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Analytical Thesis Statement Examples for You

There are different types of thesis statements, each one performing different functions to reach similar goals in writing. Analytical writing as the name implies is a form of writing that analyses a topic or subject matter from different points of view. If you’re writing an analytical essay, it is required that you include the pros, cons, good, bad, and ugly. This form of writing would require an analytical thesis statement to help lay the foundation for you to begin writing. There are some analytical thesis statement examples here that you may find helpful as you write

What is an Analytical Thesis Statement?

An analytical thesis statement is a thesis that is often used in analytical writings to introduce the topic. The primary function of the analytical essay thesis is to critically examine your write-up, and guide you as you write. This is achievable through:

  • Expanding the topic into smaller parts

Usually, your topic is supposed to be included in your thesis statement. This is because it introduces the work. However, in analytical thesis statements, your topic is broken into smaller parts that the body of your writing would cover. This includes the themes, scene, characters, etc. An analytical thesis example on the topic “racism” should include features like the negative effects of racism, the characteristics of racism, an occasion when racism has been exhibited, etc.

  • Linking the different parts to achieve your goal

Your analytical thesis statement is useless if there is no connecting factor between the sections that you wish to examine. You must understand that each part plays a role to achieve a goal. Using the sample of explanation essay on the topic “dieting”, you should not input themes that have to do with child abuse into your work. In the same vein, your thesis statement is incomplete without stating the reason for including something beyond what is written in your topic. Always remember that each word carries a meaning.

  • Addressing already existing analysis

If you’re analyzing a topic, the chances that someone already analyzed similar topics is extremely high. This could be taken as an added advantage to make references to existing research and if you want you could study some analytical thesis examples. It could also pose a problem of presenting something different from what has been laid down. Either way, it is important to make an analysis strictly on facts and evidence to back up your thesis statement.

The Role of Analytical Thesis Statements in Analytical Writing

Analytical thesis statements play different roles in your write-up. The primary aim of this kind of thesis is to answer the questions why, how, when, what next? Keep in mind that it is like making inquiries and providing answers to these questions asked.

  • It guides your writing

The thesis helps you outline what your writing should cover, and how to cover them. The body of your work is each point in your thesis given more light. Hence, your thesis and the body of your writing must complement each other. It is for this reason that the thesis is open for revision while writing. Sometimes, people find that they have steered away from the goal of their writing and will have to re-edit their thesis statement.

  • It gives your reader an insight into your work

Many things can be analyzed about a topic. An explanatory example on the topic of rape can be seen as follows:

  • WHY do people still rape despite the punishment involved
  • WHO is to blame for rape; the victims or criminals?
  • WHAT is the best way to punish rapists?
  • WHEN did the rape crime start?

You’ll find that the subject of discussion is a broad one, and there are many angles to approach it. The thesis tells your reader which areas your writing aims to cover, and why you chose to go through that route.

Features of Analytical Thesis Statements

Some of the features of an analytical thesis statement include;

  • It is Analytical

An analytical thesis statement must be analytical. That is, it is a combination of different components of a subject. It could be unlike this example of explanatory thesis statement:

“The existing problem of racism lingers and is fuelled by socio-ethnic discrimination.”

Rather a good analytical thesis statement sample may be written as:

“The result of the existing problem of racism is seen in the economical and sociopolitical aspect of the world. The socio-ethnic discrimination among a people continues to play a primary role in fuelling this problem.”

While both of the above statements address racism, the analytical statement expands the topic. It further talks about how ethnicity affects the world and is a primary cause of the problem.

  • It is Critical

You might find that as you create your thesis, you are more critical. An analytical thesis leaves no part of the topic untouched and it depends on you to narrow your research to a specific area. This is why your topic needs to be selected with utmost care.

  • It is Informative

An analytical thesis statement is often informative because it breaks down a topic into smaller bits. This pattern helps get the most out of a given topic. Be that as it may, all of the information that the thesis statement gives is important. You do not want your thesis to be too long and boring.

Like other thesis examples, an analytical thesis statement could be one or two sentences. Some sample explanatory essays have up to three sentences thesis statements. Below are analysis thesis statement examples that could be one or more than one sentence. The explanatory examples depend on the complexity of the topic being handled or analyzed.

  • The fast-rising trend of intermittent fasting is a result of certain health and mental benefits; it promotes weight loss, improves mental alertness to carry out day-to-day activities, and it helps ward off chronic diseases.
  • The invention of human realistic robots is proof that technology has advanced over the years in perfection and durability. The future of technology cannot nearly be checkmated and contained by human imagination.
  • The sizzling tension between the power blocs could stir a third world war, but the attainment of mutual acquired arms plays a primary role in keeping these nations in check.
  • Educational values cannot be sidetracked as one of the important necessities of molding children into adopting better thinking strategies and behavior.
  • The practice of child marriage, molestation, and abuse in rural areas is a result of a lack of exposure and enlightenment amongst the people of the region.
  • Many underaged people will get away with the use of fake identity cards in clubs because their bodies and mentality are more mature than their ages.
  • The role religion plays in the reduction of criminal activities in society is one of the leading reasons why it is important in our society today.
  • The hibernation period in animals is one of the most critical moments in their lives because they are in a state of weakness and are exposed to the dangers of the environment.
  • Water is extremely important for human survival, but consuming contaminated water is equally dangerous as it puts you at risk of diseases that could threaten your life.
  • The communication attitude in relationships affects the longevity, strength, and intimacy of relationships, and is important for people to enjoy a healthy relationship.
  • The techniques of journalists in reporting their stories are frowned at by many people. This is because most times, the media’s perspective on certain events only blows a simple event out of proportion.

Your analytical writing is incomplete without a well-structured thesis statement. It is hence important that you take your time in crafting out a thesis statement. The guidelines and analytical essay thesis examples in this article will help make your work easier.

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Module 8: Analysis and Synthesis

Analytical thesis statements, learning objective.

