HOW TO WRITE A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY

Have you ever read an article and thought to yourself: “I disagree with this writer; I think they are biased.” Perhaps you’ve even gone as far as offering your own opinion in the comments section.

If you’ve done this, good job! You have performed a critical analysis; you’ve analyzed the author’s work and offered your own opinion in response.

Writing a critical analysis essay requires lots of essential reading, as authors always use rhetorical techniques to gain your trust.

In this article, we will list some carefully selected topics and provide examples to give you a better idea of your expected result. We will also present a robust step-by-step process of how to write a critical analysis essay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is a Critical Analysis Essay?
• 25 Critical Analysis Essay Topics
• Writing Process
• Creating a Critical Analysis Essay Outline
• Techniques Used In Literary Critiques
• Techniques used in literary critiques
• Top tips to save you time
• Example

What Is a Critical Analysis Essay?

A critical analysis essay is a critical evaluation of an argument, an event (modern or historical), any work within its medium (film, books, music), social and political issues, and beyond.

Generally speaking, critical analysis helps us understand things better.

It is a subjective form of observation and evaluation, expressing your personal opinions and reactions.

For example, music critics like Robert Christgau or Anthony Fantano are examples of professionals who do critical analysis for a living. They explore every layer of meaning (or lack of it) that artists put into their music and offer a final subjective opinion.

Let’s take a look at some common critical analysis essay topics to give you an idea of just how broad this essay format is.

25 Cool Critical Analysis Essay Topics

Living in an era of social and political unrest certainly has its benefits.
Students often pick controversial statements, articles or events, because they lend themselves easily to critical analysis. Finding a topic for critical analysis in this day and age shouldn’t be hard.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding on a topic.

• Make sure the topic lends itself easily to critical analysis. Famous literature and controversial articles would be excellent choices.
• Find a topic which is widely discussed. Different opinions can help you think outside the box and create a strong argument!
• Try to keep it narrow. Some topics can be complicated, and it may take books to explore them fully!
• Talk to your professors for ideas. They will happily point you in the right direction!

If you read books, consider taking the work of your favorite author. Famous books like Alice in Wonderland have been analyzed and interpreted in many different ways; there should be plenty of source material you could use for reference. Here are some of the top critical analysis essay topics that we have found:

Culture Critical Thinking Topics

1. Pick a sport that famously had a drug abuse history. Summarize and assess the situation, and how it affected the competition.
2. College football plays a vital role in American Universities. How does it change the community, the spirit, and the economics of the college?
3. Gain a deeper understanding of homelessness in your city. Why is it a problem and which resources can the city use to help?
4. Anti-drug campaigns often cause more problems than solutions. Take a look at a similar campaign and analyze its effectiveness.
5. Take a look at how women are portrayed in a particular medium today. For example the medium of Cinema. Has sexism that polluted 50’s Hollywood been wholly removed from movies?

Mass Media Topics

1. Take a film. What is the message and how does the director convey it?
2. Analyze a graphic novel. What is the message/passage, and how does it push the possibilities of the visual novel medium?
3. Observe the remake of a classic motion picture. What has changed?
4. Examine the influence of a popular TV series on youth.
5. Take Facebook. What was the initial idea? Has it grown consistently with the internet and how people use it?

Critical Evaluation Topics on History

1. Compare Ancient Greece to today. Are the practices, teachings, and rituals of the Ancient Greeks still relevant?
2. Colonization of America was a brutal time in history. Looking back at it, could we have done it without killing the indigenous people of America?
3. Ancient Egypt. Tackle the controversies surrounding the pyramids of Giza. Was it slaves or aliens who built them?
4. World War II. Some say that it was a necessary tragedy that shaped the modern world. Present and analyze this controversial opinion.
5. Ancient Rome borrowed heavily from Ancient Greek and Egyptian culture and art. However, when Mussolini came around, he wanted to preserve the classic Italian aesthetic of Ancient Rome. Analyze the irony of the ultra-right Fascist movement in light of these facts.

Culture Critical Thinking Topics in Literature

1. Analyze Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and its impact on racism in America.
2. Take a dystopian novel like 1984 or Brave New World and compare it to society today.
3. J.R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is a profoundly subversive series in its genre. How does Martin achieve this, in comparison to Lord of the Rings?
4. Analyze Orwell’s Animal Farm and compare it to the real history of the Soviet Union.
5. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is purposely wrongly named as the actual protagonist is Brutus. Analyze how this relates to the plot and theme of the play.

Culture Critical Thinking Topics in Sports

1. Money ruined sports. Analyze the argument to establish whether it’s true or false.
2. Analyze the effect of betting on the sporting community.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo is known to be a bit of an actor on the field. Analyze the validity of this claim.
4. Should cybersports be considered sports?
5. Some say that FIFA releases the same game every year, exploiting the sports gaming community. Challenge the validity of this claim.

Some of our best essay writers composed this list. We hope that you have found an interesting topic you could use for reference!

