Passage Analysis
Analyzing a Passage
In writing about literature or any specific text, you will strengthen your discussion if you offer specific passages from the text as evidence. Rather than simply dropping in quotations and expecting their significance and relevance to your argument to be self-evident, you need to provide sufficient analysis of the passage. Remember that your over-riding goal of analysis writing is to demonstrate some new understanding of the text.
How to analyze a text?
1. | Read or reread the text with specific questions in mind. |
2. | Marshal basic ideas, events and names. Depending on the complexity of book, this requires additional review of the text. |
3. | Think through your personal reaction to the book: identification, enjoyment, significance, application. |
4. | Identify and consider most important ideas (importance will depend on context of class, assignment, study guide). |
5. | Return to the text to locate specific evidence and passages related to the major ideas. |
6. | Use your knowledge following the principles of analyzing a passage described below: test, essay, research, presentation, discussion, enjoyment. |
Principles of analyzing a passage
1. | Offer a thesis or topic sentence indicating a basic observation or assertion about the text or passage. |
2. | Offer a context for the passage without offering too much summary. |
3. | Cite the passage (using correct format). |
4. | Then follow the passage with some combination of the following elements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. | Repeat the process of context, quotation and analysis with additional support for your thesis or topic sentence. |
Source: Beth Martin Birky, English Department, Goshen College
Welcome to our trusted essay writing website with track record among students. We specialize in connecting students in need of high-quality essay assistance with skilled writers who can deliver just that. Explore the ratings of our essay writers and choose the one that best aligns with your requirements. When you rely on our online essay writing service, rest assured that you will receive a top-notch, plagiarism-free A-level paper. Our experienced professionals write each paper from scratch, carefully following your instructions. Request a paper from us and experience 100% originality.