395.jpg "introduction paragraph analytical essay")
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Analytical Paragraph Writing Class 10 | Paragraph writing Format, Topics, Examples, Samples
CBSE has introduced writing analytical paragraphs as a part of the revised curriculum under the writing section.
What is an analytical paragraph?
Analytical paragraph writing video, analytical paragraph writing format, useful tips for writing an analytical paragraph, analytical paragraph examples, samples.
Analytical Paragraph writing – An analytical paragraph is a form of descriptive writing which is written on the basis of a given chart, graph, data, outline, clues, table, etc. When writing an analytical paragraph , one should remember to describe the facts in the best possible manner and to cover the information provided.
The analytical paragraph has to be written in around 100-120 words. So the paragraph must use clear and crisp language along with providing complete details of the chart given in the question. There will be an internal choice given.
You need to attempt one question out of the two questions of analytical paragraphs given as a choice. The question carries 5 marks.
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Features of an analytical paragraph writing-
- It describes the given chart, table, data, graph, cues etc.
- It should be brief and comprehensive (include complete information) at the same time.
- It should state facts that are provided by the chart.
- It is necessary to make use of simple and accurate language.
- It should mention figures and quantities appropriately.
- It is appropriate to use the same tense throughout the analytical paragraph.
- No personal observation or response should be provided.
- It would be preferable to use the passive form of the verb.
Top
An analytical paragraph shall be divided into three parts-
- Introduction
- Body of the paragraph and;
Format of Analytical paragraph writing
Introduction (explain in one or two lines the subject of the graph given)
Body (explain in detail what the graph is about, use relevant figures, explain trends, make comparisons and contrasts, divide into sub paragraphs, if required)
Conclusion (conclude the paragraph giving the overall view or summary of the graph)
FORMAT OF ANALYTICAL PARAGRAPH
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Let us discuss each of these in detail –
1. The introduction
The introduction is the first paragraph that should describe in brief what the graph is about. It should be like an opening paragraph that introduces the reader to the context of the chart given. When writing the introductory paragraph, you need not go into the details. You just need to mention what is clearly evident from the chart or the graph given in the question. It is best to write the introduction in one or two lines.
2. The body of the paragraph
This part of the analytical paragraph should contain details of the graph/chart given in the question. It should contain all the important information. It is extremely important to choose the significant details that should be included in the paragraph. The body can be broken into two or three sub-paragraphs depending on the information extracted from the graph. Breaking the body into subparagraphs makes it easy for the reader to understand. i. Organizing information: You should look for the large differences that are very prominent. You can mention the aspect which is the smallest or the largest in the data given. Any aspects that are similar should be mentioned next. You should further mention about the aspect that has remained unchanged or constant throughout. ii. Comparing information: If the chart mentions two different parties, for example, men and women, refer to both of them in the analytical paragraph. If there is any contrast or comparison that could be drawn, you must present it effectively. If the chart is about a particular time period or highlights trends of several years, mention each year in a concise manner. If any comparison or contrast can be done for two or more years, you should write about it too. iii. Mentioning quantities: When including numbers and figures, their accuracy must be ensured. There are a number of ways that can be used to describe quantities, for example- percentage, fraction, ratios, etc. iv. Connecting sentences: If different information or ideas are there, you should use connectors or linking phrases to link them logically. The sentences of the paragraph should be sequential and connected rationally.
3. The conclusion
The last paragraph should summarise the idea mentioned and the information in general. It should be concluding in nature and act as the closing statement. One should keep in mind that one must not include any personal opinions, conclusions, or observations. You should simply stick to the facts. You need not dispose of the information to write a good analytical paragraph. The key is to choose wisely the important information, organize it well, state correct facts and summarise it properly. Top
- The chart given above describes
- The table suggests
- The line graph shows
- The data given provides information about
- The pie chart illustrates, etc.
- For describing trends , use phrases and words like- a pattern of growth, rapidly doubled, skyrocketed, striking increase, peaked, soaring rates, declined, plummeted, leveled off, stagnated, fluctuate, starting to rise, starting to fall, drop down, slightly, etc.
- For describing quantities , use various styles like- 48% of, one-third of, nearly one-fourth of, almost 80%, majority, on average, twice as much, almost equal, the highest, the lowest, very close to 2%, roughly, approximately 5% of, just under three percent, etc.
- For establishing a relationship or contrast , use phrases and words like- relationship between, similarly, in contrast with, in comparison to, but in the opposite case, however, whereas, when it comes to, as opposed to, while, striking difference, noticeable difference, etc.
- For the conclusion and other connecting phrases use- overall, subsequently, in all, in a nutshell, for the chart given, in short, striking changes, including, therefore, etc.
Analytical Paragraph Doubts Session Video
Example Question 1 : Below is a graph given showing birth and death rates in a country from 1901 to 2101. Write an analytical paragraph (100-150 words).
The graph shows birth and death rates starting from 1901 till 2101.
Since 1901, the birth rate has remained more than the death rate until 2041. Birth rate was 20000 in 1901 and started increasing gradually. It peaked in 1961 to around 65000. From 1961, birth rate has fluctuated multiple times between 50000 and 60000. It is expected to decline for the coming years reaching approximately 42000 by 2101.
On the other hand, the death rate stood at around 10000 in 1901 and then has increased steadily. It is expected to rise strikingly from 2021 before levelling off to approximately 60000 between 2061 and 2081. The graph indicates a slight decline in deaths in the year 2101.
The graph shows the huge gap between birth rate and death during 1961 to 2001. However, this gap is expected to reduce in the later years. Overall, as opposed to the prevailing trends, the death rate will be more than the birth rate in the later half of the 21st century.
Example Question 2: The chart shows the division of household tasks by gender in Great Britain. Write an analytical paragraph describing the chart given in not more than 200 words.
The chart shows the number of minutes per day spent by British men and women in doing household tasks. On an average, the women spend about four hours doing household tasks whereas the men spend less than two and half hours.
The tasks on which women spend more time than men include cooking, cleaning house, taking care of the children and laundry. In doing all these tasks, women spend approximately 200 minutes which is almost three times the time spent by men in these tasks. On the other hand, men spend twice the time than women in doing tasks like gardening and maintenance of odd jobs in the house. Men spend the highest time, almost 50 minutes, in gardening and petcare. While the women spend only 30 minutes for these tasks. The time spent by men in washing, ironing and sewing clothes is as low as 2 minutes per day as opposed to 25 minutes spent by women.
In short, women spend far more time doing household chores than men whilst men prefer to do gardening, petcare and maintaining odd jobs.
Example Question 3: The pie chart shows the proportion of people from different households living in poverty in the UK in 2002. Write an analytical paragraph to describe the information in 100-120 words.
The given pie chart illustrates seven different categories of households living in poverty in the UK in 2002.
It is clearly evident from the pie chart that 26% of the total poverty-stricken households are those of sole parents. Single people without children account for the second highest proportion with 24%. In contrast to couples without children that accounts for just 9%, couples with children account for 15% of the poor households. Single aged persons and aged couples proportion for 12% together for poor households.
Overall, 14% of all households in the UK were living under poverty. The younger generation had a greater poor percentage than their aged counterparts. Couples without children had better economic conditions than those with children.
Example Question 4: The following table shows details about the internet activities for six categories for different age groups. Write an analytical paragraph for the table given in around 150-200 words.
The given table suggests the internet activities of seven age groups ranging from teens to those in their seventies for six different kinds of activities. The table shows that the younger generation is more interested in online games and news, while the older generation spends time on the internet to research and buy products.
It is evident from the table that teens mainly use the internet for games (as high as 81%), news and downloads and are interested in searching for people or friends or doing any product research. The middle-age group (people in 20s to 60s) is highly interested in getting news, doing product research and buying products, the percentage ranging from 70-80%. The internet activity which gets the least time is searching for people. All the age groups spend less than 30% of their internet time on the same. The amount of time spent on downloads decreases with age and gets as low as 6% (for people in 70s).
Overall, the table suggests that teenagers are most likely to spend time playing games and doing downloads. On the other side, older people are interested in researching and buying products. People spend the least amount of time searching for other people online.
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Question 5: Below given are three pie charts showing consumption habits of India, China and World overall in 2008. Write an analytical paragraph describing the pie charts (100-120 words).
The three given pie charts depicts types of food consumption in 2008 as compared in two countries- India and China. In general, processed food is the major type of food eaten.
Processed food comprises as high as 41% of the global consumption. In China and India as well, processed foods are consumed the most, the rate of consumption being 34% and 39% respectively. On an average, vegetables and fruits constitute 29% of consumption. In China, vegetables and fruits comprise 32% of food consumption which is 9% more than that of India. For Indians, animal food accounts for 27% of their diet, exceeding Chinese food consumption by a striking 12%. However, nuts and seeds comprise almost one-fifth of Chinese food habits. This is way more than the global consumption of 4% and 11% of India.
Overall, world food consumption largely comprises processed food. Chinese consumption of nuts and seeds is unbelievably higher than the average percentage.
Question 6: The graph given shows estimated sales of gold in Dubai in 2002. Write an analytical paragraph describing the line graph in around 150 words.
The line graph depicts the estimated sales of gold in Dubai for a period of twelve months in 2002 in millions of Dirhams.
In January 2002, the sales stood at 200 million Dirhams. It steadily increased through the next month and peaked to 350 million Dirhams in the third month of the year. However, the gold sales started to plummet over the next three months and hit 110 million Dirhams in the month of July. Unexpectedly, the sales doubled in August before coming down to the same level as in July for the month of September. For the next two months of the year, the gold sales levelled off to 180 million Dirhams and then slightly increased in December.
Overall, the estimated gold sales fluctuated in 2002. The sales were the highest in the month of March and lowest in the months of July and September. The sales at the end of the year were almost the same as they were in the beginning of the year.
Here we conclude the topic of Analytical paragraphs. As it is a new topic added to the syllabus of Class 10, students need to prepare it well.
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What Is An Analytical Essay
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Students are enrolled in a variety of courses at various colleges and try to do their best when it comes to following the curriculum properly! Writing an analytical essay is one of the assignments given to scholars to help them determine the abilities and knowledge they have acquired throughout your curriculum. The subjects for analytical essays might be anything that calls for critical knowledge, including current events, book reviews, history, and more. These essays assist you in making appropriate points and offering various supporting evidence for facts you have generated.