Writing Process

Without further ado, let’s learn how to write a critical analysis essay step by step.

Step 1: Critical Reading

The initial step to critical analysis to read carefully and thoroughly, identifying the author’s thesis.

Most of your information will come from reading different sources and understanding different takes and opinions on the same issue. You must pay attention to details, recognize the author’s’ rhetorical devices, biases, and assumptions.

Remember always to write down vocabulary words and define terms that you don’t understand.

Whenever reading a source, always look out for:

• The author’s intended audience (Good writers write in a specific way to appeal to a particular audience; ex. Playful language appeals to kids, statistics appeal to business people)
• The author’s means of persuasion (language and rhetoric; ex. Good writers won’t directly say that Burger King is unhealthy, they will present BK’s sick list of ingredients and let the reader make this assumption)
• The general structure of the writing and how it supports the author’s statements (A blog post about the importance of punctuation, like commas, may illustrate, how, many people, annoyingly, overuse, commas, just, like, this.)

As a critical reader, it is your job to pinpoint the author’s motives and dissect the text for meaning. Understanding how the author tries to achieve their purposes and gain your trust is the whole point of critical reading.

Step 2: Critical Analysis Writing

The first thing to remember is that your job is not to de-legitimize this author’s work. Your post is to serve the reader by exploring the work with them, opening up aspects that were ignored or neglected.

It is your duty to help the world understand the subject to the fullest extent.

Summarize

The first thing to do is provide a summary of your source (event, work of art, etc.). This is done to demonstrate that you have fully understood what you’re talking about.

Summaries should not contain your argument or show any bias towards the source you’re about to discuss.

If the source is a text (as it will most likely be), address the following aspects:

• How has the author organized the text?
• Identify the intended audience and why the author has targeted them.
• Identify the author’s assumptions about the intended audience.
• List and explain the rhetorical devices, language, and imagery that the author uses in the text.

Write a Thesis

After you have summarized the work, it is time to write a thesis statement.

A critical analysis essay thesis statement is usually your reaction to the source that you have analyzed. As noted before, your opinion is subjective; expect it to be challenged in the future. However, if you can articulate your personal opinion carefully and thoroughly, the reader will trust you.

The best way to make your message clear and consistent is by creating an essay outline.

Creating a Critical Analysis Essay Outline

An outline helps put your arguments in order. Creating a good overview will help you write the critical analysis essay fast and be consistent with your message.

Most instructors will provide a sample of critical analysis essay outline to help you write a well-organized analysis paper.

Before writing a critical analysis paper, make sure you have an outline which organizes your thoughts into a coherent critical essay structure.

Here is a sample critical essay outline you may use for reference:

1. Background Information: Give the reader some context; help them understand the nature of the work.
   • Information:
     • Title
     • Author
     • Publication information
     • Statement of topic and purpose
   • Thesis statement: After giving the reader some context, provide your reaction to the work in a thesis statement.
2. Summary: Demonstrate your understanding of the source, as described in the Summary section above.
3. Critical Analysis (Interpretation and Evaluation): Here is where you finally present your analysis of the work based on your reading and critical evaluation.
   • Talk about how the source is organized;
   • Discuss the style and rhetoric of the source;
   • How Effective was the source and the message;
   • How was the topic treated; was the writer biased or did he do it justice?
   • Discuss how the source appealed to its target audience

Conclude the essay with a traditional essay conclusion by restating the thesis and offering some final thoughts. Summarize your reactions and outtakes from your analysis.

Techniques Used In Literary Critiques

An objective analysis – Evaluation based only on facts; without using feeling or emotion in the study.

Traditional Critique – Critique based on a collective agreement of sources that literate and educated people should know.

New Critique – Critique that is concentrated on just the text itself. Areas of irony, metaphor, ambiguity, and paradox are under close evaluation.

Marxist Criticism – Analogy through class conflicts and identification, coming to conclusions of a political or social nature. Marxist criticism has had a profound effect on the understanding of literature.

Metaphorical Critique – Close attention to metaphors to form a deeper understanding of the work and its author.

New Historicism – The study of literature based on its historical value.

Psychological Critique – Freudian critique, where the author’s unconscious wishes, just like dreams, can be evaluated as a pathway to their mind.

Sociological Criticism – Mainly focuses on how the literature represents social functions but also where the work fits into society in general.

Moral or Ethical Criticism – Judging the work or literary piece by the morals learned from the text.

Top Tips To Save You Time

Come back to the draft later – After completing the first draft, put it to one side then review it after a few days. A clear mind is always an advantage in proofreading your work.

Explain everything – Do not assume the reader knows a particular detail or fact. Describe technical terms and abbreviations fully.

The introduction and the thesis statement can be produced later. This way you can know precisely what background you need to give your readers.

The second pair of eyes can help – Let a family friend or professional colleague review your work to get a second opinion.

Develop your style of writing – Do not write in the style of someone else but try to get comfortable with your style. It can take a while and possibly more than one essay. Once mastered it will be much more rewarding and save you time in the long run.