  • Describe strategies for writing analytical thesis statements
  • Identify analytical thesis statements

In order to write an analysis, you want to first have a solid understanding of the thing you are analyzing. Remember, when you are analyzing as a writer, you are:

  • Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts
  • Uncovering relationships among those parts
  • Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions
  • Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations

You may be asked to analyze a book, an essay, a poem, a movie, or even a song. For example, let’s suppose you want to analyze the lyrics to a popular song. Pretend that a rapper called Escalade has the biggest hit of the summer with a song titled “Missing You.” You listen to the song and determine that it is about the pain people feel when a loved one dies. You have already done analysis at a surface level and you want to begin writing your analysis. You start with the following thesis statement:

Escalade’s hit song “Missing You” is about grieving after a loved one dies.

There isn’t much depth or complexity to such a claim because the thesis doesn’t give much information. In order to write a better thesis statement, we need to dig deeper into the song. What is the importance of the lyrics? What are they really about? Why is the song about grieving? Why did he present it this way? Why is it a powerful song? Ask questions to lead you to further investigation. Doing so will help you better understand the work, but also help you develop a better thesis statement and stronger analytical essay.

Formulating an Analytical Thesis Statement

When formulating an analytical thesis statement in college, here are some helpful words and phrases to remember:

  • What? What is the claim?
  • How? How is this claim supported?
  • So what? In other words, “What does this mean, what are the implications, or why is this important?”

Telling readers what the lyrics are might be a useful way to let them see what you are analyzing and/or to isolate specific parts where you are focusing your analysis. However, you need to move far beyond “what.” Instructors at the college level want to see your ability to break down material and demonstrate deep thinking. The claim in the thesis statement above said that Escalade’s song was about loss, but what evidence do we have for that, and why does that matter?

Effective analytical thesis statements require digging deeper and perhaps examining the larger context. Let’s say you do some research and learn that the rapper’s mother died not long ago, and when you examine the lyrics more closely, you see that a few of the lines seem to be specifically about a mother rather than a loved one in general.

Then you also read a recent interview with Escalade in which he mentions that he’s staying away from hardcore rap lyrics on his new album in an effort to be more mainstream and reach more potential fans. Finally, you notice that some of the lyrics in the song focus on not taking full advantage of the time we have with our loved ones.   All of these pieces give you material to write a more complex thesis statement, maybe something like this:

In the hit song “Missing You,” Escalade draws on his experience of losing his mother and raps about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in order to connect with his audience.

Such a thesis statement is focused while still allowing plenty of room for support in the body of your paper. It addresses the questions posed above:

  • The claim is that Escalade connects with a broader audience by rapping about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in his hit song, “Missing You.”
  • This claim is supported in the lyrics of the song and through the “experience of losing his mother.”
  • The implications are that we should not take the time we have with people for granted.

Certainly, there may be many ways for you to address “what,” “how,” and “so what,” and you may want to explore other ideas, but the above example is just one way to more fully analyze the material. Note that the example above is not formulaic, but if you need help getting started, you could use this template format to help develop your thesis statement.

Through ________________(how?), we can see that __________________(what?), which is important because ___________________(so what?). [1]

Just remember to think about these questions (what? how? and so what?) as you try to determine why something is what it is or why something means what it means. Asking these questions can help you analyze a song, story, or work of art, and can also help you construct meaningful thesis sentences when you write an analytical paper.

Key Takeaways for analytical theses

Don’t be afraid to let your claim evolve organically . If you find that your thinking and writing don’t stick exactly to the thesis statement you have constructed, your options are to scrap the writing and start again to make it fit your claim (which might not always be possible) or to modify your thesis statement. The latter option can be much easier if you are okay with the changes. As with many projects in life, writing doesn’t always go in the direction we plan, and strong analysis may mean thinking about and making changes as you look more closely at your topic. Be flexible.

Use analysis to get you to the main claim. You may have heard the simile that analysis is like peeling an onion because you have to go through layers to complete your work. You can start the process of breaking down an idea or an artifact without knowing where it will lead you or without a main claim or idea to guide you. Often, careful assessment of the pieces will bring you to an interesting interpretation of the whole. In their text Writing Analytically , authors David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen posit that being analytical doesn’t mean just breaking something down. It also means constructing understandings. Don’t assume you need to have deeper interpretations all figured out as you start your work.

When you decide upon the main claim, make sure it is reasoned . In other words, if it is very unlikely anyone else would reach the same interpretation you are making, it might be off base. Not everyone needs to see an idea the same way you do, but a reasonable person should be able to understand, if not agree, with your analysis.

Look for analytical thesis statements in the following activity.

Using Evidence

An effective analytical thesis statement (or claim) may sound smart or slick, but it requires evidence to be fully realized. Consider movie trailers and the actual full-length movies they advertise as an analogy. If you see an exciting one-minute movie trailer online and then go see the film only to leave disappointed because all the good parts were in the trailer, you feel cheated, right? You think you were promised something that didn’t deliver in its execution. A paper with a strong thesis statement but lackluster evidence feels the same way to readers.

So what does strong analytical evidence look like? Think again about “what,” “how,” and “so what.” A claim introduces these interpretations, and evidence lets you show them. Keep in mind that evidence used in writing analytically will build on itself as the piece progresses, much like a good movie builds to an interesting climax.

Key Takeaways about evidence

Be selective about evidence. Having a narrow thesis statement will help you be selective with evidence, but even then, you don’t need to include any and every piece of information related to your main claim. Consider the best points to back up your analytic thesis statement and go deeply into them. (Also, remember that you may modify your thesis statement as you think and write, so being selective about what evidence you use in an analysis may actually help you narrow down what was a broad main claim as you work.) Refer back to our movie theme in this section: You have probably seen plenty of films that would have been better with some parts cut out and more attention paid to intriguing but underdeveloped characters and/or ideas.

Be clear and explicit with your evidence. Don’t assume that readers know exactly what you are thinking. Make your points and explain them in detail, providing information and context for readers, where necessary. Remember that analysis is critical examination and interpretation, but you can’t just assume that others always share or intuit your line of thinking. Need a movie analogy? Think back on all the times you or someone you know has said something like “I’m not sure what is going on in this movie.”

Move past obvious interpretations. Analyzing requires brainpower. Writing analytically is even more difficult. Don’t, however, try to take the easy way out by using obvious evidence (or working from an obvious claim). Many times writers have a couple of great pieces of evidence to support an interesting interpretation, but they feel the need to tack on an obvious idea—often more of an observation than analysis—somewhere in their work. This tendency may stem from the conventions of the five-paragraph essay, which features three points of support. Writing analytically, though, does not mean writing a five-paragraph essay (not much writing in college does). Develop your other evidence further or modify your main idea to allow room for additional strong evidence, but avoid obvious observations as support for your main claim. One last movie comparison? Go take a look at some of the debate on predictable Hollywood scripts. Have you ever watched a movie and felt like you have seen it before? You have, in one way or another. A sharp reader will be about as interested in obvious evidence as he or she will be in seeing a tired script reworked for the thousandth time.