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An analytical essay does not have any emotional appeal; rather, it builds an analytical argument that is based on facts and logical analysis. You must first analyze the problem before outlining the key details of that specific topic. After your analytical essay, you must address all of the arguments, share your personal experiences and points of view, and explain whether you concur or disagree with the findings of the analysis.
Students must demonstrate problem-solving and logical thinking abilities to better understand the analytical data. It aids in decision-making and navigating your academic career. Since your daily tasks require you to analyze a variety of topics, an analytical essay will likewise need the same items to be effectively described. We've also seen that students occasionally struggle with their analytical abilities. To help them comprehend these essays better and write ones that are both qualitative and thorough, they can use analytical essay examples as a guide.
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What Is The Importance Of Analytical Essay Writing For Students?
Whenever a student gets the task of writing an analytical essay, they have to be well aware of the major requirements to make it perfect and well structured. It helps the students to get the various skills that can shape their careers in the right direction. This is a formal style of writing which showcases the reflection and analysis of a particular event. When you write an analytical essay, it helps the professor to know the skills and knowledge you have gained throughout the curriculum and how you have tackled the various challenges faced while given a topic. It can be a daunting task for students to write an analytical essay; therefore, with the help of our analytical thesis writing services , we can easily help you to write down an impressive essay on various topics.
You will also learn presentation skills and will be able to analyze a critique presentation with the help of an analytical essay. With its focus on research work, it allows you to widen the prospectus of the various analytical skills and come up with an educated conclusion and solution on a bigger scale.
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What Are The Best Ways To Frame An Analytical Essay Outline?
It is very necessary to frame a perfect outline for the analytical essay so that you don't have any issues inwriting the essay. An outline provides a systematic way to design your essay according to the right format and structure. You have to frame a perfect outline for the essay by knowing its requirements. Developing an appropriate analytical essay outline will help you to know each step and what will be your next move to elaborate an essay in the right direction.
- Introduction: Any analytical paper must include a well-written opening that engages the reader from the outset. The reader reads the introduction first; therefore, it should provide a favorable first impression. The reader's interest is piqued, which encourages him to read the entire text. It gives good background information, clarifies the paper's objectives, and suggests several claims. Once you've decided on a topic for your analytical essay, you must give highly specific information about it.
- Thesis Statement: It is a major section in analytical writing where you have to provide an interesting thesis statement for your essay. An analytical thesis statement clearly states the purpose of your essay and provides the reader with a better understanding of the essay data. Each paragraph should represent the evidence and analyses of the data you have claimed for the topic. You need to be very specific while writing a thesis statement and show all the approaches you have used for your topic research. An analytical thesis statement provides you with the right direction for the paper writing, and the reader will identify the topic that has been analyzed with proper pieces of evidence. If you found any hurdle in writing it, you can easily take the references of analytical thesis statement examples online.
- Body Of Analytical Essay: The first paragraph of your essay's body should provide readers with a general overview of the topics you have selected to discuss. A strong topic sentence aids the reader in keeping track of the organization and progression of your analytical thesis statement. These theme sentences must be connected to the primary piece of supporting work. The first body component introduces all of the key factual information and examples. Each paragraph should discuss the problems and all the supporting evidence you have provided.
- Analytical Essay Conclusion: The conclusion of any analytical essay must have the main points of your evidence that are explained in a very concise way. Never try to add some extra or new information to your conclusion. You have to provide a proper summary of the data you have provided in your essay. You have to be sure about the thesis statement, summarizing the main key points, providing the major piece of pieces of evidence, and the author's thoughts on possible analysis.
All of these important details on the analytical essay structure and arrangement will undoubtedly aid you in creating the ideal paper. Additionally, you will be able to " write my essay " using original research and data. If you still need help with writing an analytical essay, you can get support from our assignment help services. We will help you write an essay with the proper format and thorough research on each problem related to the assigned topic. Our most qualified specialists will professionally compose the essay.
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How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide
Published on January 30, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on September 2, 2022.
Literary analysis means closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices. It can be applied to novels, short stories, plays, poems, or any other form of literary writing.
A literary analysis essay is not a rhetorical analysis , nor is it just a summary of the plot or a book review. Instead, it is a type of argumentative essay where you need to analyze elements such as the language, perspective, and structure of the text, and explain how the author uses literary devices to create effects and convey ideas.
Before beginning a literary analysis essay, it’s essential to carefully read the text and c ome up with a thesis statement to keep your essay focused. As you write, follow the standard structure of an academic essay :
- An introduction that tells the reader what your essay will focus on.
- A main body, divided into paragraphs , that builds an argument using evidence from the text.
- A conclusion that clearly states the main point that you have shown with your analysis.
Table of contents
Step 1: reading the text and identifying literary devices, step 2: coming up with a thesis, step 3: writing a title and introduction, step 4: writing the body of the essay, step 5: writing a conclusion.
The first step is to carefully read the text(s) and take initial notes. As you read, pay attention to the things that are most intriguing, surprising, or even confusing in the writing—these are things you can dig into in your analysis.
Your goal in literary analysis is not simply to explain the events described in the text, but to analyze the writing itself and discuss how the text works on a deeper level. Primarily, you’re looking out for literary devices —textual elements that writers use to convey meaning and create effects. If you’re comparing and contrasting multiple texts, you can also look for connections between different texts.
To get started with your analysis, there are several key areas that you can focus on. As you analyze each aspect of the text, try to think about how they all relate to each other. You can use highlights or notes to keep track of important passages and quotes.
Language choices
Consider what style of language the author uses. Are the sentences short and simple or more complex and poetic?
What word choices stand out as interesting or unusual? Are words used figuratively to mean something other than their literal definition? Figurative language includes things like metaphor (e.g. “her eyes were oceans”) and simile (e.g. “her eyes were like oceans”).
Also keep an eye out for imagery in the text—recurring images that create a certain atmosphere or symbolize something important. Remember that language is used in literary texts to say more than it means on the surface.
Narrative voice
Ask yourself:
- Who is telling the story?
- How are they telling it?
Is it a first-person narrator (“I”) who is personally involved in the story, or a third-person narrator who tells us about the characters from a distance?
Consider the narrator’s perspective . Is the narrator omniscient (where they know everything about all the characters and events), or do they only have partial knowledge? Are they an unreliable narrator who we are not supposed to take at face value? Authors often hint that their narrator might be giving us a distorted or dishonest version of events.
The tone of the text is also worth considering. Is the story intended to be comic, tragic, or something else? Are usually serious topics treated as funny, or vice versa ? Is the story realistic or fantastical (or somewhere in between)?
Consider how the text is structured, and how the structure relates to the story being told.
- Novels are often divided into chapters and parts.
- Poems are divided into lines, stanzas, and sometime cantos.
- Plays are divided into scenes and acts.
Think about why the author chose to divide the different parts of the text in the way they did.
There are also less formal structural elements to take into account. Does the story unfold in chronological order, or does it jump back and forth in time? Does it begin in medias res —in the middle of the action? Does the plot advance towards a clearly defined climax?
With poetry, consider how the rhyme and meter shape your understanding of the text and your impression of the tone. Try reading the poem aloud to get a sense of this.
In a play, you might consider how relationships between characters are built up through different scenes, and how the setting relates to the action. Watch out for dramatic irony , where the audience knows some detail that the characters don’t, creating a double meaning in their words, thoughts, or actions.
Your thesis in a literary analysis essay is the point you want to make about the text. It’s the core argument that gives your essay direction and prevents it from just being a collection of random observations about a text.
If you’re given a prompt for your essay, your thesis must answer or relate to the prompt. For example:
Essay question example
Is Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” a religious parable?
Your thesis statement should be an answer to this question—not a simple yes or no, but a statement of why this is or isn’t the case:
Thesis statement example
Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law” is not a religious parable, but a story about bureaucratic alienation.
Sometimes you’ll be given freedom to choose your own topic; in this case, you’ll have to come up with an original thesis. Consider what stood out to you in the text; ask yourself questions about the elements that interested you, and consider how you might answer them.
Your thesis should be something arguable—that is, something that you think is true about the text, but which is not a simple matter of fact. It must be complex enough to develop through evidence and arguments across the course of your essay.
Say you’re analyzing the novel Frankenstein . You could start by asking yourself:
Your initial answer might be a surface-level description:
The character Frankenstein is portrayed negatively in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein .
However, this statement is too simple to be an interesting thesis. After reading the text and analyzing its narrative voice and structure, you can develop the answer into a more nuanced and arguable thesis statement:
Mary Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.
Remember that you can revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process , so it doesn’t need to be perfectly formulated at this stage. The aim is to keep you focused as you analyze the text.
Finding textual evidence
To support your thesis statement, your essay will build an argument using textual evidence —specific parts of the text that demonstrate your point. This evidence is quoted and analyzed throughout your essay to explain your argument to the reader.
It can be useful to comb through the text in search of relevant quotations before you start writing. You might not end up using everything you find, and you may have to return to the text for more evidence as you write, but collecting textual evidence from the beginning will help you to structure your arguments and assess whether they’re convincing.
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To start your literary analysis paper, you’ll need two things: a good title, and an introduction.
Your title should clearly indicate what your analysis will focus on. It usually contains the name of the author and text(s) you’re analyzing. Keep it as concise and engaging as possible.
A common approach to the title is to use a relevant quote from the text, followed by a colon and then the rest of your title.
If you struggle to come up with a good title at first, don’t worry—this will be easier once you’ve begun writing the essay and have a better sense of your arguments.
“Fearful symmetry” : The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”
The introduction
The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure.
A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement. You might refer to a commonly held idea about the text and show how your thesis will contradict it, or zoom in on a particular device you intend to focus on.
Then you can end with a brief indication of what’s coming up in the main body of the essay. This is called signposting. It will be more elaborate in longer essays, but in a short five-paragraph essay structure, it shouldn’t be more than one sentence.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.
Some students prefer to write the introduction later in the process, and it’s not a bad idea. After all, you’ll have a clearer idea of the overall shape of your arguments once you’ve begun writing them!
If you do write the introduction first, you should still return to it later to make sure it lines up with what you ended up writing, and edit as necessary.
The body of your essay is everything between the introduction and conclusion. It contains your arguments and the textual evidence that supports them.
Paragraph structure
A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs : the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion.
Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis. Don’t try to include everything you can think of to say about the text—only analysis that drives your argument.
In longer essays, the same principle applies on a broader scale. For example, you might have two or three sections in your main body, each with multiple paragraphs. Within these sections, you still want to begin new paragraphs at logical moments—a turn in the argument or the introduction of a new idea.