Do not be scared of an issue – When describing something make sure you are being specific and do not give vague or timid explanations. It will annoy readers.

No rhetorical questions – The body of the arguments should only contain points based on findings and factual statements.

Plan the time well – It is common not to have enough time to read through all the literature. Make a plan for how much you can learn in a day, and stick to it.

Critical Analysis Examples

You could go on and search for critical analysis examples if you were not given one in class. These examples should answer some of your questions.
Here is a critical analysis essay introduction example from one of our top writers:

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because the reality is finally better than your dreams.” These words by Dr. Seuss describe this constant feeling the best. Love is an emotion which all people have a concept of. At the same time, the majority of people may insist they have experienced the feeling of true love despite the accepted definition of this chemical reaction. Does pure love exist? How can an average citizen of any country identify this different feeling best of all? This paper examines the concept of love based on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116.”

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WHAT IS A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY?

Literary analysis is the practice of analyzing small parts of a text to see how they relate to the greater whole. Authors use many different techniques to create meaning. Characters, setting, primary and secondary plots, as well as the overall structure contribute to our understanding of their work. Writing a literary analysis teaches students how to better grasp and appreciate different works of literature.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Literary Analysis Outline
• Writing a Title
• Writing a Thesis Statement
• Introduction Paragraph
• Writing Body Paragraphs
• Writing The Conclusion

In performing literary analysis, students often pick and discuss one specific theme or point of development. For example, if you’re analyzing a play by William Shakespeare, you might want to focus on the play’s central theme in relation to the main characters. A coming-of-age novel like The Catcher In The Rye might have you focus on the protagonist’s growth and change. Poetry, lyrics, news, criticisms, and films are subject to various types of literary analysis.In this article, we will look at Shakespeare’s Hamlet and show how literary analysis is applied to this classic play.

Literary Analysis Outline

The first step is writing an outline for your essay. An outline, or written plan, is like a framework for a house. Instead of putting the building materials into a pile on the ground and calling it a house or merely listing our thoughts into paragraphs, we organize ideas and build our arguments like a house.

Learn more about how to create an outline which will get your essay 80% done before you even start writing!

In the case of Hamlet, we could build an outline around the protagonist’s inner struggle and how it relates to the whole play. The complexity of Hamlet’s character will help us discuss the theme of revenge through several moral questions he addresses. We can organize the essay in a way that each body paragraph addresses a different moral issue.

Writing a Title

It is essential that the essay title communicates our position or point of analysis. It is the first thing that the reader will see, so make it interesting and informative. If it’s an attention grabber, it must still give them an idea of what’s to come. Here is an appropriate title to our Hamlet essay which focuses on the theme of revenge:

Hamlet: How Revenge Leads To Tragedy

Writing a Thesis Statement

After giving the reader some context, present the thesis statement. The thesis statement is like a generalization of the ‘moral’- the universal message of the story. It is a tool used in the introductory paragraph to introduce and generalize the theme which will be discussed in the essay.

Our thesis statement will present the argument and answer the questions ‘who,’‘what,’ ‘how’ and ‘why’. It must be a carefully worded as it is essential to maintaining our argument throughout the text. The thesis belongs near the end of the introductory paragraph.

Question: How is revenge portrayed in Shakespeare’s Hamlet?
Thesis: Shakespeare uses the character of Hamlet to explore the complex theme of revenge and how it always leads to tragedy.

Introduction Paragraph

The introduction’s main purpose is to establish the context and background for the reader. It must include the author’s full name and the title of the work you focus on. In giving background information, it is best to make it informative and catchy. Similar to titles, essay introductions are a means of grabbing attention.

Introduction Example: During the time of Shakespeare, revenge plays were very common. A villain commits murder; the protagonist is a relative of the murdered man, and embarks on a quest for revenge; he succeeds but destroys himself in the process. The plot of Hamlet revolves around the task assigned to Hamlet by who he believes is the ghost of his murdered father. Before performing his duty, Hamlet asks himself moral questions regarding the nature of revenge. Hamlet’s intellectual and reflective personality complicates his decision as he struggles to find what is the right thing to do. In this way, Shakespeare uses the character of Hamlet to explore the complex theme of revenge and how it always leads to tragedy.

Writing Body Paragraphs

It is unnecessary to summarize or retell the whole story. An analysis should only contain a brief summary of the plot. In the end, it’s all about your ideas and observations in relation to a specific theme. Keep in mind that most people who will pick up an essay on Hamlet will have probably read the play anyway.

A 500-700 word essay is typically split into three body paragraphs. These body paragraphs will heavily rely on quotes from the book. You may use other writers’ interpretations of the text as source material. However, it is always best to make your own observations.

Each body paragraph must start with an argument or topic sentence that ties back to your thesis statement. The topic sentence also gives each section a clear focus in terms of csubject matter. Each paragraph must have a single focus. If you’re discussing the character Claudius in paragraph 1, don’t jump ahead by examining other characters.