One type of analysis you may be asked to write is a literary analysis, in which you examine a piece of text by breaking it down and looking for common literary elements, such as character, symbolism, plot, setting, imagery, and tone.

The video below compares writing a literary analysis to analyzing a team’s chances of winning a game—just as you would look at various factors like the weather, coaching, players, their record, and their motivation for playing. Similarly, when analyzing a literary text you want to look at all of the literary elements that contribute to the work.

The video takes you through the story of Cinderalla as an example, following the simplest possible angle (or thesis statement), that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.” (Note that if you were really asked to analyze Cinderella for a college class, you would want to dig deeper to find a more nuanced and interesting theme, but it works well for this example.) To analyze the story with this theme in mind, you’d want to consider the literary elements such as imagery, characters, dialogue, symbolism, the setting, plot, and tone, and consider how each of these contribute to the message that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.”

You can view the transcript for “How to Analyze Literature” here (opens in new window) .

  • UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center. "What, How and So What?" Approaching the Thesis as a Process. https://wp.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/UWC_handouts_What-How-So-What-Thesis-revised-5-4-15-RZ.pdf ↵
  • Keys to Successful Analysis. Authored by : Guy Krueger. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
  • Thesis Statement Activity. Authored by : Excelsior OWL. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/research/thesis-or-focus/thesis-or-focus-thesis-statement-activity/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
  • What is Analysis?. Authored by : Karen Forgette. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY: Attribution
  • How to Analyze Literature. Provided by : HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4BjZkQ5Nc . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

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5.7: Analytical Thesis Statements

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  • Page ID 189148

Learning Objective

  • Describe strategies for writing analytical thesis statements
  • Identify analytical thesis statements

In order to write an analysis, you want to first have a solid understanding of the thing you are analyzing. Remember, this means:

  • Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts
  • Uncovering relationships among those parts
  • Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions
  • Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations

You may be asked to analyze a book, an essay, a poem, a movie, or even a song. For example, let’s suppose you want to analyze the lyrics to a popular song. Pretend that a rapper called Escalade has the biggest hit of the summer with a song titled “Missing You.” You listen to the song and determine that it is about the pain people feel when a loved one dies. You have already done analysis at a surface level and you want to begin writing your analysis. You start with the following thesis statement:

“Escalade’s hit song “Missing You” is about being sad after a loved one dies.”

There isn’t much depth or complexity to such a claim because the thesis doesn’t give much information. In order to write a better thesis statement, we need to dig deeper into the song. What is the importance of the lyrics? What are they really about? Why is the song about being sad? Why did he present it this way? Why is it a powerful song? Ask questions to lead you to further investigation. Doing so will help you better understand the work, but also help you develop a better thesis statement and stronger analytical essay.

Formulating an Analytical Thesis Statement

When formulating an analytical thesis statement in college, there are three words/phrases to remember:

  • What? What is the claim?
  • How? How is this claim supported?
  • So what? In other words, “What does this mean, what are the implications, or why is this important?”

Telling readers what the lyrics are might be a useful way to let them see what you are analyzing and/or to isolate specific parts where you are focusing your analysis. However, you need to move far beyond “what.” Instructors at the college level want to see your ability to break down material and demonstrate deep thinking. The claim in the thesis statement above said that Escalade’s song was about being sad, but what evidence do we have for that, and why does that matter?

Effective analytical thesis statements require digging deeper and perhaps examining the larger context. Let’s say you do some research and learn that the rapper’s mother died not long ago, and when you examine the lyrics more closely, you see that a few of the lines seem to be specifically about a mother rather than a loved one in general.

Then you also read a recent interview with Escalade in which he mentions that he’s staying away from hardcore rap lyrics on his new album in an effort to be more mainstream and reach more potential fans. Finally, you notice that some of the lyrics in the song focus on not taking full advantage of the time we have with our loved ones. All of these pieces give you material to write a more complex thesis statement, maybe something like this:

“In the hit song ‘Missing You,’ Escalade draws on his experience of losing his mother and raps about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in order to connect with a broad audience.”

Such a thesis statement is focused while still allowing plenty of room for support in the body of your paper. It addresses the questions posed above:

  • The claim is that Escalade connects with a broader audience by rapping about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in his hit song, “Missing You.”
  • This claim is supported in the lyrics of the song and through the “experience of losing his mother.”
  • The implications are that we should not take valuable things for granted.

Certainly, there may be many ways for you to address “what,” “how,” and “so what,” and you may want to explore other ideas, but the above example is just one way to more fully analyze the material. Note that the example above is not formulaic, but if you need help getting started, you could use this template format to help develop your thesis statement.

Through ________________(how?), we can see that __________________(what?), which is important because ___________________(so what?). [1]

Just remember to think about these questions (what? how? and so what?) as you try to determine why something is what it is or why something means what it means. Asking these questions can help you analyze a song, story, or work of art, and can also help you construct meaningful thesis sentences when you write an analytical paper.

Key Takeaways for analytical theses

Don’t be afraid to let your claim evolve organically . If you find that your thinking and writing don’t stick exactly to the thesis statement you have constructed, your options are to scrap the writing and start again to make it fit your claim (which might not always be possible) or to modify your thesis statement. The latter option can be much easier if you are okay with the changes. As with many projects in life, writing doesn’t always go in the direction we plan, and strong analysis may mean thinking about and making changes as you look more closely at your topic. Be flexible.

Use analysis to get you to the main claim. You may have heard the simile that analysis is like peeling an onion because you have to go through layers to complete your work. You can start the process of breaking down an idea or an artifact without knowing where it will lead you or without a main claim or idea to guide you. Often, careful assessment of the pieces will bring you to an interesting interpretation of the whole. In their text Writing Analytically , authors David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen posit that being analytical doesn’t mean just breaking something down. It also means constructing understandings. Don’t assume you need to have deeper interpretations all figured out as you start your work.