Robert’s first encounter with Gil-Martin suggests something of his sinister power. Robert feels “a sort of invisible power that drew me towards him.” He identifies the moment of their meeting as “the beginning of a series of adventures which has puzzled myself, and will puzzle the world when I am no more in it” (p. 89). Gil-Martin’s “invisible power” seems to be at work even at this distance from the moment described; before continuing the story, Robert feels compelled to anticipate at length what readers will make of his narrative after his approaching death. With this interjection, Hogg emphasizes the fatal influence Gil-Martin exercises from his first appearance.
Topic sentences
To keep your points focused, it’s important to use a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.
A good topic sentence allows a reader to see at a glance what the paragraph is about. It can introduce a new line of argument and connect or contrast it with the previous paragraph. Transition words like “however” or “moreover” are useful for creating smooth transitions:
… The story’s focus, therefore, is not upon the divine revelation that may be waiting beyond the door, but upon the mundane process of aging undergone by the man as he waits.
Nevertheless, the “radiance” that appears to stream from the door is typically treated as religious symbolism.
This topic sentence signals that the paragraph will address the question of religious symbolism, while the linking word “nevertheless” points out a contrast with the previous paragraph’s conclusion.
Using textual evidence
A key part of literary analysis is backing up your arguments with relevant evidence from the text. This involves introducing quotes from the text and explaining their significance to your point.
It’s important to contextualize quotes and explain why you’re using them; they should be properly introduced and analyzed, not treated as self-explanatory:
It isn’t always necessary to use a quote. Quoting is useful when you’re discussing the author’s language, but sometimes you’ll have to refer to plot points or structural elements that can’t be captured in a short quote.
In these cases, it’s more appropriate to paraphrase or summarize parts of the text—that is, to describe the relevant part in your own words:
The conclusion of your analysis shouldn’t introduce any new quotations or arguments. Instead, it’s about wrapping up the essay. Here, you summarize your key points and try to emphasize their significance to the reader.
A good way to approach this is to briefly summarize your key arguments, and then stress the conclusion they’ve led you to, highlighting the new perspective your thesis provides on the text as a whole:
By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.
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Analytical Essay Writing
Analytical Essay Outline
Analytical Essay Outline - Guide & Template
Published on: Feb 12, 2020
Last updated on: Jan 3, 2023
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An analytical essay in which a writer analyzes the document in detail, which is generally textual or visual media. In this type of essay, the writer presents a point of view that is based on strong evidence and facts.
An analytical essay can be written for a video, movie, issue, concept, or idea. This type of essay is not a summary of the work. But it requires how the author presents their work’s purpose and aspects.
The goal of the analytical essay is to analyze the subject in detail and highlight the gaps in research. In an analytical essay, the writer observes things and does not try to persuade the reader to change his/her mind.
To write an effective essay, you have to create an outline before start writing the analytical essay.
How to Write an Analytical Essay Outline?
An outline is the first step of the writing stage. Writing an analytical essay outline requires a lot of concentration and research. An outline works as a roadmap throughout the essay.
Before writing the analytical essay, you have to create an outline and decide what to write in which section.
A good outline makes your writing phase easier and simpler. Through the outline, you can easily structure your essay content.
The quality of the essay depends on how well you structure your essay. Always create an outline of your essay and write a good one.
Break the information into three sections i.e. introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. All the information to be organized in the outline.
Writing the essay outline is the most time taking a step but it helps you a lot in your writing process. The more time you spend on an essay outline, the less you will spend on writing it.
An outline is required to organize the information so that it can be easily readable and understood.
The analytical essay outline format is similar to the five-paragraph structure and it contains:
Introduction
- Hook statement
- State the thesis statement
- Prove your thesis statement
Body Paragraphs
- Supporting evidence and facts
- Use transition words
- Support your claims
- Summary of the essay
- Restate the thesis statement
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Analytical Essay Introduction
The introduction of the essay is the kick-start of your entire essay. It should be attention-grabbing and attract the reader’s interest. You can easily grab your reader’s attention from the introduction part.
Some writers never know the significance of the introduction part and it is a big drawback of your essay. A strong introduction plays a vital role in your essay.
In the introduction part, the writer introduces the topic to the reader. The main aim of the introduction is to motivate the reader to read the entire essay.
An introduction section contains three parts:
The hook statement of the essay should be interesting. It is the very first sentence of your essay and a good way to grab the reader’s attention. In the hook statement, you will add background details that interest your readers such as a quote, question, facts, etc.
A hook statement is very important in the essay and it can be humorous or factual. This statement depends on your essay topic. Write a statement that goes with your topic and support your essay.
The thesis statement is the main sentence of the essay. It is the part of the essay where you show your point to the audience. It describes the purpose of your topic. The thesis statement serves as a subject of the entire essay.
A strong thesis statement can help in the entire essay and tell the reader what to expect from the essay. It can be a claim of your topic that supports your argument. The thesis statement summarizes the goal of the whole essay in one sentence.
After writing the thesis statement, you need to prove your thesis statement by supporting facts. Without this, your thesis statement is useless.
Readers don’t understand your topic if you do not provide the necessary information. The supporting information isn't described in detail; it can be discussed further in the essay.
Analytical Essay Body Paragraphs
The thesis statement is explained in the body paragraphs. The body paragraphs support your thesis statement. Don’t write all the information in one paragraph, it is easier to break the information into small sections.
Each paragraph should discuss each point in the essay. It will make your essay logical and readable. In the analytical essay, each paragraph should be not so long nor too short.
Connect your body paragraphs with the topic sentence and be specific when you state your main points and arguments.
Each body paragraphs should have four components:
Claim: The opening sentence of the paragraph is the claim of the thesis statement. Start the paragraphs with a topic sentence.
Evidence: In the body paragraphs, the supporting material will provide detailed information to the reader. Support your point with strong evidence.
Connection: Everything you write must connect or link with your topic. You should never write anything without explaining why it is important.
Transition: Use transition words to make a connection between paragraphs. Maintain a logical flow and all the paragraphs must be connected to each other. The transition can be at the start of the paragraph or at the end.
Analytical Essay Conclusion
The conclusion is the final part of your essay. It is the place where you wrap up your essay. The conclusion for an analytical essay should summarize all the major points of the essay.
Restate the thesis statement in the conclusion part. Try to make it powerful, it is the last impression that the writer left on the reader.
The length of the conclusion is the same as the length of the introduction. End the conclusion part with a strong sentence or quote.
Analytical Essay Outline Template
Some writers confuse when writing the analytical essay outline. Here are a few samples of the essay outline, take a look, and easily write a good paper outline.
Literary Analysis Essay Outline (PDF)
Analytical Essay Outline (PDF)
Analytical Essay Format (PDF)
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline (PDF)
Process Analysis Essay Outline (PDF)
Analytical Essay Example
An analytical essay is used to examine the piece of literature. It is written to clearly understand the piece of literature when it is read for the first time.
A good written analytical essay is readable with a good example. The following are the examples of the analytical essay, they help in drafting your college essay .
Analytical Essay Sample (PDF)
Analytical Essay Example (PDF)
Literary Analysis Essay (PDF)
High School Analytical Essay (PDF)
From this guide, you will easily write an outline for your essay. But if you still need help in writing an effective essay outline, you will have to consult professional writers.
CollegeEssay.org is a professional essay writing service that provides assistance and guides you in all academic assignments. Our writers help you in writing an argumentative essay, choosing the analytical essay topic, or any other academic assistance.
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Analytical Essay Guide
Analytical Essay Outline
Analytical Essay Outline - An Easy Guide
Published on: Mar 7, 2018
Last updated on: Dec 30, 2022
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An analytical essay is an essay type that analyzes a document or content in detail. It concentrates on the formation of something, mostly how the content is made using various techniques.
It is mandatory to understand that an analytical essay doesn’t require a writer to draft a summary of the work. Unlike an argumentative essay , an analytical does not include persuasion of the writer’s claim. It just contains an analysis of how an author of the content presented his work’s purpose and aspects.
This article is written to make the students understand an essential component of analytical essay writing; an outline.
How To Write An Analytical Essay Outline?
Like every other academic writing, an analytical essay requires an organized structure for its content to be readable and understandable. In order to shape all the raw information, an outline is drafted.
An analytical essay outline is similar to the traditional essay outline of five paragraphs. According to this five-paragraph format, the essay is divided into the following sections:
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Body paragraph 3
- Conclusion
The researched information about the specific topic needs to be organized. This is to make sure that the content is clear and effective for the readers.
When you analyze the piece of content, the purpose is to give an audience a clearer image and purpose. So the content should be engaging, well structured, and understandable.
Read on to get a better idea of each section.
Analytical Essay Introduction
The importance and significance of the introduction of an essay can not be denied. An analytical essay introduction is the first section of the essay. In this part, the topic and author are introduced to the readers.
The purpose of writing an essay introduction is to attract the readers to the topic. Also, motivate them to read the essay. The introduction lays the whole groundwork for your essay. So the more substantial the introduction, the more effective the paper is going to be.
The analytical essay introduction is based on two major elements:
- Thesis statement
Just as the name suggests, a writer uses a hook statement to “hook” the audience to read further. A hook statement is an opening sentence of the introductory paragraph. It is a very important sentence as it grabs the reader’s attention towards the topic and the essay.
A hook statement can be a sentence of any type. It can be humorous as well as factual. Depending on the essay topic , a writer can choose any form of an opening sentence. However, it goes with the theme and the topic of the essay.
For example,
“David Suzuki’s “The Right Stuff” features the gracious, entertaining and informative style we have come to associate with this well-known host of The Nature of Things”.
Here the writer used a simple statement that presents the background information about the chosen work “The Right Stuff.”
Thesis Statement
Following the hook comes the most critical element of an essay is the thesis statement . A thesis statement is the writer’s stance or an argument on the chosen work. A writer narrows down the topic’s purpose at this point and focuses on a particular side of the topic.
The thesis statement can be written by keeping in mind the original text’s goal and the writer’s analysis.
“A rhetorical analysis reveals the varying degrees of success with which Suzuki employs logos, pathos, and ethos: while Suzuki’s ethos is strong because of the reputation he brings to his writing and his use of pathos to appeal to his target audience of parents and educators, his use of logos is weak”.
When using a 5 paragraph format, a writer must provide a short supporting statement with the thesis statement. It is to show that the writer is going to back up the thesis.
“Suzuki is skilled in argumentation, but his strong ethos fails to make up for the lack of support for his thesis that high school science courses should begin with sex education”.