Here are some points to consider when writing body paragraphs:

• A summary of key events will give your audience perspective to the point you’re trying to make. When summarizing, make sure to connect your summary to the main point of the paragraph.
• Using quotes may prove extremely valuable to supporting your argument. The character’s further actions can be justified and traced back to this quote. We know that with writers like Shakespeare, there aren’t any coincidences.
• Always look for textual evidence such as direct quotations to support your analysis.
• Identify writer techniques and provide examples of how this technique supports the subject matter.
• Paraphrasing is a means of transforming original material into your own writing. Long quotes or sections can be paraphrased to avoid filling your essay with too much water.
• A good literary analysis requires attention to details. Is there a prop which contributes to the ominous environment of a scene? Perhaps, the weather serves as a perfect expression of what the character is feeling?
• Use transitions between body paragraphs to create an organic flow from one argument to the next.
• It is best to end body paragraphs with a ‘clincher’ sentence – one that ties back into the topic sentence of your paragraph.

A body paragraph is like a sandwich. All the tasty knowledge is carefully layered on the inside and enclosed by two loaves of bread (topic sentence and clincher).

Writing The Conclusion

The conclusion must summarize the points you have made, and leave the reader with a final impression. Do not use the conclusion to introduce a new topic.

• The general purpose is to give the reader a sense of completion. Start your concluding paragraph by restating the thesis.
• Go through your body paragraphs to see how you could summarize the main arguments in the conclusion.
• Use the last sentences for universal applications and final thoughts.
• Why is this work important?
• How does the author convey their perspective on life in this particular work of literature?

Check out our blogpost on how to write a conclusion for additional help.

Conclusion Example: The various levels of complexity in the characters’ motivations for revenge ultimately lead to the dissolution of the kingdom of Denmark, and the death of the king. The manipulative and power-hungry Claudius abuses his power to try and get rid of Hamlet. Spiritually, Claudius is perplexed as the ghost of Late King Hamlet haunts and distorts his consciousness. The ghost can be perceived as a metaphor that Claudius has killed the king physically, but not in spirit. The soul of the late king survives, hoping that justice is restored to the kingdom. Hamlet’s quest for revenge may seem just initially. However, his obsession with expressing anger and seeking revenge, leads to the deaths of Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius, and himself. Although the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, the ending of Hamlet provides a principled and virtuous conclusion. As the ancient Chinese proverb says: “If you seek revenge, dig two graves.”

Literary Analysis Essay Examples

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HOW TO WRITE A POETRY ANALYSIS ESSAY

Every author and poet have their own unique style that cannot be replicated. Based on how they think or what they are trying to portray, they create various poems to explore several ideas or theories that were on their mind. Discover how to write poetry analysis from our APP.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is a Poetry Analysis
• Pre-Writing Steps
• How To Choose A Topic
• Outline
• Examples

What is a Poetry Analysis?

Poetry analysis is the process of reviewing the multiple artistic, functional, and structural pieces that make up a poem. Typically, this review is conducted and recorded within the structure of a literary analysis essay. This type of essay writing requires one to take a more in-depth look at both the choices that a poet made and the overall effects of those choices. These papers need an detailed analysisof all of the parts that were used to form a work of poetry.

Pre-Writing Steps to Take

To compose a poetry analysis essay, one must first read the poem carefully. It is essential to reread the literary piece several times to get a full grasp of the numerous ideas and concepts. This also gives you an opportunity to make note of the rhyme scheme (if there is one), the type of poem (Limerick, ode, sonnet, lyric, haiku, free verse, etc.) and other poetic techniques that the poet used (such as enjambment, meter, end-stopped lines, figurative language, etc.).

• Limerick: Limerick is a stanza of five lines, with the first, second and fifth rhyming with one another and having three feet of three syllables each; and the shorter third and fourth lines also rhyming with each other, but having only two feet of three syllables.
• Ode: Its structure – 10-line stanzas rhyming, with the 8th line iambic trimeter and all the others iambic pentameter
• Sonnet: A fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. Was made famous by non-other than Shakespeare! (Shakespeare invented the word “swag”… just saying)
• Lyric: A lyric poem is a comparatively short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker presents a state of mind or an emotional state. Rather than tell a story, the speaker talks about his thoughts using a specific rhyming style.
• Haiku: Invented by the Japanese, a haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count.
• Free-Verse: Rather simple, free verse is poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm.

All of those elements of the poem are essential to know when one is writing a poetry analysis essay because they are a part of the poem’s structure and can affect the content.

After covering the technical aspects of a poem, it is best to learn about the background of the poem. This means that one may find it beneficial to look up the poet, the date that the poem was written, and the cultural context of the work. All of that information typically gives the reader a more in-depth understanding of the poem, and it seems self-explanatory that one who has an enhanced comprehension of the poem would have an easier time analyzing that poem.

