Analytical essays: What Are They?
The fundamentals of the assignment stay the same whether you are required to write a critical analysis essay or analyze a problem. An analytical essay is what, then? This essay investigates the subject and offers proof to back up the claims.
Simply put, you should dissect something into smaller bits and assess each one alone and in light of the others in order to analyze it. Synthesis, which asks you to piece together a whole from various components, is the reverse of this critical thinking strategy.
Remember the title of your favorite Sherlock Holmes novel or film to help you better comprehend these ideas. The great investigator utilizes analysis when he dissects the crime scene into its component parts and examines each one separately. He employs synthesis when he combines the cues to determine who the criminal is.
It's time to put on your thinking cap, fire up your writing pipe, and get to work. Let's review each stage involved in creating an analytical essay one at a time.
Select a topic for your analytical essay.
Professors frequently assign particular topics for your analysis. They limit your options to one writer, even if they don't name the book or poem. But, if you get to pick the subject for your critical analysis essay, you are free to choose any piece of literature.
Choose the one you are familiar with to save time. To get yourself going, pick a book that you've been intending to read for a while. Make sure there are references you might use as secondary sources by doing a little research on the title before making your final decision. They'll assist establish the credibility of your essay and support your points.
Do not, however, settle for a well-known play like "Romeo and Juliet" or "Farewell to Arms". There has been so much analysis of these novels that it is unlikely that you will have a fresh insight. In addition, your professor is probably tired of reading about the same subject in dozens of papers each year. A little creativity can help you score bonus points.
Study the Subject
The next step is to research the subject and exercise your detective and critical thinking skills to the fullest after choosing the paper's focus. The most thrilling and riskiest of all the processes is research. You risk losing track of time and missing the moment when it's time to move from gathering data to using it if you become overly involved in searching for information and supporting proof.
Establish intermediate due dates for each writing phase to prevent making this error. For instance, picking a topic just requires two days, however research can take up to ten days. The writing process will take another week, and you'll need a few days to polish the paper before turning it in.
Making notes as you read will allow you to write and create the plan more quickly. Although you can use a notepad, digital notes are preferable. Make a text file or a Trello board, then copy any noteworthy excerpts onto it. Always provide the source's name, the relevant page number, and a link in your message. If not, referencing the sources will be a hassle. Start categorizing your notes into distinct groups or Trello columns once you've gathered 5 to 10 of them. These categories will eventually build your outline as you gather more data, saving you even more time.
Use dependable, current, and unbiased sources, always. You can locate them by searching Google Scholar, ResearchGate, your school's library, online repositories, or Academia.edu. Another great tool is DeepDyve, however only the first two weeks are free. Although a paid subscription may be something you'd like to buy, the free trial will provide you access to dozens of superb sources for any analytical essay topic.
Create a thesis for an analytical essay.
Without a thesis statement, your work will never receive an A. Don't miss this step in the hopes of getting lucky. Your paper's thesis is the first thing your professors will look for. That enables them to quickly evaluate your writing.
Even with a thorough framework, it can be challenging to come up with an analytical essay thesis before drafting the paper itself. Thus, don't spend too much time on it and think of the initial draft of the thesis statement. Like the outline, it serves to keep you on course.
Don't be satisfied with your initial try at developing a thesis. Instead, return to it once you've finished writing the paper. Consider how you could summarize your essay in one words. It ought to include the problem, your position, and opposing justifications. Include any alternative viewpoints you discuss in the paper, if you can. If you eliminate filler words, repetitions, and redundancies from your thesis statement, it will be flawless.