Analytical Essay Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs of an essay support your claim by providing shreds of evidence. All the gathered and relevant information that justifies the argument is presented in this section.
The body section of an analytical essay should be divided into different paragraphs. The writer should discuss each point in a specific paragraph. It will make your essay logical and readable for the audience.
All of the paragraphs in the body section have four components to be covered:
- Topic Sentence - A topic sentence is an opening sentence of a paragraph. This sentence is the claim or the important point that proves the thesis statement. Begin each of your paragraphs with a topic sentence.
- Supporting Material - The supporting material will back the claim and will provide detailed, researched information for your thesis statement. After writing a topic sentence, give evidence to prove it correct.
- Connection - In order to tie your claim and evidence together, use a piece to follow the evidence. When using a quote or a phrase, make sure that you have stated its purpose or importance first.
- Transition - After you have proved your claim, it is time to move on to the next paragraph or the claim. All the paragraphs in your essay must be connected and maintain a logical flow.
Each paragraph should be transitioned to make logical content. This transition will act as a bridge and will connect the previous paragraph with the next paragraph.
Analytical Essay Conclusion
The essay conclusion is the last section where all the discussion comes to an end. Here the writer restates the thesis statement and provides a short summary of the major points in the content. It will prove that the main argument is justified using the evidence for the readers.
For example,
“Admittedly, David Suzuki wrote his essay at a time when education budgets were in better shape than they are today, and he certainly makes an excellent point that educators should respect their students and appeal to their interests.
Nevertheless, his argument for sex education in schools clearly needs further thinking. In spite of Suzuki’s strong ethos and persuasive use of pathos, he needs a stronger use of logos to make an argument here. The best he can hope for is to get his audience’s attention – then it is up to them to see if and how his ideas should be implemented in the schools”
Analytical Essay Outline Template (PDF)
Analysis Essay Outline AP Language (PDF)
Critical Analytical Essay Outline Template (PDF)
Analytical Essay Example
An analytical essay is a little different than other essay types. This is based on pure analysis and its purpose is not to persuade the reader with the writer’s argument. Rather, a writer just analyzes the author’s message and how effective that message was.
In order to write an analytical essay, students require essay examples to know what to produce and how to produce it? Analytical essay examples are very important and helpful in drafting your essay.
Expert writers at MyPerfectWords.com gathered some free examples for students to take assistance and guidance in order to score well in their academics.
Analytical Essay Sample (PDF)
Macbeth Analytical Essay (PDF)
Analytical Essay Outline Worksheet (PDF)
Literary Analytical Essay Outline (PDF)
The process of writing an analytical essay becomes easier when you know what to write and how to write. After going through a couple of examples, plan out your essay. Planning will make your actual writing process of the paper much more straightforward.
Think of ideas for your essay topic. Decide on a strong analytical essay topic so that your essay is interesting and informative for the readers. After deciding on the subject, form your thesis statement and an outline for your analysis essay.
Divide all your information and supporting evidence into introduction, body, and conclusion. Make sure that the author’s point of view is explicitly presented. Reading your paper once you have completed writing, it is essential to make it perfect. Make edits before submitting your work.
If you find the writing process difficult, MyPerfectWords.com is here to help. MyPerfectWords.com provides free samples and essay writing help to guide you for all your academic assignments.
Our analytical essay writing service is affordable and ensures top academic quality.
Simply hire our essay writer service to get help from a qualified and experienced analytical essay writer .
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In Elie Wiesel’s Night, imagery is employed to show the dehumanization of the Jewish people by the Nazis as the Jews develop the “survival of the fittest” mentality, and as Eliezer looses the ability to express emotions. Wiesel uses imagery of the Jews’ “survival of the fittest” mentality to show the dehumanization of the Jews who are forced to endure treacherous conditions in the concentration camps. The enslaved Jews experience the worst forms of inhumane treatment. Pushed beyond their ability to deal with the oppressing starvation, cold, disease, exhaustion, and cruelty, the Jews lose their sanity and morality. Thus, Wiesel refers to the Jews as, “wild beasts of prey with animal hatred
Examples Of Hunger In Night By Elie Wiesel
Hunger made Elie and his father only closer, but everyone has to eat. The quote is after Elie and his father ran more than 20 kilometers from Auschwitz to an abandoned village. Being hungry, thirsty, and especially exhausted would be the only things a person would think if they had done the march while hungry and thirsty. But Elie comes said that quote to prove the strength of the bond between him and his father. Another time in which the prisoners marched was running to Gleiwitz. They stayed there for three days with no food or water, the prisoners were moved into roofless cattle cars, almost 100 people in a car. The prisoners were handed the usual ration before getting on the train and ate snow in order to quench their thirst. Many of the prisoners are all in a condition not fit enough to make a march, but there was something pushing those people to keep on surviving. Elie had witnessed another father and son in the group, however they did not have a bond like his. Starvation drives people to their limits sometimes and cannot handle themselves. Meir was beating up his own father for some crumbs of bread, meanwhile the father is pleading with his son to not kill him, “Meir, my little Meir! Don’t you recognize me… you’re killing your father… I have bread… for you too… for you too…” (Wiesel 101). Then, he searched his father’s body just for the crumbs, however other prisoners jumped on top of Meir, looking for the same miniscule crumbs. For Elie, he dreamed about soup and
Night and The Book Thief
In Elie Wiesel's Night, the first person narrator, Elie Wiesel, lets the reader to be able to have a firsthand account of the Holocaust and World War II and also explain what evil can do to a person. Elie is "a body. Perhaps less than that even; a starved stomach. The stomach alone was aware of the passage of time" (Wiesel 50). When he faces the "Angel of Death," Dr. Mengele, he is so scarred that he shall never "forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned [his] life into one long night seven times sealed. ... Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. ... Never" (34). The impact of these lines cause readers to experience the evils that the Germans decided to expose to the Jewish when they brought
Imagery In Elie Wiesel's Night
Elie Wiesel writes a powerful and moving novel titled “Night” detailing his journey throughout what we now know today as the Holocaust while also bringing in elements of symbolism and imagery to strengthen the novel and deliver a story that is not only incredible but impactful as well. Throughout the book Elie slowly begins to lose his faith, his father, and his dignity which is shown through the symbol of night. "We were given no food. We lived on snow; it took place of the bread. The days were like nights, and the nights left the dregs of their darkness in our souls"(Wiesel 94).” In this quote Elie states what the nights would bring to the Jews which is darkness. This reveals his feelings of being alone with no God and the dark of night that
Dehumanization In Night
The holocaust is one of the world's most tragic events, approximately 6 million Jews died and the concentration camp Auschwitz is the world's largest human cemetery, yet it has no graves. In Elie Wiesel's autobiographical memoir Night, he writes about his dehumanizing journey in the concentration camp, Auschwitz. Firstly, Elie experiences the loss of love and belonging when he is separated from his mother, sisters, and eventually his father. Also, the lack of respect that the Nazis showed the prisoners which lead to the men, including Elie to feel a sense of worthlessness in the camp. Finally, the lack of basic necessities in the camp leads to the men physically experiencing dehumanization. As a result, all these factors contribute to the
Interpersonal Relationships In The Night By Elie Wiesel
The holocaust is the most deadly genocide in the world that impacted millions of life by controlling and running life because of one mean man. In Elie Wiesel memoir, The Night is describing his own experience before, during and after the holocaust. He describes in meticulous details his experience in the concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Buna with is father. Wiesel depicts how the Nazi slowly destructs every interpersonal relationship in the Jews community. Within the autobiography, Wiesel shows how the interpersonal relationships are important within the population in general, in the concentration camp and in more precisely with is own relationship with his family.
Elie Wiesel Relationships
The Holocaust destroyed many relationships between family members. In this horrific time period, survival meant that one had to abandon their dearest family and friends. In Night, Elie Wiesel lived in this nightmare where the Holocaust tore up the bonds of everyone around him.. He watches separation and abandonment and experiences it as well.
Night By Elie Wiesel Analysis
“To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”, said Elie Wiesel the author of night. Elie Wiesel is a holocaust survivor, he went through 5 different concentration camps. He was dehumanized, malnourished, and abused. He lost all his possessions, his family, and his humanity. In Elie Wiesel’s “Night”, the German Army dehumanizes Elie Wiesel and the jewish prisoners by depriving them of family, food, and self esteem.
Night- Elie Wiesel Practice Essay
Through-out the novel Night’, it is shown that under such cruel and heartless conditions that the prisoners begin to turn on each other. Such acts of violence not only from the Germans but also from fallow in-mates attack and sometimes kill one another. While for some they didn’t want to act in such horrific ways, but only to survive they didn’t what was needed. One of the first glimpses of how the prisoners would do what even it takes to survive even if it meet kill someone close to them was that of the son and father. On the train to Buchenwald, as it passes through German towns, some German works through a little bit of bread into the carts of the train, as the prisoners begin to fight over the bread the works get amused by it and begin to throw more. As a result of the bread being thrown on the train many die, to the amusement of the German works. One of the in-mates that die is through, prisoners turning on each other, the old man died as a result of his own son not having any will-power it overcome the temptation of being able to
Family Bond In Night By Elie Wiesel
In the book Night by Elie Wiesel the theme that I found in this book was family bond. In the book it talks about how the helps his father throughout the concentration camp. This shows you the family bond between the father and the son is strong even though he is questioning his religious belief. At the begin of the story they talk about how all the Jews were herded like cattle into these trains to the camps! I could see the father and son going to the camps by the train since I watched the film which also had to do with Jews and they were treated horribly I feel for the pain that they went through.
Elie Wiesel's Death: A Burden Or Relief?
In “Night”, by Elie Wiesel, two things drove Wiesel through the struggles of the concentration camps. One was the hope to get through the Holocaust alive with his father, and the other was the meager ration of bread and soup at his next meal. However, when his father died, Wiesel lost one of the most precious reasons to survive in the camps. At the same time, Wiesel’s subconscious felt slightly relieved that he was able to live without his father’s weight on his back.