The final element of writing a poetry analysis essay is a part of the composition dedicated to the subject matter of the poem. This can be analyzed during the reader’s quest to determine the theme, tone, mood, and meaning of the poem. The subject matter – and the thematic elements that support the intended message behind the subject – is often an interpretive minefield.

Often, people have different ideas about what a poet is trying to say by their use of a subject, so unless the message is implicitly stated, it is best to report multiple possibilities about what the poet may have meant and included evidence for these theories.

However, it is essential to generally pick a side among the various theories that you have created. The amateur writer can try to elaborate on several existing ideas and theories. However, an excellent essay writer always contributes their ideas and observations, making the work unique… The writer should be careful to not mistake this with choosing a popular opinion or biased one. They should be defending the one that carries the most weight or offers the most validation! As the essay is to be an analysis, opinions are to be avoided in favor of facts and conjectures that are backed by evidence from work.

How To Choose A Topic?

A great way to choose a topic for a poetry analysis essay is to decide on a topic that would deal with information that one is already familiar with. For example, if the choice of the poem to analyze is up to the writer, then it may be beneficial for the writer to choose a poem that he/she has encountered before. If the choice is to be made between different subject areas within a poem, then the writer could find it easier to choose to focus on writing about an area that plays to his/her strengths, so that the statements made in the essay are conveyed clearly and confidently.

A poetry analysis essay may seem like a daunting writing assignment at first, but if the topic, outline, and paper are composed following the steps mentioned above, the paper will no doubt, turn out very well.

Poetry Analysis Essay Outline

An outline for a poetry analysis essay can be very simple. It merely is a guideline for the writer to build upon. Put the title of the paper at the top of the page, then place the number one (1) underneath, just before the word “Introduction.”

Under this, one can list brainstormed ideas for the introduction paragraph of the paper. The final portion of this section should be dedicated to the thesis statement of the paper.

Need a poetry analysis essay outline? Observe this infographic to have an understanding:
Here is a basic structure to follow for your outline:

Following an outline for a poetry research essay is recommended to make sure you organize all your thoughts and statements you want to say. No matter whether you know how to write poetry – an outline will help identify areas that need to be explored in the analysis.

Introduction

Starting with the title for the analysis can be something very basic or a clever quote, a statement from the piece. Moving onto the introduction to poetry analysis, this should open with a “hook” to get the reader’s attention. Follow up with the Authors name and title for the piece. Add some interesting trivia or background info that is not known to the audience, try to keep it short and sweet. To finish off the introduction to a poetry analysis state your thesis. Check out this free blog on writing a thesis statement for some extra help.

Body

The bulk of ideas and comparisons need to be explored here in a clear, focused way. When writing a poetry analysis, each paragraph should be devoted to one point or feature you are comparing. You can divide each point by using the corresponding letter from the outline. Try to make it a coherent and specific about what is being compared (example: when stating your ideas about what the poetic devices do to the piece check whether you state each one and do not generalize). Using transition words and phrases will keep the paragraphs flowing well and more helpful to read.

Conclusion

It’s important when looking at how to analyze a poem to finish with a set-out conclusion. Firstly, start by restating the thesis in different words. Summarize the most important findings to prove the thesis. From this, you can draw up your own opinions and take a step back and say what it all means with one key idea. Lastly try to leave the reader with something memorable to take away with them (a thought-provoking sentence or question about the poem).

Top Tips for a Poetry Analysis

We have put together some handy tips to help you with when writing a poetry analysis essay:

• If possible choose a poem that you would like to write about. This seems like a simple enough idea but very relevant. If you have the choice pick a poem you enjoy.
• Try reading the poem to a colleague or friend and even just out aloud to yourself. This will help discover any hidden information from the sound, and it’s always good to get a second opinion or extra ideas.
• Don’t be scared to double check meanings of words and phrases. This is vital to know how to write a poem analysis essay and to the best, you can. Some words may have had different meanings, cultural references and places all should be looked up if only half certain.
• Check if the conclusion has one clear central idea or theme. Do not put in many confusing ideas or conclusions as this will look like you have not evaluated the work with focus. To go beyond a simple poetry analysis for middle school try to show how it links to broader themes and the outside world.
• Always try to look beyond the words themselves. Hunt for hidden meanings and any little clues to build a picture upon. Anybody can know how to write a poem but to explore the hidden meanings within poetry takes time, skill and a lot of research.

If you don’t have enough time get some help from the experts who can write a custom poetry analysis essay for you!

Poetry Analysis Essay Examples

“Winter Solstice” by Hilda Morley – From EssayPro

Hilda Morley’s ‘Winter Solstice’ is an overt poem primarily aimed at describing a winter solstice. Correspondingly, the author has dotted the poem with descriptive words meant to create a mental picture of solstice in a reader. I sense winter solstice is a descriptive term for the shortest day and longest night of a year. In the poem, Morley (1983) elaborately expresses complex emotions that enliven to the actual meaning of winter solstice in a reader. Figuratively, the author, through the poem, paints the picture of the time of the year (or a season) when a person ought to re-evaluate the whole reason for their existence including such associated elements as fear, concerns, successes, sadness, happiness, and even sadness. From the author’s presupposed perspective, it suffices to say that the cold and long distance between the earth, sun’s light, and the moon will always be larger than life in its entirety. Despite the direction of the analysis (symbolic or actual), the elements of the poem and the meaning will remain more or less similar. The use of various literary elements and poetic devices ensures that ‘Winter Solstice’ is both entertaining and informative. The following discussion delves deep into the poem in a bid to deconstruct its general structure and unearth the literary devices and elements therein.