When you decide upon the main claim, make sure it is reasoned . In other words, if it is very unlikely anyone else would reach the same interpretation you are making, it might be off base. Not everyone needs to see an idea the same way you do, but a reasonable person should be able to understand, if not agree, with your analysis.

Look for analytical thesis statements in the following activity.

https://lumenlearning.h5p.com/content/1290920118213584118/embed

Using Evidence

An effective analytical thesis statement (or claim) may sound smart or slick, but it requires evidence to be fully realized. Consider movie trailers and the actual full-length movies they advertise as an analogy. If you see an exciting one-minute movie trailer online and then go see the film only to leave disappointed because all the good parts were in the trailer, you feel cheated, right? You think you were promised something that didn’t deliver in its execution. A paper with a strong thesis statement but lackluster evidence feels the same way to readers.

So what does strong analytical evidence look like? Think again about “what,” “how,” and “so what.” A claim introduces these interpretations, and evidence lets you show them. Keep in mind that evidence used in writing analytically will build on itself as the piece progresses, much like a good movie builds to an interesting climax.

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20272

Key Takeaways about evidence

Be selective about evidence. Having a narrow thesis statement will help you be selective with evidence, but even then, you don’t need to include any and every piece of information related to your main claim. Consider the best points to back up your analytic thesis statement and go deeply into them. (Also, remember that you may modify your thesis statement as you think and write, so being selective about what evidence you use in an analysis may actually help you narrow down what was a broad main claim as you work.) Refer back to our movie theme in this section: You have probably seen plenty of films that would have been better with some parts cut out and more attention paid to intriguing but underdeveloped characters and/or ideas.

Be clear and explicit with your evidence. Don’t assume that readers know exactly what you are thinking. Make your points and explain them in detail, providing information and context for readers, where necessary. Remember that analysis is critical examination and interpretation, but you can’t just assume that others always share or intuit your line of thinking. Need a movie analogy? Think back on all the times you or someone you know has said something like “I’m not sure what is going on in this movie.”

Move past obvious interpretations. Analyzing requires brainpower. Writing analytically is even more difficult. Don’t, however, try to take the easy way out by using obvious evidence (or working from an obvious claim). Many times writers have a couple of great pieces of evidence to support an interesting interpretation, but they feel the need to tack on an obvious idea—often more of an observation than analysis—somewhere in their work. This tendency may stem from the conventions of the five-paragraph essay, which features three points of support. Writing analytically, though, does not mean writing a five-paragraph essay (not much writing in college does). Develop your other evidence further or modify your main idea to allow room for additional strong evidence, but avoid obvious observations as support for your main claim. One last movie comparison? Go take a look at some of the debate on predictable Hollywood scripts. Have you ever watched a movie and felt like you have seen it before? You have, in one way or another. A sharp reader will be about as interested in obvious evidence as he or she will be in seeing a tired script reworked for the thousandth time.

One type of analysis you may be asked to write is a literary analysis, in which you examine a piece of text by breaking it down and looking for common literary elements, such as character, symbolism, plot, setting, imagery, and tone.

The video below compares writing a literary analysis to analyzing a team’s chances of winning a game—just as you would look at various factors like the weather, coaching, players, their record, and their motivation for playing. Similarly, when analyzing a literary text you want to look at all of the literary elements that contribute to the work.

The video takes you through the story of Cinderalla as an example, following the simplest possible angle (or thesis statement), that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.” (Note that if you were really asked to analyze Cinderella for a college class, you would want to dig deeper to find a more nuanced and interesting theme, but it works well for this example.) To analyze the story with this theme in mind, you’d want to consider the literary elements such as imagery, characters, dialogue, symbolism, the setting, plot, and tone, and consider how each of these contribute to the message that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.”

You can view the transcript for “How to Analyze Literature” here (opens in new window) .

  • UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center. "What, How and So What?" Approaching the Thesis as a Process. https://wp.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/UWC_handouts_What-How-So-What-Thesis-revised-5-4-15-RZ.pdf ↵

Contributors and Attributions

  • Keys to Successful Analysis. Authored by : Guy Krueger. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
  • Thesis Statement Activity. Authored by : Excelsior OWL. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/research/thesis-or-focus/thesis-or-focus-thesis-statement-activity/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
  • What is Analysis?. Authored by : Karen Forgette. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY: Attribution
  • How to Analyze Literature. Provided by : HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4BjZkQ5Nc . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

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How To Write An Analytical Essay A Full Guide

thesis analytical research paper

Crafting an impeccable analytical essay is an art form that demands precision, insight, and a structured approach. Whether you’re delving into literature, dissecting historical events, or unraveling scientific theories, the ability to present a compelling analysis is pivotal. Here’s a comprehensive guide to navigate the intricate path of writing a flawless analytical essay.

What Is An Analytical Essay

An analytical essay is a type of academic writing that delves deeply into a topic, idea, or piece of literature. Unlike descriptive or narrative essays, which focus on providing a vivid description or telling a story, an analytical essay aims to examine and dissect its subject matter.

The primary objective of an analytical essay is to present a thorough analysis or interpretation of the subject, often breaking it down into its constituent parts and scrutinizing how they contribute to the whole.

Why Analytical Essay Is Important

Analytical essays play a pivotal role in developing critical thinking skills and fostering a deeper understanding of complex subjects. Through the meticulous examination and interpretation of information, these essays teach individuals how to dissect arguments, evaluate evidence, and form well-supported conclusions. They serve as a platform for honing analytical prowess, enabling individuals to engage with diverse perspectives, challenge assumptions, and articulate their insights effectively. Moreover, mastering the art of analytical essays equips individuals with invaluable skills applicable across various disciplines, fostering a capacity for logical reasoning, problem-solving, and persuasive communication—a skill set indispensable in academia, professional endeavors, and everyday life.

Tips For Writing A Good Analytical Essay

Understanding the essence.

To excel in analytical writing, one must comprehend the essence of analysis itself. It’s not merely about summarizing or narrating; it’s about deconstructing the core components, scrutinizing their significance, and synthesizing perspectives to derive insightful conclusions.

Devising a Strategic Blueprint

Begin with a comprehensive understanding of your subject matter. Formulate a thesis statement —a succinct encapsulation of your perspective—which serves as the guiding beacon throughout your essay. Craft an outline delineating key sections and their respective arguments, ensuring a logical flow that seamlessly connects each point.