Analysis Of The Concentration Camps In Night By Elie Wiesel
Suffering. Pain. Misery. Death. ALl the negative thoughts in Human minds, many that we never want to face. Pain can take a toll on you, physically and mentally. Yet, imagine someone facing those hardships in reality but, what if it was reality that we never wanted to face; so we pushed it to its limits? Elie Wiesel was one of the many to face this tragic reality in Auschwitz, in the Concentration Camps, during the Holocaust...The pain of the Holocaust, the suffering of being ripped apart from your loved ones, to the mental and physical scars left by not only the S.S officers; but the horrors seen from the eyes of the purest souls. In the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel, Elie opens up the locked chest in his heart to tell us the horrifying experience that brought many to tears, otherwise known as The Concentration Camps and how
Related Topics
- The Holocaust
- Elie Wiesel
- Nazi Germany
- Auschwitz concentration camp
This Analytical Essay Outline Will Kick Start Your Writing
You’ve been staring at your blank computer screen for what feels like hours, trying to figure out how to start your analytical essay. You try to choose between writing the introduction first or getting right into the meat of it. But somehow, it seems too difficult to do either.
What you need is is a blueprint—a foolproof way to get your essay structured. Then all you have to do is fill in the blanks.
What an Analytical Essay Is—And What It Isn’t
Helpful, right? Um, not so much.
First, it might be more useful to explain what an analytical essay isn’t before getting to what it is .
An analytical essay isn’t a summary. Though this may seem obvious in theory, it’s more difficult in practice. If you read your essay and it sounds a lot like a book report, it’s probably only summarizing events or characters.
One way to figure out if you’re summarizing instead of analyzing is to look at your support. Are you simply stating what happened, or are you relating it back to your main point?
Okay, so what is an analytical essay, exactly ?
Usually, it’s writing that has a more narrowed focus than a summary. Analytical essays usually concentrate on how the book or poem was written—for example, how certain themes present themselves in the story, or how the use of metaphor brings a certain meaning to a poem.
In short, this type of essay requires you to look at the smaller parts of the work to help shed light on the larger picture.
An example of a prompt—and the example I’m going to use for the rest of this post—could be something like: Analyze the theme of sacrifice in the Harry Potter series. (Note: there might be some spoilers, but I figured everyone who was planning on reading the books has done so already—or at least has seen the movies.)
One Way To Form Your Analytical Essay Outline
There are quite a few ways to organize your analytical essay, but no matter how you choose to write it, your essay should always have three main parts:
- Introduction
I’ll get into the nitty-gritty of this soon, but for all you visual learners, here is a nice representation of all the components that make a great analytical essay outline.
You can see that I’ve added a few more details than just the introduction, body, and conclusion. But hold your horses—we’re getting to those parts right now.
Introduction of Your Analytical Essay Outline
1. You gotta hook ‘em from the start. The first part of your introduction should draw the reader in. This is called the hook .
The hook should be interesting or surprising. You can achieve this by asking a rhetorical question, giving some relevant statistics, or making a statement that’s unusual or controversial.
For my Harry Potter example, I might say, “Since the publication of the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , some Christian groups have attacked the books for promoting witchcraft. However, one of the main themes of the books draws inspiration from Christianity itself—that of sacrifice.”
Okay, so that’s two sentences. But it’s got a little bit of controversy and relates to what the rest of the essay will discuss.
2. Get to the good stuff—write a killer thesis statement. Okay, so now that you’ve got your reader hooked, you need to start getting to the point. This is where the thesis statement comes in.
My thesis might be, “The theme of sacrifice is prevalent throughout the series and is embodied as sacrifice for the greater good, sacrifice for an ultimate gain, and sacrifice to keep a promise.”
3. It’s time to back up your thesis. Let the reader know how you’re going to prove your claim.
For my example, I would let the reader know that I intend to analyze the instances of Harry’s “death,” Voldemort’s sacrifice of his soul in exchange for immortality, and how Snape sacrifices in order to honor a promise made to Lily Potter.
These points will be the building blocks of the body paragraphs.
Body of Your Analytical Essay Outline
In the flowchart, there are three body paragraphs. But that’s because I was trained in the 5-paragraph outline . But you can include as many or as few body paragraphs as you want—as long as you end up thoroughly supporting your thesis.
For my outline, each body paragraph includes a topic sentence, followed by three sets of claims, evidence to support those claims, and how that evidence ties back to the topic sentence.
Again, three is not necessarily a magic number here. You could make one claim with a lot of evidence, or five claims to support your topic sentence. But let’s get into it, shall we?
1. Develop a strong topic sentence. Each topic sentence in each body paragraph of your analytical essay outline should tell the reader exactly what that section is going to be about.
My first body paragraph might start with, “Harry Potter is willing to fulfill prophecy and make the ultimate sacrifice—that of his life—in order to save the rest of the wizarding world.”
2. Make your claim. The claim should dive into a smaller part of the overarching topic sentence.
The topic sentence I gave can be broken down into several smaller claims—that Harry knew that he was fulfilling prophecy, that he was actually willing to die, and that his death would be of profound significance.
3. Provide evidence from the text to back your claim. You can’t just go around making claims without any support. You can use quotes or paraphrase parts of the text to add evidence.
For evidence that Harry knew that he was fulfilling prophecy, you could cite the instance in the hall of prophecies with the quote, “and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.”
4. Tie that evidence to the topic sentence. You have to make it absolutely clear why you included the evidence. If you don’t, your analytical essay runs the risk of being a summary.
For example, with the citing of the prophecy, I would tell the reader that Harry and his friends found said prophecy and figured out that it had to be about him (although there are objections that it could’ve been referring to Neville, but we’ll leave that out of this example). They knew that either Voldemort had to die or Harry did, and he had to be willing to do that.
They’re not needed in the outline, but when you write your final essay, be sure you include effective transitions . This will help your essay flow.
Conclusion of Your Analytical Essay Outline
The conclusion should be a brief restatement of your main points without being a direct copy.
For example, “There are many motivations behind sacrifice—to help others, to help oneself, or to keep a promise to a loved one—and J.K. Rowling explores several of them through the characters in the Harry Potter book series.”
This, of course, does not suffice as a full conclusion. To fill it out and give the reader a sense of closure, you can relate the theme to the real world or end with a final quote from the text or the author.
Use This Downloadable Analytical Essay Outline as a Guide
Easy, right? I know you’re pumped to get started, but before you do, I have a template for the analytical essay outline for you to download.
Download the Analytical Essay Outline Template PDF Download the Analytical Essay Outline Template (.doc)
Of course, your instructor’s directions will trump mine, so if they say to do something a specific way, I won’t be offended if you take their advice over mine.
Need more help? Check out these analytical essay examples .
And don’t forget about the Kibin editors . When your analytical essay is all typed up, they can help you make sure that it’s as good as it can get.
Now… get to it!
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .
About the Author
Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. Along with her BS in marketing from Florida State University and MA in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University, she has spent the past 7 years learning how best to reach and teach people using the power of words. When she's not working, she's constantly trying to expand her creativity through music, writing, art, and animation.
- analytical essay
Essay Introduction
An introduction is typically the opening paragraph of your essay. It presents an idea to the readers. Basically, it answers the questions, what is this essay about?
As the selling point of your essay, an introduction should invoke curiosity and invite the reader to keep reading through your essay. Therefore, it is necessary to use the right wording in your introduction.
What is the purpose of an introduction in essay writing ?
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The intro paragraph is the best opportunity to convince your audience that you have something worthwhile to say.
Its roles include:
- Get the reader’s attention – From it that readers understand what your essay is all about and decide whether to continue reading or not. Your role is to ensure you retain their attention. Make them want to find out more.
- Introduce the topic – Make your audience get a grasp of what you intend to discuss. But you don’t want to give it all out – just a tidbit of what’s to come. In essence, an intro is a highlight of what’s in the main content. So, the reader has to go through the other sections to find out more about the topic.
- It tells the relevance of the article to the audience – It states why you wrote the essay and what you aim to achieve. So, give your goal and snip your essay in this segment.
- It hosts the thesis statement – A thesis statement describes the purpose and the plan of the whole essay. When the writing prompt is a question, your thesis is typically the answer to the question.
- Outlines the main points – List three points or arguments that support your thesis in order of importance.
Parts on an introduction
There are three parts to an introduction, namely:
- An opening statement – Begin a question or a hook that attracts the reader’s attention. This can be the inspiration you had to start writing.
- Topic statement – Follow the opening statement by introducing your topic and giving supporting sentences that connect the hook to the thesis. They make the reader aware or prepared to read the next part.
- Thesis statement that states the purpose and plan of the whole essay.Whereas the topic sentence introduces the main idea, the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph introduces the topic and the main points of a whole essay.
A thesis statement takes the last position in the introductory section. It precisely summarises the introduction in one sentence, and may be reiterated elsewhere in the essay. It serves the following purposes;
- Tells the reader the topic of the essay.
- Lists the points the writer is going to make in the essay.
- Sets the tone of the essay.
How to write an essay introduction in 5 simple steps
The process of starting writing an essay or writing an essay introduction can be broken down into 5 steps namely:
- Hook your reader.
- Give background information.
- Present your thesis statement .
- Map your essay’s structure.
- Check and revise.
These steps will help you learn not only how to write a good essay introduction, but also how to start an essay introduction which is critical to writing effective college essays.
Step 1: Hook your reader.
This involves making the reader interested in the topic at hand and what you want them to know about it. You can accomplish this through an essay hook – by using strong and vibrant language that catches the reader’s attention and makes them want to read further. Focus on showing off your best work in the hook and make sure it is relevant and interesting.
Types of essay hooks include:
- An anecdote, which is a short personal story that can be funny or interesting.
- An interesting fact, which is important to what you are writing about and can give the reader a new perspective on it.
- A question that your readers will be curious about the answer to.
- Facts and statistics.
- Quotes – whether from known or unknown sources.
For more information on how to start an essay introduction using a good hook – essay hook examples .
Step 2: Give background information
Providing background information is important because the reader needs to know if they are familiar with your topic or not. You can tell them whether you are going to provide further information about it, link your ideas to theirs, or simply act as an introduction to your essay topic .
Step 3: Present your thesis statement.
This is the most important part of the entire paper and should guide you in all future steps. As such, make sure that it is clear and precise – do not confuse it with background information nor make it too vague; once written, stick with this original idea throughout. Furthermore, you will need to support this thesis claim in each paragraph argument by providing evidence for why it is true after introducing what you want people to take away from reading your work.
Step 4: Map your essay’s structure.
This is very important to ensure that you know what your paper will look like in the end. You can map out each paragraph, write an outline for how each paragraph should be structured, or even write down the introduction and conclusion. Make sure you check over your map afterwards to make sure all of it makes sense because this stage really helps you stay on track throughout writing your essay.
Remember that most academic essays requires you to follow a specific essay structure .
Step 5: Check and revise.
