Essays... Critically analyse... ugh

[fallsauce]

I don't think I'm very good at critically analysing texts and that counts for a large part of any essay, which means I need to fix this problem, fast.

I'm hoping this is one of those things that gets easier the more you do it, except I'm not sure how to start, what questions to ask etc.

Also, do I need to analyse every point I make?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Anexkahn]

Not knowing specifically what subject this analysis work falls into, its hard to give specific advice as a scientific analysis of texts can take a different life than for say analysis of literature.

I took a series of classes dealing with analysis of literature in college. Really didn't like it, but found that the essays wern't really too hard to come up with after the first couple.

I heavily used the google knowledge base to find out any major points regarding the work beforehand, and then usually narrowed my focus to specific points and found passages to support those ideas throughout my essay. I also found myself asking alot of questions i knew the answer to, but then found passages to back them up and prove the point.

Generally its a good idea to prove every main point you are trying to make, unless you are stating a point in the non-absolute. For instance you could say something like "xyz work has been considered by many to be the greatest work of abc author" without further analysis because it is generally accepted fact. But if you were to say something like "such and such passage indicates that so and so is blah blah" thats a point that needs further analysis and proving why should be interpreted as such.

One thing that i found always helped me out writing these is to keep a list of action phrases to use when presenting your analysis. sentence starters like: This is evidenced by, this can be seen when, the author makes mention are all good lines to incorporate. I usually tried to keep quite a few of these around and it helped me keep things flowing.

Another way to attack the essay is to find cool quotes or phrases during your reading and base your analysis on those, whatever they may be. Make stuff up if you need to, as long as it is supported by the passages you choose it should be a valid point capible of being legitimately argued and you may win bonus points with the instructor grading them because you brought out a new angle of the work instead of re-capping the same typical 3-5 points that every other essay submitted hit on.

goodluck!

[Furry]

"Critically analyse" is one of the standard phrases you get in essay titles. The difficulty of carrying out a successful critique depends on the subject at hand and topic of the essay. It does get easier with time, and you can either attack the foundations of whatever premise you're considering or the consequences, as well as particular weak spots that may have grabbed your attention.

That said, DON'T overanalyse. Pick maybe a maximum of three gaping holes that you can find and attack them solidly. If you can undermine an argument on two solid fronts rather than present a miscollated hodgepodge of minor points, you'll have demonstrated that you have critical analysis down to a tee.

It'd also help if you told us what you were writing on so that we can give more relevant advice. Good luck!

[fallsauce]

It'd also help if you told us what you were writing on so that we can give more relevant advice. Good luck!

Oh right, didn't realise it mady such a big difference. Anyway, I'm doing law, (I've done one comparing alternative dispute resolutions with litigation and picking the best one for a case), and Commerce stuff (Globalisation; e-business/information management).

Originally Posted by Furry

That said, DON'T overanalyse. Pick maybe a maximum of three gaping holes that you can find and attack them solidly. If you can undermine an argument on two solid fronts rather than present a miscollated hodgepodge of minor points, you'll have demonstrated that you have critical analysis down to a tee.

I get really confused at this point. When you say *I* have to critically analyse something, what you really mean is, present others opinion that I agree with in a way that explicitly shows I agree with them. Because I don't really know how to go about presenting my own views, while supporting them (unless you mean data that would back my argument. So does that mean you don't necessarily need someone else's argument, but rather their data?)

Another way to attack the essay is to find cool quotes or phrases during your reading and base your analysis on those, whatever they may be. Make stuff up if you need to, as long as it is supported by the passages you choose it should be a valid point capible of being legitimately argued and you may win bonus points with the instructor grading them because you brought out a new angle of the work instead of re-capping the same typical 3-5 points that every other essay submitted hit on.

I like this idea! I'll give it a try next time an essay doesn't count for much.