The Pinnacle of Research

A sturdy analytical essay is built upon a foundation of rigorous research. Delve into reputable sources, be it scholarly articles, books, or credible online repositories. Gather diverse perspectives and data to fortify your arguments, but always uphold the standards of credibility and relevance.

Structure: The Backbone of Brilliance

A well-structured essay is akin to an architectural marvel. The introduction should entice readers with a gripping hook, provide context, and introduce the thesis statement. The body paragraphs, each beginning with a topic sentence, should expound on individual arguments supported by evidence and analysis. Finally, the conclusion should reaffirm the thesis while offering a nuanced synthesis of the essay’s core ideas.

The Art of Analysis

Here’s where the magic unfolds. Analyze, dissect, and interpret the data and evidence gathered. Scrutinize underlying themes, dissect intricate details, and juxtapose contrasting viewpoints. Employ analytical tools pertinent to your subject, such as literary devices for literature analyses, statistical methods for scientific inquiries, or historical frameworks for historical essays.

Precision in Language and Style

The language employed in an analytical essay should be precise, articulate, and tailored to convey complex ideas clearly. Utilize a formal tone, vary sentence structures, and employ transitions to ensure a seamless progression of ideas. Embrace clarity and coherence as your allies in elucidating intricate analyses.

Revisiting and Refining

Revision is the crucible wherein a good essay transforms into a great one. Review your work meticulously—check for coherence, refine arguments, ensure logical transitions, and verify the alignment of evidence with your thesis. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to gain diverse perspectives and refine your essay further.

Conclusion: A Culmination of Mastery

In conclusion, a perfect analytical essay isn’t merely a collection of facts and opinions; it’s an orchestrated symphony of critical thinking, analysis, and eloquent expression. Embrace the journey of discovery, relish the complexities, and let your essay resonate as a testament to your mastery of analytical prowess.

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An analytical essay service encapsulates the culmination of rigorous analysis, insightful interpretation, and concise articulation. It serves as the pinnacle of intellectual prowess, combining critical thinking with eloquent expression to offer a profound understanding of complex subjects. So if you are still wondering about analytical essay writing then ask our writers and get our do my essay help services.

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Do you need to write an analytical essay for school? What sets this kind of essay apart from other types, and what must you include when you write your own analytical essay? In this guide, we break down the process of writing an analytical essay by explaining the key factors your essay needs to have, providing you with an outline to help you structure your essay, and analyzing a complete analytical essay example so you can see what a finished essay looks like.

What Is an Analytical Essay?

Before you begin writing an analytical essay, you must know what this type of essay is and what it includes. Analytical essays analyze something, often (but not always) a piece of writing or a film.

An analytical essay is more than just a synopsis of the issue though; in this type of essay you need to go beyond surface-level analysis and look at what the key arguments/points of this issue are and why. If you’re writing an analytical essay about a piece of writing, you’ll look into how the text was written and why the author chose to write it that way. Instead of summarizing, an analytical essay typically takes a narrower focus and looks at areas such as major themes in the work, how the author constructed and supported their argument, how the essay used literary devices to enhance its messages, etc.

While you certainly want people to agree with what you’ve written, unlike with persuasive and argumentative essays, your main purpose when writing an analytical essay isn’t to try to convert readers to your side of the issue. Therefore, you won’t be using strong persuasive language like you would in those essay types. Rather, your goal is to have enough analysis and examples that the strength of your argument is clear to readers.

Besides typical essay components like an introduction and conclusion, a good analytical essay will include:

  • A thesis that states your main argument
  • Analysis that relates back to your thesis and supports it
  • Examples to support your analysis and allow a more in-depth look at the issue

In the rest of this article, we’ll explain how to include each of these in your analytical essay.

How to Structure Your Analytical Essay

Analytical essays are structured similarly to many other essays you’ve written, with an introduction (including a thesis), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below is an outline you can follow when structuring your essay, and in the next section we go into more detail on how to write an analytical essay.

Introduction

Your introduction will begin with some sort of attention-grabbing sentence to get your audience interested, then you’ll give a few sentences setting up the topic so that readers have some context, and you’ll end with your thesis statement. Your introduction will include:

  • Brief background information explaining the issue/text
  • Your thesis

Body Paragraphs

Your analytical essay will typically have three or four body paragraphs, each covering a different point of analysis. Begin each body paragraph with a sentence that sets up the main point you’ll be discussing. Then you’ll give some analysis on that point, backing it up with evidence to support your claim. Continue analyzing and giving evidence for your analysis until you’re out of strong points for the topic. At the end of each body paragraph, you may choose to have a transition sentence that sets up what the next paragraph will be about, but this isn’t required. Body paragraphs will include:

  • Introductory sentence explaining what you’ll cover in the paragraph (sort of like a mini-thesis)
  • Analysis point
  • Evidence (either passages from the text or data/facts) that supports the analysis
  • (Repeat analysis and evidence until you run out of examples)

You won’t be making any new points in your conclusion; at this point you’re just reiterating key points you’ve already made and wrapping things up. Begin by rephrasing your thesis and summarizing the main points you made in the essay. Someone who reads just your conclusion should be able to come away with a basic idea of what your essay was about and how it was structured. After this, you may choose to make some final concluding thoughts, potentially by connecting your essay topic to larger issues to show why it’s important. A conclusion will include:

  • Paraphrase of thesis
  • Summary of key points of analysis
  • Final concluding thought(s)

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5 Steps for Writing an Analytical Essay

Follow these five tips to break down writing an analytical essay into manageable steps. By the end, you’ll have a fully-crafted analytical essay with both in-depth analysis and enough evidence to support your argument. All of these steps use the completed analytical essay in the next section as an example.

#1: Pick a Topic

You may have already had a topic assigned to you, and if that’s the case, you can skip this step. However, if you haven’t, or if the topic you’ve been assigned is broad enough that you still need to narrow it down, then you’ll need to decide on a topic for yourself. Choosing the right topic can mean the difference between an analytical essay that’s easy to research (and gets you a good grade) and one that takes hours just to find a few decent points to analyze

Before you decide on an analytical essay topic, do a bit of research to make sure you have enough examples to support your analysis. If you choose a topic that’s too narrow, you’ll struggle to find enough to write about.