Once everything is written, review your work thoroughly by checking for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Remember to also go back to your thesis statement before beginning any revisions – evaluate whether or not it still holds true at the end of writing your paper.
Here is a guide on: how to revise an essay .
Tips when writing a good essay introduction paragraph
You can start with an outline and then get to the entire essay writing . The best approach is to write a good essay introduction and the conclusion paragraphs. Here are a few simple tips any student can apply to his writing;
- Keep your first sentence short –Short sentences are easy and encouraging to read.
- Don’t repeat the title – The reader already read the title. Don’t make them read it over and over again.
- Keep the introduction brief – A long introduction makes the reader lose interest in your essay. Thus, a short one will suffice.
- Use the word “you” at least once – Using the word you create an impression that you are addressing the reader directly. It puts them invites them to your space making them comfortable.
- Dedicate 1-2 sentences to articulating what the article covers – This would otherwise be referred to as a thesis. Make the reader understand what the article is about.
- Refer to a concern or problem your readers might have – Every field has its problems. Use this part to point out the problem that your article will be addressing.
- Use a statistics or fact to convey importance – Make your essay believable by stating statistics or facts. It will draw your reader in and show them why your topic is really important.
What Styles should I Use in Writing an Introduction?
Below are a few styles that could come in handy in writing the introduction.
- Use an anecdote – An intriguing narrative that gives a hint as to what the article is about excites your readers.
- Share something personal – Sharing something personal in an introduction can pique a visitor’s curiosity.
- Ask a question – Sometimes a compelling question is a hook your piece needs.
You shouldn’t have to spend much time writing an introduction. I would say it is the easiest part of your essay but I know that not everyone agrees. However, I hope that after reading this, writing your introduction becomes even easier.
Related : Self introduction essay for college example , who am I essay example , and essay about myself examples .
Let us now review some essay introduction examples.
Essay Introduction Examples
What is an example of a good essay introduction?
Here are some essay introduction paragraph examples that you can use to learn how to write good academic essays.
Argumentative essay introduction example
Below is an example of an argumentative essay introduction paragraph:
An argumentative essay introduction paragraph example 1: Preventing chronic diseases without changing our lifestyle
Is it possible to prevent chronic diseases without changing our lifestyle? The answer seems to be no. Even though the primary reason for this is that people are simply not aware of how dangerous smoking or obesity can be, there is another factor that plays a crucial role in the situation as well – human nature. People are quite reluctant when it comes to making changes; they would rather stick with what they know.
- 1st sentence sets up your argument (in this case, “The answer seems to be no”) and introduces your thesis statement (in this case “people are simply not aware of how dangerous smoking or obesity can be”).
- 2nd sentence gives an example (“Even though…”) in order to support your position. Here you could add another example, such as the rising number of obesity cases.
- 3rd sentence begins to transition into your argumentative essay structure by introducing a counterargument (in this case “there is another factor that plays a crucial role in the situation”). This part of the paragraph can conclude with a thesis statement which refutes your initial position (in this case, “…people are quite reluctant when it comes to making changes; they would rather stick with what they know.”
Read more: Argumentative essay introduction examples
A argumentative essay introduction paragraph example (pdf)
Persuasive essay introduction example
Below is an example of a persuasive essay introduction paragraph:
“ Many people are aware of the importance of eating healthy, but they often disregard this knowledge when it comes to their everyday dietary decisions. While most adults recognize that wholesome foods provide the body with vital nutrients, many will still choose fast food over a home-cooked meal. This is not an uncommon scenario in today’s world. “
This persuasive essay introduction example sets up the paper by clearly explaining the topic and providing some insight into what will be discussed in more detail later on. The author also includes general information about her subject matter before moving into specific examples that she will cover later on in the essay.
The author uses rhetorical devices such as parallel structure, transitional words and phrases such as “while,” and “but,” and appeals to ethos by addressing the reader directly.
Read more – persuasive essay introduction examples
Expository essay introduction examples
Below is an example of an expository essay introduction paragraph:
“ A close reading of “The Odyssey” reveals that Odysseus’s character undergoes significant changes throughout this epic poem. After the blinding of his fellow warrior, Palamedes, for allegedly taking credit for Odysseus clever ploy to end the Trojan war; he becomes cold and callous to those around him. We first see him as a compassionate friend in Book 4 when he risks his life to save his crew members from the sea god, Poseidon. However, after Palamedes’ murder by Odysseus’ hand (which many scholars believe was done without Zeus’ consent), the hero becomes ruthless and power hungry. This change is evident when he refuses to speak with his father, Laertes, who is on his deathbed. “
This expository essay introduction example sets up the paper by giving general information about its subject matter. The author introduces the topic of her paper and provides some insight into what will be discussed in more detail later on. The author also includes specific examples that she will cover later on in the essay.
The author uses transitional words and phrases such as “first,” “however,” and “this change” along with rhetorical devices such as parallel structure to help set up for her thesis statement which appears toward of the end of this introductory paragraph.
See more: expository essay introduction examples
Narrative essay introduction example
Here is an example of a narrative essay introduction paragraph:
“One of my most memorable experiences with sports happened just after I joined the soccer team in middle school. My first game ever was one that I wouldn’t soon forget.”
This short narrative essay introduction paragraph sample sets up the paper by clearly explaining the topic, providing some insight into what will be discussed in more detail later on, and gives specific examples to help illustrate this topic. The author also includes her own personal experience to set up for her thesis statement which appears toward the end of this introductory paragraph.
The author uses transitional words and phrases such as “one of my most memorable experiences,” rhetorical devices such as parallel structure, and appeals to ethos by giving specific narrative essay introduction examples about herself to try to gain credibility.
Compare and contrast essay introduction examples
Here is a compare and contrast essay introduction example that starts off by presenting the two broad areas of concern that will be discussed in this paper.
Two arguments have been going on for centuries, and both have a lot to do with government – one being if we need a universal health care plan in the United States and the other being whether or not certain information should be censored from public knowledge. In 2008 President Barack Obama said he wanted to have a “universal” health care system put into place within his first term as president. He is currently working towards achieving this goal through democratic efforts in Congress. Putting together a nationalized health care system hasn’t been an easy task because it has faced much opposition from Republicans who say too many Americans would end up getting medical coverage taken away or that taxes would need to be raised. President Obama has worked on his plan with physicians and healthcare professionals, but he has come up against some very strong opposition from the GOP.
On the other side of this health care issue, there are people who feel that certain information in fiction should not be available in public libraries or schools for children to read when they get older. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this argument because it does seem like censorship to ban Harry Potter books from school curriculums and public libraries these days since Harry Potter is such a huge phenomenon. Having thousands of children dressed up as wizards go around saying “Expecto Patronum” seems almost harmless at this point given all of the advancements in technology over recent years, but for parents of young children it might seem far more sinister.
Learn : compare and contrast essay introduction examples
Informative essay introduction examples
Here is an example of an informative essay introduction:
Coffee caffeine content has been debated for many years, and it seems that a consensus on the truth of this matter still eludes us. Many people firmly believe that coffee does not have any caffeine in it at all while others swear by its existence. However, some scientific studies have shown that there is caffeine in most if not all types of coffee. This means that whether or not you can feel the stimulating effects of your cup of coffee depends solely on how much caffeine it contains.
In this particular informative essay introduction example , we are introduced to a debatable topic, given an overview about what it is all about, and presented with a subjective claim. This first paragraph of the essay gives us an idea of what to expect in the rest of it.
Learn : informative essay introduction examples
Personal essay introduction examples
Here is an example of a personal essay introduction.
When I was a child, I thought my voice had magical powers. Being a Gemini, I firmly believed that the first time I opened my mouth to speak as Taurus would be nothing short of transformative. In those days, people paid special attention to me when they heard me rambling on about things no eight year-old should have been worried about at all. The world was full of infinite possibilities and potential for wonderment; the world was mine for the taking if only I wanted it badly enough, but I never did.
Learn : personal essay introduction examples
Reflective essay introduction example
Below is a reflective essay introduction paragraph example:
“The night of the accident, I was driving home from my family’s house. It was late and I thought that I would beat the rush-hour traffic. Unfortunately, when I turned onto the street where I lived there was a car stopped in front of me.”
Reflective essay writing is meant to help you explore an idea or concept, usually something you have experienced. A reflective essay introduction should be engaging but should not provide too much detail about what will come later in your paper. There are several things that should be mentioned in your introductory paragraph, though they are fairly brief. For example, you could mention who you are, where you are coming from (i.e., what other experiences you have had with this topic), and why you are interested in this topic.
Learn : How to write a reflective essay introduction paragraph .
Analytical essay introduction example
Below is an example of an analytical essay introduction:
Rousseau’s purpose in writing his book “Emile or On Education” was to introduce a new system of education that he believed would yield a harmonious, productive society if children were allowed to develop naturally and freely. Rousseau (1999) states: Under such conditions, they will make up their own games; they will sing without quavers; they will run without falls; there will be no need for teachers. Will these children grow up savage like those raised by animals? No, but like those raised by men (p.185).
Learn – analytical essay introduction examples
Synthesis essay introduction example
Below is a sample synthesis essay introduction paragraph:
Today, one in eight American adults struggles with a serious mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than thirteen percent of all American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. In fact, there are over forty million Americans living today who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition. These numbers reveal that millions of people will face challenges associated with their illnesses at some point in their lives and may need additional care beyond what they can provide themselves. Though researchers work tirelessly to discover new drugs and treatment methods for patients struggling with a wide variety of conditions, many who could benefit from these therapies never seek help due to stigma. People who struggle with psychiatric disorders often find themselves increasingly isolated as the severity of symptoms erodes any desire they may have to socialize and engage with the world around them.
Learn – synthesis essay examples
Comparative essay introduction examples
Below is a sample comparative essay introduction paragraph:
“At the time of the invention of automobiles, trains were among the main modes of transport. Trains had a number of advantages over automobiles such as being able to travel long distances without stopping and reaching their destination faster. However, cars have now become a dominant form of transport because they are often seen as ‘personal’ transportation while trains are for transporting groups or goods.”
In this opening paragraph, there is no introduction to any particular argument from either side. Instead it includes facts about both forms of transit in order to frame the debate between them. It defines what each mode is and briefly mentions their various advantages and disadvantages. In essence, it provides context for which the argument will be based upon.
Learn : comparative essay introduction paragraph examples
Research essay introduction example
Below is a sample research essay introduction paragraph:
“More than 20 million Americans, most of them under the age of 65, do not have any health insurance.”