The most striking feature of this poem is its unique structure and layout. According to Conniff (1993), the entire poem is more of a free verse that ignores the most basic of poetic rules and standards. In particular, it does not follow any definite rhyme scheme or pattern of syllables, making the rhythm irregular and unpredictable.

“Auto Wreck” by Karl Shapiro – From Oregon Arts Commission

Summary: The poem starts with a description of an ambulance rushing to the scene of a crash, and hurriedly gathering up the victims and rushing them away. The 2nd and 3rd stanzas explore the emotions felt after the car crash from the perspective of a witness. 8. Theme: A significant issue from “Auto Wreck” is death. The author is exploring the random and illogical nature of mortality by contrasting the car crash with other forms of death (war, suicide, stillbirth, cancer) that are more understandable. 9. Mood: gloomy, reflective 10. “Auto Wreck” is a lyric poem because it gives a description of an event and reflections on it, but does not tell a story. 11. Personal reflections: I selected this poem because of the realistic images and how a reader can vividly picture the accident as if he/she was there to see it. It’s a morbid poem, but the theme is relevant since everyone will die someday and no one knows if it will be sudden, like a car crash, or come on slowly like cancer. My favorite line is, “One with a bucket douches ponds of blood.” It refers to the policeman washing away the artificial ponds of blood from the accident. I know this line is unpleasant, but I like it because it so powerfully displays the shock of the onlooker. 12. “Auto Wreck” reminds me of John Donne’s poem, “Death Be Not Proud” because of they both deal with the themes of mortality. They are different poems since Donne’s poetry denies death’s power and mock’s death, while Shapiro seems perplexed by the unpredictableness of death by car crashes.

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HOW TO WRITE A PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

Writing a process analysis essay sounds like a problematic task to do, but in reality, it’s just another writing assignment. In this article, we will explain how to write a good process analysis essay, list some process analysis essay topics and give you useful writing tips and examples. But first things first.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Process Analysis Essay Definition
• Process Analysis Essay Topics
• Writing Process & Structure
• Process Analysis Essay Outline
  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Conclusion
• Writing Tips
• Examples

What Is a Process Analysis Essay?

Before jumping to the How to section, let’s answer a question of what is a process analysis essay. Process analysis is an essay which explains how something is done, how something occurs or how something works. In this type of essay, the writer is required to present steps of a process in sequential order, from first to the last. All concepts or terms that might appear uncommon are defined.

For example, when writing a process analysis essay about becoming a better person, you count and describe some actions — from small to bigger ones — which are useful to other people or environment and makes a positive impact on karma.

Getting a topic for process essay from a teacher is usually a bummer, but sometimes picking a topic by yourself can be not that easy…

How to Pick a Process Analysis Essay Topic

Imagine you need to describe something in steps: what would it be?

Don’t rush with making a final decision and try to rationalize your choice by following listed recommendations:

• Pick a topic you have a good understanding of.
• Choose a theme that will involve the readers.
• Focus your topic on a specific thing.
• Make sure a topic can be explained without pictures for demonstration.Focus on words.
• Ensure that the topic is helpful and has a practical worth.
• Your topic must be relevant. If you decided to write about using a pager, we suggest you rethink your idea.

That is okay if you do not have a bunch of process analysis essay topics in your mind. Just focus on the writing process and pick one of those we have prepared for you.

Process Analysis Essay Topics

Example essay topics in process analysis include:

• How to pray;
• How to cook potatoes;
• How to manage Hepatitis;
• How to prevent a disease;
• How to set up a campsite.

In this paper, our service provides an excellent guide on how to write a process analysis essay.

Writing A Process Analysis Essay

The structure for this type of analysis is as follows:

• The introductory part should explain the actual process and why it is relevant or necessary. The writer should avoid any unnecessary informationsuch as the background, history or origin. If for instance, a recipe needs tomato sauce, the readers should be informed so. In other words, go directly to the issue and provide only the necessary information.
• The next paragraph should present a list of all the equipment, tools or resources necessary for the particular process. For instance, if some ingredients cannot be found in the locality, the writer should explain where one can see it or them. Potential risks or side effects that are likely to generate from the process should be started so that the reader remains informed. Furthermore, it is essential to inform the reader of what might go wrong and what can be done to avoid potential mistakes.
• The next part should outline the process in a sequential order. If the process requires some steps that should be undertaken at particular stages, these should be stated and explained clearly, at the relevant point in the sequence. The writer should be very keen to avoid confusion. For processes that appear complicated, the steps should be subdivided accordingly. What is more, the writer needs to vary their use of transitional words such as after, then, next to make sure that the essay does not become repetitive.