For example, say your teacher assigns you to write an analytical essay about the theme in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath of exposing injustices against migrants. For it to be an analytical essay, you can’t just recount the injustices characters in the book faced; that’s only a summary and doesn’t include analysis. You need to choose a topic that allows you to analyze the theme. One of the best ways to explore a theme is to analyze how the author made his/her argument. One example here is that Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters (short chapters that didn’t relate to the plot or contain the main characters of the book) to show what life was like for migrants as a whole during the Dust Bowl.

You could write about how Steinbeck used literary devices throughout the whole book, but, in the essay below, I chose to just focus on the intercalary chapters since they gave me enough examples. Having a narrower focus will nearly always result in a tighter and more convincing essay (and can make compiling examples less overwhelming).

#2: Write a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the most important sentence of your essay; a reader should be able to read just your thesis and understand what the entire essay is about and what you’ll be analyzing. When you begin writing, remember that each sentence in your analytical essay should relate back to your thesis

In the analytical essay example below, the thesis is the final sentence of the first paragraph (the traditional spot for it). The thesis is: “In The Grapes of Wrath’s intercalary chapters, John Steinbeck employs a variety of literary devices and stylistic choices to better expose the injustices committed against migrants in the 1930s.” So what will this essay analyze? How Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants could have it. Crystal clear.

#3: Do Research to Find Your Main Points

This is where you determine the bulk of your analysis--the information that makes your essay an analytical essay. My preferred method is to list every idea that I can think of, then research each of those and use the three or four strongest ones for your essay. Weaker points may be those that don’t relate back to the thesis, that you don’t have much analysis to discuss, or that you can’t find good examples for. A good rule of thumb is to have one body paragraph per main point

This essay has four main points, each of which analyzes a different literary device Steinbeck uses to better illustrate how difficult life was for migrants during the Dust Bowl. The four literary devices and their impact on the book are:

  • Lack of individual names in intercalary chapters to illustrate the scope of the problem
  • Parallels to the Bible to induce sympathy for the migrants
  • Non-showy, often grammatically-incorrect language so the migrants are more realistic and relatable to readers
  • Nature-related metaphors to affect the mood of the writing and reflect the plight of the migrants

#4: Find Excerpts or Evidence to Support Your Analysis

Now that you have your main points, you need to back them up. If you’re writing a paper about a text or film, use passages/clips from it as your main source of evidence. If you’re writing about something else, your evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as surveys, experiments, quotes from knowledgeable sources etc. Any evidence that would work for a regular research paper works here.

In this example, I quoted multiple passages from The Grapes of Wrath  in each paragraph to support my argument. You should be able to back up every claim you make with evidence in order to have a strong essay.

#5: Put It All Together

Now it's time to begin writing your essay, if you haven’t already. Create an introductory paragraph that ends with the thesis, make a body paragraph for each of your main points, including both analysis and evidence to back up your claims, and wrap it all up with a conclusion that recaps your thesis and main points and potentially explains the big picture importance of the topic.

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Analytical Essay Example + Analysis

So that you can see for yourself what a completed analytical essay looks like, here’s an essay I wrote back in my high school days. It’s followed by analysis of how I structured my essay, what its strengths are, and how it could be improved.

One way Steinbeck illustrates the connections all migrant people possessed and the struggles they faced is by refraining from using specific titles and names in his intercalary chapters. While The Grapes of Wrath focuses on the Joad family, the intercalary chapters show that all migrants share the same struggles and triumphs as the Joads. No individual names are used in these chapters; instead the people are referred to as part of a group. Steinbeck writes, “Frantic men pounded on the doors of the doctors; and the doctors were busy.  And sad men left word at country stores for the coroner to send a car,” (555). By using generic terms, Steinbeck shows how the migrants are all linked because they have gone through the same experiences. The grievances committed against one family were committed against thousands of other families; the abuse extends far beyond what the Joads experienced. The Grapes of Wrath frequently refers to the importance of coming together; how, when people connect with others their power and influence multiplies immensely. Throughout the novel, the goal of the migrants, the key to their triumph, has been to unite. While their plans are repeatedly frustrated by the government and police, Steinbeck’s intercalary chapters provide a way for the migrants to relate to one another because they have encountered the same experiences. Hundreds of thousands of migrants fled to the promised land of California, but Steinbeck was aware that numbers alone were impersonal and lacked the passion he desired to spread. Steinbeck created the intercalary chapters to show the massive numbers of people suffering, and he created the Joad family to evoke compassion from readers.  Because readers come to sympathize with the Joads, they become more sensitive to the struggles of migrants in general. However, John Steinbeck frequently made clear that the Joads were not an isolated incident; they were not unique. Their struggles and triumphs were part of something greater. Refraining from specific names in his intercalary chapters allows Steinbeck to show the vastness of the atrocities committed against migrants.

Steinbeck also creates significant parallels to the Bible in his intercalary chapters in order to enhance his writing and characters. By using simple sentences and stylized writing, Steinbeck evokes Biblical passages. The migrants despair, “No work till spring. No work,” (556).  Short, direct sentences help to better convey the desperateness of the migrants’ situation. Throughout his novel, John Steinbeck makes connections to the Bible through his characters and storyline. Jim Casy’s allusions to Christ and the cycle of drought and flooding are clear biblical references.  By choosing to relate The Grapes of Wrath to the Bible, Steinbeck’s characters become greater than themselves. Starving migrants become more than destitute vagrants; they are now the chosen people escaping to the promised land. When a forgotten man dies alone and unnoticed, it becomes a tragedy. Steinbeck writes, “If [the migrants] were shot at, they did not run, but splashed sullenly away; and if they were hit, they sank tiredly in the mud,” (556). Injustices committed against the migrants become greater because they are seen as children of God through Steinbeck’s choice of language. Referencing the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s novel and purpose: to create understanding for the dispossessed.  It is easy for people to feel disdain for shabby vagabonds, but connecting them to such a fundamental aspect of Christianity induces sympathy from readers who might have otherwise disregarded the migrants as so many other people did.