This sentence is part of the introductory paragraph to an article about the lack of affordable health care in America. This specific topic sentence introduces information that will be discussed further in later paragraphs.
The sentence provides readers with background information on one problem involving the issue of American healthcare. The authors also use this sentences to convey their own opinion on how they feel about this issue. Introductory sentences can vary in function and purpose depending on what type of text is being read. However, all introductions should clearly state what you are discussing or present important information that will be developed upon later in your writing piece.
Cause and effect essay introduction example
Below is a sample cause-and-effect essay introduction paragraph:
“ Whether it’s the impact of climate change or the spread of a virus, when one thing affects another negatively, that’s known as cause and effect. “
This is an example of a cause and effect essay introduction. An example cause and effect essay introduction should be introspective and tell the reader what he/she will learn from reading your article.
You can use this structure to create your own cause and effect essay introduction:
“In this article, you will learn about _____.” Using this quick intro you can get straight to the point and capture your audience’s attention right away.
Learn : Cause and effect essay introduction examples
Cause and Effect Essay Introduction Paragraph Example 2
Here is another sample introducing paragraph for a cause and effect essay :
Everyone has experienced an effect of something, whether it was positive or negative. There are two types of effects: a cause and an effect. A cause is something that initiates or starts a chain reaction that can lead to a certain end. An effect is what the result is, after a cause has been set in motion.
History essay introduction example
Below is a sample history essay introduction paragraph:
“In the mid-1500s, a new trend developed in France called salons. These gatherings were used by women to discuss their similar views and opinions on art, music, literature and other influential discourses. One such salon was held at the home of Catherine de Medici.”
To learn how to write an essay in history, use the following sources:
- How to write a history essay .
- How to write an analytical history essay .
- How to write a personal history essay .
- History research topics
References:
- Writing an essay introduction – Research & Learning Online
- Essay Introductions | UMGC
- Introductions & Conclusions | UAGC Writing Center
- Introductions – UNC Writing Center
- Writing an Effective Introduction
- Essay Structure | – Harvard College Writing Center
- Resources for Writers: Introduction Strategies – MIT …
- Writing Effective Introductions – Valencia College
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- Counter argument essay, structure & examples
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- How to Write an Analytical Essay
- How to Write an Analytical Essay With Ease
What Is an Analytical Essay?
The purpose.
- Steps to Follow When Writing an Analytical Essay
Choosing a Topic
Analytical thesis statement.
Supporting evidence
How to outline an analytical essay
Introduction, body paragraphs, analytical essay example, students also ask.
- What is an analytical style of writing?
- What is the difference between an analytical essay and a descriptive essay?
How many paragraphs are in an analytical essay?
- What is an analytical paragraph?
- How to be analytical when writing an essay?
If you want to write an outstanding analytical essay, you need much more than just a good subject to explore. While having a captivating topic is important, your analysis paper also needs to be properly structured and include all key elements in order to stand out. In this article, you will learn how to write a strong thesis statement, organize your ideas and support your argument with decent evidence.
An analytical essay is a type of writing that provides a thorough analysis of a subject supported by evidence. The name is self-explanatory - working on this type of essay requires solid analytical skills and sound reasoning. You may be assigned to analyze a book, a poem, a movie, a historical event, or even scientific research.
In order to write a great analysis paper, a student needs to put the key elements into play. Some of the most important features typical for an analytical essay include:
A strong thesis statement
A compelling claim that needs to be proven
Comprehensive analysis of a text or an issue
Supporting evidence that backs up your analysis
Below, we have compiled some useful tips on including these characteristics in your analytical essay. Keep reading our article to master your writing skills or simply contact our company, and we will be glad to help you with any assignment upon ' write essay for me ' request.
Unlike a descriptive essay, which requires you to summarize the facts, the primary task of analytical writing is to investigate your topic from opposing perspectives. In order to stick to the objective of the analysis paper, it is advised to break a topic into smaller parts. This way you will be able to narrow down your analysis and research each separate point. As a result, it will be easy to introduce both pros and cons of the given issue.
So instead of retelling the whole plot, you will need to examine how a literary work influences the audience. For example, when writing an analytical essay about a book, you should analyze the literary terms and devices used in it, and explain how the work impacts the readers.
Steps to Follow When Writing an Analytical Essay
There are several steps you need to follow in order to create a perfect analytical essay. Below, you can find some useful tips that will help you get started.
- Identify the main purpose of your analysis. Keep in mind that your attempt to cover every single aspect in your essay may do more harm than good. Try to focus on the primary goal of your analysis.
- Choose a topic. If you don't have any topic assigned to you, try to pick a memorable one. It should focus on a narrow subject. At the same time, it should be an easy topic to research . After all, you don't want to spend hours looking for necessary details.
- Craft a strong thesis statement. This means that your thesis should be clear enough to understand what the whole analysis essay will be about, and catchy enough to grab your reader's attention. Remember that each paragraph of your paper should be in line with the thesis statement.
- Split up the issue into smaller parts. At this point, you need to conduct a thorough research of your topic. Instead of targeting a complex subject at once, it's better to examine each individual point separately. This will allow you to gain a deep understanding of the chosen issue. Make sure to cover both positive and negative aspects.
- Support your analysis with examples. Now, it’s time to find supporting evidence to back up your writing. Try to come up with at least one example for each main point related to the topic.
- Create a scheme. Now that you have both the thesis statement and main points shovel-ready, your next step is to prepare a clear outline of your analytical essay. Most likely you will be asked to write a typical five paragraph essay . Regardless how many paragraphs you decide to include, remember that your essay has to be as long as needed to provide a comprehensive analysis.
Coming up with a catchy topic for an analysis essay is a deciding step in the writing process. A carefully chosen topic may directly enhance your text quality. Besides, it serves two purposes - on the one hand, an essay title gives you an idea on how to do analysis, and on the other hand, it catches the reader's attention. Therefore, you have to do your best to select an engaging topic for your analytical essay.
Below are some helpful tips on choosing a great title :
Stick to the purpose of analytical writing
Pick a subject or an issue that you are most interested in
Conduct research to ensure that you will be able to make a deep analysis
Make sure that the topic is narrow enough
Choose a title that clearly states the theme of your paper
No analysis paper is complete without a compelling thesis statement. Wonder how to make a thesis statement ? A well-crafted analytical thesis should summarize the argument you have decided to make. This way it will give you a clear vision on how to explore a subject. Be specific and try to avoid vague sentences. Remember, the thesis should be only 1-2 sentences long, and, yet, it needs to grasp the central idea of the entire paper.
So what is the best thesis for an analytical essay? It depends on the topic and position the student has towards the offered issue. Take on a strong stance , especially if you want to persuade the reader, such as in the example below :
Example “The symbolism in JD Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” adds the feeling of melancholia and uncertainty during the entire course of the novel.”
It is a great thesis for an analytical literary paper because it contains all necessary elements.
First of all, the thesis has a strong claim and allows us to analyze the novel.
The argument is debatable , meaning that you pick a side that needs to be proven by supportive examples.
Besides, the subject is narrow and, thus, can be explored in detail.
As you start writing an analytical essay on this topic, you can examine different literary devices and methods that can support your main point of view. Below is another example of great analytical thesis used for History class:
Example “Although there are many causes of the 1st World War, it is burgeoning nationalism that formed the sense of hatred and provoked the War’s start.”
This thesis statement on a historical event contains all key features, and thus can serve as a solid foundation of the future analysis:
It introduces a subject and a claim of the future analysis.
Notice that this thesis statement doesn't sound general .
The claim is precise and to-the-point.
So before starting an analytical paper, try to narrow the thesis down based on the chosen subject as shown above.
Whether you choose to examine a book or a poem, it is essential that you always support analysis with decent examples. With the help of convincing evidence you will be able to communicate your ideas effectively. However, all supporting examples only work when used properly. This means that you have to choose only that textual evidence that is directly tied to your thesis.
There are several types of effective evidence that may help you enhance your literary analysis:
Summary. Including a brief summary of events enables a full understanding of your analysis. There is no need to summarize an entire plot. Instead, you may want to highlight only relevant information that helps understand a key point.
Particular detail. Any literary work has various explicit details that allow the readers to grasp a central idea. As you make a textual analysis, try to focus on specific details and do not forget to mention them in your analytical essay.
Direct quotation. The masterful use of direct quotations makes an analysis credible. Just like with any other type of supporting examples, make sure that you specify how a chosen quotation is linked to your point.
Paraphrase. Another great way to support your analysis is to paraphrase important information in your essay. You may apply this technique in case a direct quotation is too long. Be sure to interpret the main idea in your own words and explain how it relates to the argument.
Consider the use of the textual examples mentioned above to improve the quality of your analysis essay and make it more powerful.
Knowing how to write an analytical essay outline is the half job done. This will help you put things in the right order . With a well-structured essay outline, you will be able to keep all your ideas in your head, and thus never forget to include any important details. A good outline will help you create a logical and coherent analysis paper, so your readers will be able to understand it well.
There are various ways to organise the outline. However, no matter how you decide to structure your analytical paper, it must include three important parts: an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion . Depending on the requirements, a student can write a 3-paragraph or 5-paragraph essay.
The introduction of an analytical essay should get the audience involved in reading your paper. Remember that the introduction should be like a road map for your readers . They need to know where your analytical paper will take them and what things they will be able to learn while reading it.
Generally, there are three main things that your analytical introduction should contain:
A hook sentence that grabs attention.
Background information on the subject
A powerful thesis statement
A brief explanation of how you're going to prove your thesis
The best way to create an introduction for an analytical essay is to start with an engaging hook sentence . Remember you won't have a second chance to impress your readers. There is a full array of ways to catch the reader's attention, such as starting with a rhetorical or provocative question, a joke, a quote, a surprising fact, statistics, or even combining several things.
Once your hook sentence is ready, you will need to give brief background information on the matter. Make sure that you inform your audience about your analytical paper's subject. Next, write down your carefully prepared thesis statement that tells why your analytical work matters.
Finally, you have to explain how you will be proving your claim . If you are going to write a paper about a book, you need to focus your argument on which literary methods the author has used. If your essay is about a historical event, make sure to analyze why those events happened. When you're required to create an analytical essay about scientific findings or research, use scientific methods to make your analysis.
A standard analytical paper contains three body paragraphs, each explaining a separate point of analysis. The main goal of the body part is to discuss each point of your analysis and support your thesis with compelling examples.