The final part should present a general review of the whole process so the writer can reinforce the main points succinctly without details.

Process Analysis Essay Outline

Introduction

• Introduce your topic and briefly outline what the process will achieve.
• Demonstrate where this process is relevant or when it is useful.
• It is a good idea to offer a real-world example of an outcome of the procedure.

Main Body

• The processes should be presented in paragraphs.
• Each step should be performed in its section.
• Appropriate transitions should be employed for each step.
• Be descriptive in your presentation.

Conclusion

• In your conclusion, the procedure is summarized. You do not have to repeat all the individual steps, but you need to reinforce the main points and milestones.
• Describe the expected result.

Writing Tips

1. Appropriate Use of Language and Vocabulary

Making good use of vocabulary and technical terms can often make or break an assignment. This impacts the degree of depth and clarity that the reader can get out of it. Thus, if your audience is meant to be doing it while reading the steps should then be simple and to the point.

1. Give the Reader a Sense of Direction

When including comments into your process analysis essay that are tailored to give a sense of direction such as “once that is done” or “wait until” it is best to do so where it is relevant. Try to avoid over-complicating the steps while keeping everything clear and concise.

1. Chronological Progression

For example, if it is a cooking recipe, it should always include the steps in chronological order while also indicating how much of each ingredient should be added. Additional information such as cooking techniques can be added at the end so they can be as detailed as necessary.

Process Analysis Essay Examples

Referring to a process analysis essay example can save you time. Our free sample can provide an insight into how a process analysis should be.

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HOW TO WRITE A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY

Taking the AP examination is a wise decision made by most students around the US. Though, some required learning revisions may be challenging to get a grasp of. Especially when it comes to learning how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, it may seem a difficult task for beginners, but once you know the tricks and tips, you’ll be writing like a Pro in no time!

In this article, we discuss the definition of rhetorical analysis, show a step-by-step guide with an outline, tips, and examples. After following our guidelines, you will write like a Pro and get the college credit you deserve!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is A Rhetorical Analysis
• How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis
  • Checklist in Writing
• Rhetorical Essay Outline
  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Conclusion
• Writing Tips
• Example

What Is A Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

The rhetorical analysis definition says to apply critical thinking and reading skills to break down and analyze text. The goal is to examine what is implied in the text, rather than what is written.

There are thousands of writing strategies used to analyze modern texts, as well as historical texts. In a rhetorical analysis essay students must identify writing style of the author and their point of view.

It requires analyzing the author’s methods of persuasion (words and phrases that the author creates) and how effective they are to readers. The example topics are speeches given by influential figures.

How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis: Step-by-Step

The AP exam is a time-limited task; fast and effective preparation is key to creating a powerful piece of academic writing!

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay starts with reading and analyzing the assigned text. As you begin reading the introductory information, start is taking notes of valuable information that will simplify the analysis process.

Here are the questions you must answer in the analysis:

• Who is the author and what is their intended target audience?
• What is their purpose for writing the speech/document?
• In what setting they are located while giving the speech and why the author chose a specific context to deliver his main message(s)?

Having these questions in mind and uncovering their answers will simplify the process of analyzing their strategies when writing your rhetorical analysis essay. At the very least these questions as a template gives you something to work off, and having information allows you to understand writer’s methods of persuasion.

The ingredients for persuasion, as Aristotle called them, can be broken down into three categories. There are the ethos, pathos, and logos.

The ethos appeals to ethics, and it is about providing traits and reasons as to why the speaker is a credible source of information.

The pathos appeals to emotions. It is a sneaky way of convincing an audience by creating an emotional response.

The logos (our personal favorite) appeals to logical & rational thinking and tries to persuade the audience through reasoning. What are some examples?

• Ethos: “Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment!”
• Pathos: “You’ll make the right decision because you have something that not many people do: you have the heart.”
• Logos: “Thousand of years of history has taught us that war never changes.”

In every AP English exam, the literary prompt will contain examples of at least one of the three persuasive methods. After using the background info to help guide you, it should not be too difficult to figure out which tactic the speaker uses. One should practice writing rhetorical essays before taking the exam!

Checklist in Writing a Rhetorical Analysis

An essential start to any essay is gaining the reader’s trust. In a rhetorical analysis essay, the way to do this is by showing the reader that you have read and fully understood the assigned text. Create a short but cohesive summary and explain the text in your own words. After giving the reader some perspective, it’s time to do some critical analysis.

Get ready with more than one question after reading. The 2nd tip is about deciding what makes the analyzed piece tick. Use our check-list.

1. First off, identify:

• Author’s methods of persuasion (examples of ethos, logos, & pathos);
• Style of writing used (formal or informal English; specific terms, logical flow, spelling/punctuation);
• The original target audience (business people, teachers, classmates, professors, etc.);
• The tone chosen by an author (it may vary from the pressing/casual to humorous/sarcastic);

1. Next, find out why the author chose these methods with the target audience. Look for the goal of the passage, setting, and occasion.