The simple, uneducated dialogue Steinbeck employs also helps to create a more honest and meaningful representation of the migrants, and it makes the migrants more relatable to readers. Steinbeck chooses to accurately represent the language of the migrants in order to more clearly illustrate their lives and make them seem more like real paper than just characters in a book. The migrants lament, “They ain’t gonna be no kinda work for three months,” (555). There are multiple grammatical errors in that single sentence, but it vividly conveys the despair the migrants felt better than a technically perfect sentence would. The Grapes of Wrath is intended to show the severe difficulties facing the migrants so Steinbeck employs a clear, pragmatic style of writing.  Steinbeck shows the harsh, truthful realities of the migrants’ lives and he would be hypocritical if he chose to give the migrants a more refined voice and not portray them with all their shortcomings. The depiction of the migrants as imperfect through their language also makes them easier to relate to. Steinbeck’s primary audience was the middle class, the less affluent of society. Repeatedly in The Grapes of Wrath , the wealthy make it obvious that they scorn the plight of the migrants. The wealthy, not bad luck or natural disasters, were the prominent cause of the suffering of migrant families such as the Joads. Thus, Steinbeck turns to the less prosperous for support in his novel. When referring to the superior living conditions barnyard animals have, the migrants remark, “Them’s horses-we’re men,” (556).  The perfect simplicity of this quote expresses the absurdness of the migrants’ situation better than any flowery expression could.

In The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck uses metaphors, particularly about nature, in order to illustrate the mood and the overall plight of migrants. Throughout most of the book, the land is described as dusty, barren, and dead. Towards the end, however; floods come and the landscape begins to change. At the end of chapter twenty-nine, Steinbeck describes a hill after the floods saying, “Tiny points of grass came through the earth, and in a few days the hills were pale green with the beginning year,” (556). This description offers a stark contrast from the earlier passages which were filled with despair and destruction. Steinbeck’s tone from the beginning of the chapter changes drastically. Early in the chapter, Steinbeck had used heavy imagery in order to convey the destruction caused by the rain, “The streams and the little rivers edged up to the bank sides and worked at willows and tree roots, bent the willows deep in the current, cut out the roots of cottonwoods and brought down the trees,” (553). However, at the end of the chapter the rain has caused new life to grow in California. The new grass becomes a metaphor representing hope. When the migrants are at a loss over how they will survive the winter, the grass offers reassurance. The story of the migrants in the intercalary chapters parallels that of the Joads. At the end of the novel, the family is breaking apart and has been forced to flee their home. However, both the book and final intercalary chapter end on a hopeful note after so much suffering has occurred. The grass metaphor strengthens Steinbeck’s message because it offers a tangible example of hope. Through his language Steinbeck’s themes become apparent at the end of the novel. Steinbeck affirms that persistence, even when problems appear insurmountable, leads to success. These metaphors help to strengthen Steinbeck’s themes in The Grapes of Wrath because they provide a more memorable way to recall important messages.

John Steinbeck’s language choices help to intensify his writing in his intercalary chapters and allow him to more clearly show how difficult life for migrants could be. Refraining from using specific names and terms allows Steinbeck to show that many thousands of migrants suffered through the same wrongs. Imitating the style of the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s characters and connects them to the Bible, perhaps the most famous book in history. When Steinbeck writes in the imperfect dialogue of the migrants, he creates a more accurate portrayal and makes the migrants easier to relate to for a less affluent audience. Metaphors, particularly relating to nature, strengthen the themes in The Grapes of Wrath by enhancing the mood Steinbeck wants readers to feel at different points in the book. Overall, the intercalary chapters that Steinbeck includes improve his novel by making it more memorable and reinforcing the themes Steinbeck embraces throughout the novel. Exemplary stylistic devices further persuade readers of John Steinbeck’s personal beliefs. Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath to bring to light cruelties against migrants, and by using literary devices effectively, he continuously reminds readers of his purpose. Steinbeck’s impressive language choices in his intercalary chapters advance the entire novel and help to create a classic work of literature that people still are able to relate to today. 

This essay sticks pretty closely to the standard analytical essay outline. It starts with an introduction, where I chose to use a quote to start off the essay. (This became my favorite way to start essays in high school because, if I wasn’t sure what to say, I could outsource the work and find a quote that related to what I’d be writing about.) The quote in this essay doesn’t relate to the themes I’m discussing quite as much as it could, but it’s still a slightly different way to start an essay and can intrigue readers. I then give a bit of background on The Grapes of Wrath and its themes before ending the intro paragraph with my thesis: that Steinbeck used literary devices in intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants had it.

Each of my four body paragraphs is formatted in roughly the same way: an intro sentence that explains what I’ll be discussing, analysis of that main point, and at least two quotes from the book as evidence.

My conclusion restates my thesis, summarizes each of four points I discussed in my body paragraphs, and ends the essay by briefly discussing how Steinbeck’s writing helped introduce a world of readers to the injustices migrants experienced during the dust bowl.

What does this analytical essay example do well? For starters, it contains everything that a strong analytical essay should, and it makes that easy to find. The thesis clearly lays out what the essay will be about, the first sentence of each of the body paragraph introduces the topic it’ll cover, and the conclusion neatly recaps all the main points. Within each of the body paragraphs, there’s analysis along with multiple excerpts from the book in order to add legitimacy to my points.

Additionally, the essay does a good job of taking an in-depth look at the issue introduced in the thesis. Four ways Steinbeck used literary devices are discussed, and for each of the examples are given and analysis is provided so readers can understand why Steinbeck included those devices and how they helped shaped how readers viewed migrants and their plight.

Where could this essay be improved? I believe the weakest body paragraph is the third one, the one that discusses how Steinbeck used plain, grammatically incorrect language to both accurately depict the migrants and make them more relatable to readers. The paragraph tries to touch on both of those reasons and ends up being somewhat unfocused as a result. It would have been better for it to focus on just one of those reasons (likely how it made the migrants more relatable) in order to be clearer and more effective. It’s a good example of how adding more ideas to an essay often doesn’t make it better if they don’t work with the rest of what you’re writing. This essay also could explain the excerpts that are included more and how they relate to the points being made. Sometimes they’re just dropped in the essay with the expectation that the readers will make the connection between the example and the analysis. This is perhaps especially true in the second body paragraph, the one that discusses similarities to Biblical passages. Additional analysis of the quotes would have strengthened it.

