Essay Analysis UnitEssay Analysis Unit

Analysing Essay WritingAnalysing Essay Writing

In this unit you will learn how to break In this unit you will learn how to break down and analyse the various parts of an down and analyse the various parts of an essay, in order to evaluate the essay, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the author's argument.effectiveness of the author's argument.

There are 6 parts to this evaluation There are 6 parts to this evaluation processprocess

ThesisThesis

Begin by reading the essay, keeping an eye out Begin by reading the essay, keeping an eye out for the author’s central argument or for the author’s central argument or thesisthesis..

The thesis can be either The thesis can be either explicit – explicit – stated openly (usually in the first few stated openly (usually in the first few

paragraphs) paragraphs)

oror implicitimplicit – – implied or suggested through a series of implied or suggested through a series of

sentencessentences Read “It’s Time to Think About Visors” on p. 248 and Read “It’s Time to Think About Visors” on p. 248 and

do questions 1 a,b,cdo questions 1 a,b,c

Thesis examplesThesis examples

Explicit: Explicit: Experiential learning is the most Experiential learning is the most effective way to raise and educate today’s youth.effective way to raise and educate today’s youth.

Implicit: A combination of the following:Implicit: A combination of the following: Title: “It’s Time to think About Visors”Title: “It’s Time to think About Visors” ““We need to imagine accident as part of the game We need to imagine accident as part of the game

and generate plans to minimize it.”and generate plans to minimize it.” ““Safety doesn’t need to straitjacket performance. Safety doesn’t need to straitjacket performance.

Usually, it enhances it.”Usually, it enhances it.” ““Would wearing a visor have made most of today’s Would wearing a visor have made most of today’s

eye injuries less likely? Yes.”eye injuries less likely? Yes.”

Thesis con’t…Thesis con’t…

The thesis statement is the The thesis statement is the controllingcontrolling or or centralcentral argument in the essay. It should argument in the essay. It should be:be:Provides the logical core of the essayAnswers the essay question or issueMakes a specific argument

Is ONE main idea, expressed in one, or at most two, sentences

Purpose and AudiencePurpose and Audience

Any essay is specifically targeted to Any essay is specifically targeted to address a particular issue or topic, but is address a particular issue or topic, but is usually also directed at a specific group.usually also directed at a specific group.

Identifying the Identifying the purposepurpose and and audienceaudience can can help you identify the thesis, tone and other help you identify the thesis, tone and other elements in the essay. elements in the essay.

Knowing the purpose and audience is key Knowing the purpose and audience is key to assessing the overall effectiveness of to assessing the overall effectiveness of the essay.the essay.

Read the essay “Chicken Hips” on page Read the essay “Chicken Hips” on page 319 and answer questions 1 a,b,c,d,e and 319 and answer questions 1 a,b,c,d,e and 2.2.

Identify the Identify the purpose purpose and and audience audience of this of this essay.essay.

Purpose and AudiencePurpose and Audience

Organizational PatternsOrganizational Patterns Organizational Patterns refer to the overall Organizational Patterns refer to the overall

structure or organization of the essay. structure or organization of the essay. This means “how” the author goes about This means “how” the author goes about

arranging their points or evidence for maximum arranging their points or evidence for maximum impact and effectiveness.impact and effectiveness.

There are 5 major organizational patterns:There are 5 major organizational patterns:

Cause and Effect Cause and Effect Chronological Chronological ClassificationClassification Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast DefinitionDefinition

Organizational Patterns con’t…Organizational Patterns con’t…

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

ChronologicalChronological

ClassificationClassification

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

DefinitionDefinition

Read “Whose Lathe” on p.256Read “Whose Lathe” on p.256Answer questions 1 a, b and 3Answer questions 1 a, b and 3Take notes on the 5 organizational patterns Take notes on the 5 organizational patterns

from question 3from question 3What are some advantages and What are some advantages and

disadvantages of each pattern?disadvantages of each pattern?

Organizational Patterns con’t…Organizational Patterns con’t…

Methods of DevelopmentMethods of Development

Methods of Development describes how Methods of Development describes how an author supports their main points in the an author supports their main points in the essayessay

In a formal literary essay, quotations are In a formal literary essay, quotations are the chosen method of development, but in the chosen method of development, but in a persuasive, personal or expository a persuasive, personal or expository essay, several different methods of essay, several different methods of development may be employed.development may be employed.

Methods of Development con’t…Methods of Development con’t…

ExampleExampleAnecdoteAnecdoteAnalogyAnalogyQuotation or reference to authorityQuotation or reference to authorityFacts or statistics Facts or statistics Personal experiencePersonal experienceComparison/contrastComparison/contrastCause and effectCause and effect

Read the essay “Dis?Ability on the Read the essay “Dis?Ability on the Internet” on page 315 and do questions 1 Internet” on page 315 and do questions 1 a,b,c,e and 3. a,b,c,e and 3.

Find 4 different methods of development Find 4 different methods of development that the author uses to support her points that the author uses to support her points in the essay. Ensure you include excerpts in the essay. Ensure you include excerpts from the text to support your answers. from the text to support your answers.

Methods of Development con’t…Methods of Development con’t…

ToneTone

The tone of the essay reflects the author’s The tone of the essay reflects the author’s attitudeattitude toward the subject matter in question. toward the subject matter in question.

The tone is revealed through the author’s The tone is revealed through the author’s specific use of specific use of dictiondiction or choice of words. For or choice of words. For example, using “hovering” instead of “attentive” example, using “hovering” instead of “attentive” changes one’s view of a parent; using “bizarre” changes one’s view of a parent; using “bizarre” rather than “interesting” to describe a question, rather than “interesting” to describe a question, changes our peception of the teacher.changes our peception of the teacher.

Tone con’t…Tone con’t…

Read the essay “Progress” on page 272 Read the essay “Progress” on page 272 and answer questions 1 a,b,c 3.and answer questions 1 a,b,c 3.

Using the handout of tone words, choose Using the handout of tone words, choose three words to describe Alan Lightman’s three words to describe Alan Lightman’s tone, and provide 2 examples of specific tone, and provide 2 examples of specific diction which illustrates it. diction which illustrates it.

Literary/Stylistic or Rhetorical Literary/Stylistic or Rhetorical DevicesDevices

These three terms all refer to essentially the These three terms all refer to essentially the same thing, but refers to the objective of the same thing, but refers to the objective of the device. These devices include elements such as device. These devices include elements such as alliteration, allusion, metaphor, hyperbole, alliteration, allusion, metaphor, hyperbole, rhetorical questions, etc.rhetorical questions, etc.

Literary/stylistic devicesLiterary/stylistic devices are used to create mental images are used to create mental images and draw attention to different segments of the essay for the and draw attention to different segments of the essay for the purpose of illustrating a concept or reinforcing a point.purpose of illustrating a concept or reinforcing a point.

Rhetorical devicesRhetorical devices are similar, but focus on reinforcing the are similar, but focus on reinforcing the persuasiveness of the essay through emphasis, illustration or persuasiveness of the essay through emphasis, illustration or imagery. (Rhetoric means the art of persuasion)imagery. (Rhetoric means the art of persuasion)

Read the essay “A Comparison” by Sylvia Read the essay “A Comparison” by Sylvia Plath on page 293 and do questions 1 a, Plath on page 293 and do questions 1 a, b, c and 2. b, c and 2.

Find three Find three differentdifferent stylistic devices in the stylistic devices in the essay and describe the impact of each on essay and describe the impact of each on the essay.the essay.

Literary/Stylistic DevicesLiterary/Stylistic Devices