• Summarise the text. Focus your summary on the literary techniques and persuasive strategies used by the author.
• How do the rhetorical methods help the writer achieve the primary purpose of the passage?
• Why did the writer choose these methods to persuade the target audience for that specific occasion?

Rhetorical Essay Outline

There are numerous ways to begin your rhetorical analysis outline correctly. It is not obligatory to follow the standard essay structure. Many students tend to start with writing a thesis statement, but it is better to postpone this part to the last minute once you have the body in front of your eyes. It will be easier to tighten up all main arguments into one.

Following the structure method provided by the professor will satisfy his/her requests. Use 5-6 paragraphing style. Depending on the number of strategies you have found, you will have to create an equal amount.

• Read, analyze, and make notes in the outline;
• With an outline ready, the writing will be quick, and you can focus your valuable time and efforts on the rest of the AP exam.

Use our rhetorical analysis essay outline template to get a better grasp of writing your paper in the AP exam. Remember that the intro-body-conclusion format never changes.

Introduction

When writing a rhetorical analysis essay introduction make it short and informative. To start it out briefly, summarize the passage that you will include in your rhetorical analysis essay; it will prove to the reader that you understand the central message of the text.

Afterward, formulate your opinion into a well-crafted thesis statement. It must address the ‘who,’ the ‘what,’ the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ questions. This will explain the tone, mood, & intrigue the reader about the rhetorical strategies you shall explain later in the text. Last but not least, put together an enlightening thesis that explains the persuasive styles used by the speaker, and their effect. A thesis could either start or finish your opening paragraph.

Consider your limited schedule; it might be easier to write all the main arguments first and write an introduction and thesis later.

Body Paragraphs

A large segment of your exam time will be focused on creating informative body paragraphs. In the body, explain the methods which the author used to support their thesis.

• If the author used persuasive language, then say that he/she used persuasive language.
• If the author used sympathetic language, explain it and use quotes for proof.

Keep in mind that all writing must be consistent and have a clear structure. It is wise to have different paragraphs explaining the author’s strategies, rather than jamming everything together. When identifying the author’s writing strategies, answer the following questions:

• How does this strategy work?
• How is the strategy working in the example?
• Why did the author use a specific approach for this audience?
• How did the strategy make the audience feel, react or respond?

Some other things that should be taken note of within the body paragraphs are shifts in tone and diction and the varying length of sentences.

Always use proper citations in your work. If there are any words you don’t fully understand, please use a dictionary.

Conclusion

After writing your detailed, well-cited body paragraphs, you must conclude your essay. Summarise what you have been previously elaborating on. Talk about how the author’s words have changed the opinion of their audience, or if it has made a significant impact on society.

For example; If it’s the ‘I have a dream’ speech by Martin Luther King.

In the final sentence of your rhetorical analysis essay conclusion, provide an impactful concluding statement that demonstrates the importance of the author’s writing or how it’s strategies has helped shape history!

Overall Writing Tips

Time to sit back and relax – you are finally done with the writing. With around five minutes left of your exam, use this valuable time for proofreading and editing. It is always a good idea to refer to a proofreading checklist. Here is a commonly used 7-step list which will immensely impact the quality of your writing.

• Grammar: It is always important to check for any spelling or punctuation errors in your writing.
  • Keep a fair mix of short and long sentences.
  • Avoid abbreviations.
• Plagiarism: This is a punishable offense in all forms of educational institutions. Make sure all of your work is entirely original.
  • Make sure you add the sources to your citations. You can do this after your conclusion.
  • For coursework, it is possible to use an online plagiarism checker like Copyscape or Grammarly.
• Vocabulary: Using a wide range of different words is an excellent way to impress your examiner.
  • It shows you can write in a diverse number of different ways
  • It shows a full understanding of the passage being rhetorically analyzed.
  • While studying, refer to a Thesaurus to expand your vocabulary for the result.
• Coherency: It is always to have good transitions between your paragraphing to allow the reader to flow through your paper smoothly.
  • Do not jump from statement to statement. Instead, lead the reader from one statement to the next thought with smooth transition words.
• Write in Present Tense: Make sure to write in the present tense to avoid confusion for your readers. It will also keep your paper straightforward and easy to follow.
• Respond To The Passage: While analyzing the passage, write your paper as if you are responding to the passage.
  • A rhetorical analysis paper is like a reflection of the assigned passage. Analyze the writer’s rhetorical style, but keep it natural and offer your thoughts and opinions.
• Use a Suitable Title:: It is essential to give your rhetorical analysis essay a suitable title. First impressions count. Remember to use a memorable and captivating title that sticks out from the others. Make sure the title is relevant to your work.

Rhetorical Analysis Example

Get a better grasp of what is required for mastering this style of writing. Take a look at our rhetorical analysis essay example from one of our professional writers.

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