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Chapter 6: Analysis |
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What is Analysis?
Using a principle or definition, an analysis seeks to break a source into parts in order to understand how it works, what it means, or why it may be significant.
How to Write an Analysis
Consider your purpose. Analytical insights must relate to one another and point to a single idea.
Locate an Analytical Principle
Remember that you need to ask: Are the principles and definitions you use accurate? Are they well accepted?
Each of the topic chapters contains readings that provide principles or definitions that can be used in analysis. For example, in "New and Improved: Six Decades of Advertising," the readings by Jib Fowles and Dorothy Cohen provide principles and definitions that can be used in writing analyses of the advertisements featured in "A Portfolio of Advertisements."
Formulate the Argument
The analysis has two parts to the argument: the first part states what principle or definition is being used; the second part applies specific parts of the principle or definition to the topic you are working on. When writing about fairytales, you might make use of Stith Thompson's definition of a folktale or Bruno Bettelheim's psychoanalytic reading to provide a principle. Similarly, when writing about shopping mall culture, you may use the definition of shopping discussed in James Farrell's article or select a principle from the readings by Lizabeth Cohen or George Lewis in order to develop your analysis.
Develop an Organizational Plan
Remember
Note: Internet sources are generally transitory, so if a link given for an activity is no longer available, notify the administrator of this site. The link will be fixed or replaced with a suitable source for the activity.
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