Based on the purpose of analytical essay writing, body paragraphs should contain the following key elements:
Topic sentence that presents the main point
The key point of your analysis
A transitional sentence that ties body paragraphs
Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces a key point. Once you come up with a great idea for that, you will need to provide an extensive analysis of the matter, justifying it with convincing examples. Find as much evidence as needed to fully prove your argument.
Ensure that the body of the paper logically leads to the conclusion . Do not forget to apply necessary transition words to show the relation between the paper paragraphs.
When it comes to the final point, you need to know how to conclude an analytical essay properly. Remember that the main purpose of a conclusion is to summarize your prior analysis . Make sure that you don't introduce new ideas in the closing paragraph of your essay. Instead, you may want to remind your audience which methods you have used to prove your claim.
A good analytical conclusion should include the following information:
A brief summary of your analysis
Rephrased analytical thesis statement
Final thoughts on the issue
First of all, start your conclusion with a short summary of the main points explained in the body paragraphs. Next step is to paraphrase a thesis statement presented in the introductory paragraph. The closing sentence of the entire paper should end with your final thoughts on the subject matter. You can use a recommendation, explanation, or a hook sentence to finish your analysis paper. Using essay conclusion examples is always useful for writing this part of your work.
Now that you are familiar with all steps of analytical writing, we offer you to have a look at a completed paper. A sample below shows you how a finished version should look like. Pay attention to the outline of this analytical paper, its thesis statement, key points and supportive evidence.
What is an analytical style of writing?
Analytical writing style is a type of writing that requires a comprehensive analysis of a literary work or an event. Analytical writing presents the interpretation of an issue based on the textual evidence. Before writing an analytical essay you need to do a thorough research of your topic and find key points that need to be analyzed.
What is the difference between an analytical essay and a descriptive essay?
The major difference between an analytical essay and a descriptive essay lies in the purpose of writing. While analytical essays should include a claim, or an argument, backed up by supportive examples, descriptive essays require you to summarize a literary work or write a movie synopsis. Even though both types of essays must emphasize the key points, analytical writing involves making a deep analysis of a chosen subject, but not writing a summary.
A standard analytical essay should contain 5 paragraphs, each having special analysis components:
Introduction with brief background information and a thesis statement
3 body paragraphs that provide an analysis on each separate point along with supporting evidence
Conclusion with all covered points and a paraphrased thesis statement.
What is an analytical paragraph?
In an analysis paper, an analytical paragraph means a body part. As a rule, it contains three body paragraphs that present a deep analysis of the key points along with supportive evidence. When writing an analytical paragraph you should aim to justify the thesis stated in the introductory paragraph.
How to be analytical when writing an essay?
Analysis paper requires strong analytical skills. In order to be more analytical in writing you need to identify the central idea of a text, pay attention to special details and interpret them in your essay. Focus on the key points of a literary work and relate them to your thesis statement. Do not forget to make a conclusion explaining your main findings.
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How to Make a Strong Introduction for a Literary Analysis Essay
The introduction is the first thing your reader will encounter in your literary analysis essay, so it's essential that you write clearly and concisely. Literary analysis requires the writer to carefully follow a theme, motif, character development or stylistic element and examine its importance within the context of the book. Because literary analysis depends on the writer's interpretation of the text, it's often necessary to convince the reader of your point of view. Writing a strong introduction to your essay will help launch your reader into your main points.
Begin writing the introduction after you have completed your literary analysis essay. This may seem counter-intuitive, but once you have finished enumerating and explaining your main points, you'll be better able to identify what they share in common, which you can introduce in the first paragraph of your essay. You can also begin writing the introduction after completing your in-depth outline of the essay, where you lay out your main points and organize your paper before you begin writing.
Start your introduction with a grabber. In a literary analysis essay, an effective grabber can be a short quote from the text you're analyzing that encapsulates some aspect of your interpretation. Other good grabbers are quotes from the book's author regarding your paper's topic or another aspect relevant to the text and how you interpreted it. Place the quote in quotation marks as the first sentence of the introductory paragraph. Your next sentence should identify the speaker and context of the quotation, as well as briefly describing how the quote relates to your literary analysis.
Keep the body of your introduction relatively short. A paragraph in a literary analysis essay should be between eight and 12 sentences long. In the introduction, write three to four sentences generally describing the topic of your paper and explaining why it is interesting and important to the book you read. These three or four sentences will make up the bulk of your introductory paragraph. Use these sentences to sketch the main points that you describe in greater detail in the body of your essay.
Finish your introductory paragraph with your thesis statement. The thesis statement clearly states the main point of your paper as a whole. It can be one sentence long or span two sentences, but it should always be the very last part of the introductory paragraph. For a five-paragraph essay with three body paragraphs, write one sentence identifying your paper's main point. In the second sentence, called the blueprint, identify the three main topics of each body paragraph and how they support your thesis. For more advanced literary analysis essays, it's not always necessary to enumerate explicitly the main point of each body paragraph as part of your thesis statement. Focus instead on clearly and concisely stating the driving force behind your paper's organization and development.
- It can be useful to finish writing your paper, including your concluding paragraph, before you tackle the introduction. The conclusion and the introduction should contain the same content, stated differently. In the conclusion, you can sum up the main points of your essay and explain how and why they are important to the book and to your interpretation of the text. Your introduction can then be a reworked paraphrasing of your conclusion, and you can rest assured that you haven't left anything out.
Things You'll Need
- City Colleges of Chicago: A Proper Introduction
- BookRags: How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay
Goody Clairenstein has been a writer since 2004. She has sat on the editorial board of several non-academic journals and writes about creative writing, editing and languages. She has worked in professional publishing and news reporting in print and broadcast journalism. Her poems have appeared in "Small Craft Warnings." Clairenstein earned her Bachelor of Arts in European languages from Skidmore College.
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A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay. It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect. The main goals of an introduction are to: Catch your reader's attention. Give background on your topic. Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.
What Is an Analytical Essay? An analytical essay is a piece of writing that provides substantive analysis of a topic. Analysis papers can be written about art, music, literary works, current events, historical events, politics, scientific research, and philosophy, among other topics.
An introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of an essay, paper, or other type of academic writing. Argumentative essays, book reports, research papers, and even personal essays are common types of writing that require an introduction paragraph.
The first thing to consider is the analytical essay format. An analytical essay is usually between 500 and 1,000 words, which means that it can follow the classic five paragraph format of essays with an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.
An analytical essay is an essay that meticulously and methodically examines a single topic to draw conclusions or prove theories. Although they are used in many fields, analytical essays are often used with art and literature to break down works' creative themes and explore their deeper meanings and symbolism.
The purpose of an analytical essay is to propose and support an argument. By analyzing the material on which the essay is based, the essay writer should develop a position regarding the accuracy of the original information. The introduction is one of the most important parts of an analytical essay.
Analysis Essay: Introduction Start with a startling statement or provocative question. Example: "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.
An analytical essay is one of the most common types of essay that students are assigned to draft in high schools. This form of writing requires skills that not every student possesses. When you are assigned this essay, it is advised that you go through a few good examples.
An introductory paragraph, as the opening of a conventional essay , composition, or report, is designed to grab people's attention. It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. In short, the opening paragraph is your chance to make a great first impression.
Example Question 1: Below is a graph given showing birth and death rates in a country from 1901 to 2101. Write an analytical paragraph (100-150 words). Answer 1: The graph shows birth and death rates starting from 1901 till 2101. Since 1901, the birth rate has remained more than the death rate until 2041.
Introduction: Any analytical paper must include a well-written opening that engages the reader from the outset. The reader reads the introduction first; therefore, it should provide a favorable first impression. ... Body Of Analytical Essay: The first paragraph of your essay's body should provide readers with a general overview of the topics ...
Read more: How To Write a Good Introduction to an Essay. Body paragraphs. While an analytical research paper could be much longer, a five-paragraph essay will have three body paragraphs (the introduction and conclusion being the other two). Regardless of length, each paragraph will start with a topic sentence that supports the thesis, whereas ...
A typical structure for a high school literary analysis essay consists of five paragraphs: the three paragraphs of the body, plus the introduction and conclusion. Each paragraph in the main body should focus on one topic. In the five-paragraph model, try to divide your argument into three main areas of analysis, all linked to your thesis.
Analytical Essay Introduction. The introduction of the essay is the kick-start of your entire essay. It should be attention-grabbing and attract the reader's interest. ... In the analytical essay, each paragraph should be not so long nor too short. Connect your body paragraphs with the topic sentence and be specific when you state your main ...
An analytical essay outline is similar to the traditional essay outline of five paragraphs. According to this five-paragraph format, the essay is divided into the following sections: Introduction; Body Paragraph 1; Body Paragraph 2; Body paragraph 3; Conclusion ; The researched information about the specific topic needs to be organized.
5 USING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE The skillful use of textual evidence -- summary, paraphrase, specific detail, and direct quotations-- can illustrate and support the ideas you are developing in your essay. However, textual evidence should be used judiciously and only when it directly
Introductory Paragraph Analysis. Hunger. Emptiness. Death. In the novel Night by Elie wiesel speaks about hunger as something all jews were used to, empty and deprived of nutrition they were already dead. Hunger consumes all hope and love that people have with one another. In Night, hunger devours most relationships within the vile gates of ...
Argumentative Essays. The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.Please note: Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and the expository essay.
Introduction of Your Analytical Essay Outline. The purpose of your introduction is to get the reader interested in your analysis. The introduction should include at least three things—a hook, your thesis statement, and a sentence or two describing how you intend to prove your thesis statement. 1. You gotta hook 'em from the start.
Learn: How to write a reflective essay introduction paragraph. Analytical essay introduction example. Below is an example of an analytical essay introduction: Rousseau's purpose in writing his book "Emile or On Education" was to introduce a new system of education that he believed would yield a harmonious, productive society if children ...
Depending on the requirements, a student can write a 3-paragraph or 5-paragraph essay. Introduction. The introduction of an analytical essay should get the audience involved in reading your paper. Remember that the introduction should be like a road map for your readers. They need to know where your analytical paper will take them and what ...
Step 3. Keep the body of your introduction relatively short. A paragraph in a literary analysis essay should be between eight and 12 sentences long. In the introduction, write three to four sentences generally describing the topic of your paper and explaining why it is interesting and important to the book you read.
When an analytical paragraph is in an essay as a body paragraph: TOPIC SENTENCE • introduces the topic of the evidence to be presented in this body paragraph • is clearly linked to the thesis ANALYSIS • develops the idea expressed in the topic sentence before evidence is introduced • answers questions(s) raised by the topic sentence