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Summary: How to Write an Analytical Essay

What is an analytical essay? A critical analytical essay analyzes a topic, often a text or film. The analysis paper uses evidence to support the argument, such as excerpts from the piece of writing. All analytical papers include a thesis, analysis of the topic, and evidence to support that analysis.

When developing an analytical essay outline and writing your essay, follow these five steps:

Reading analytical essay examples can also give you a better sense of how to structure your essay and what to include in it.

What's Next?

Learning about different writing styles in school? There are four main writing styles, and it's important to understand each of them. Learn about them in our guide to writing styles , complete with examples.

Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Literary devices can both be used to enhance your writing and communication. Check out this list of 31 literary devices to learn more !

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Unveiling Analytical Papers: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever wrestled with a text, movie, or historical event that seemed to have a thousand different interpretations? Analytical papers help you turn that chaos into clarity. Get the tools to dissect information, develop a strong thesis, and present your analysis in a way that guides your reader to a new understanding.

Foundations of Analytical Writing

Analytical papers go beyond description and surface-level understanding. They demand critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and a knack for revealing deeper meanings. Let's examine the building blocks of a successful analytical paper:

Question Everything: Be skeptical of information presented at face value. Ask "why" and "how" to probe beyond what might seem obvious.

Break It Down: Analyze the components of an argument, text, dataset, or concept to understand how individual parts contribute to the whole.

Look for Connections: Identify patterns, relationships, and contradictions within your subject matter. This helps formulate insightful interpretations.

Evaluate Your Evidence: Assess the credibility, relevance, and potential biases present within your sources.

Is Critical Thinking the Core of Analytical Writing?

Yes! Analytical writing without critical thinking is like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces. Here's why it's the foundation for strong analysis:

Avoiding Superficiality: Critical thinking helps you go beyond mere summary, digging into the meaning and significance of your findings.

Strong Arguments: It allows you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing evidence, enabling you to build your own well-supported analysis.

Original Insights: Critical thinking pushes you to make connections and form new interpretations that aren't immediately obvious.

Developing a Thesis Statement

Similar to argumentative papers, your analytical thesis needs to be clear and focused, but it doesn't necessarily stake out a side to defend:

Declarative, Not Questioning: Your thesis should assert an original interpretation or argument about the subject of your analysis.

Analytical Angle: Example: "By comparing its use of light and shadow with other Impressionist works, this paper argues that Monet's painting 'Sunrise' represents a pivotal moment in the movement."

Insight Focused: A strong thesis makes a claim beyond the obvious, highlighting an interpretation or relationship within the subject matter.

Evidence and Supporting Arguments

In analytical papers, evidence extends beyond just supporting a side in an argument. Here's how it bolsters your analysis:

Types of Evidence: Depending on your topic, this could include textual citations, data sets, historical examples, scientific observations, or even analysis of creative elements within artwork or literature.

Connect the Dots: Clearly demonstrate how each piece of evidence reinforces your thesis and your overall interpretation.

Address Potential Challenges: If there's evidence that could contradict your analysis, consider discussing it preemptively to illustrate your thoughtful consideration of the topic.

Structuring Your Analytical Paper

While every analytical paper should be structured for clarity, there's flexibility in how you achieve this. Let's explore a common framework and discuss when a unique structure might be beneficial:

A Traditional Approach

Introduction: Grab the reader's attention with a relevant anecdote, question, or summary of the subject matter. Clearly state your thesis, outlining the analytical approach you'll take.

Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph focuses on one distinct aspect of your analysis. Start with a clear topic sentence that supports your thesis. Use evidence strategically to illustrate your interpretation.

Counterarguments (Optional): If relevant, dedicate a paragraph to acknowledging and briefly refuting potential opposing viewpoints.

Conclusion: Restate your thesis in a new way. Don't just summarize! Discuss the broader significance of your analysis and/or potential areas for further exploration.

Does Every Analytical Paper Require a Standard Structure?

While a clear structure is always a must, there are cases where experimentation can be beneficial:

Comparative Analysis: Examining multiple texts/data sets side-by-side might need a structure where body paragraphs examine each item under the same analytical lens before drawing a final comparison.

Chronological Analysis: If your argument is based on development over time in a work of literature, dataset, or historical event, a chronological approach may make more sense.

Thematic Analysis: If your paper dissects various themes within a work, paragraphs focused on individual themes could be more logical.

Organizing Your Analysis

The body paragraphs are the meat of your paper. Here are ways to ensure a coherent progression:

Smaller to Bigger Analysis: Start with a close examination of specific evidence, then gradually broaden your focus to encompass larger implications.

Most to Least Convincing: Order your arguments strategically, building a case from strongest to weakest.

Transitions are Key: Use transition words (e.g., "furthermore," "however," "therefore") to guide the reader through your thought process.

Incorporating Counterarguments

Counterarguments in an analytical paper demonstrate you've considered all angles. Here's when they are most beneficial:

Prevailing Opposing Views: If there's a common interpretation that you disagree with, dedicate space to dismantling it, strengthening your own analysis in the process.

When Evidence Can Be Multi-Interpretive: Discuss alternative ways of reading a key piece of evidence, ultimately arguing why your own interpretation is the most compelling.

Important: Keep counterarguments focused. Your primary goal is still to develop your own analysis, not get sidetracked by extensive refutation.

Choosing Topics for Analytical Papers

The best analytical paper topics strike a balance: they are broad enough to allow for multifaceted analysis, yet focused enough to ensure a detailed and insightful exploration. Let's delve into topic selection strategies and examples!

Look for Layers: Choose a subject with the potential for multiple angles. A poem, historical event, scientific dataset – what different lenses could you apply? (literary analysis, social context, statistical trends, etc.)

Seek Out Contention: Where is there room for debate, interpretation, or varying viewpoints? These areas are ripe for original analysis.

Passion Meets Potential: Are you drawn to a specific subject area? Dig into it to find a specific aspect with enough research material to allow for deeper analysis.

Are Broad Topics Better for Analytical Papers?

Here's why a focused topic leads to a stronger analytical paper:

Avoid Superficiality: Trying to analyze a broad topic often leaves room for only surface-level insights.

Digging Deeper: A tight focus allows thorough examination of the evidence, leading to more meaningful interpretations.

Demonstrating Mastery: Thorough analysis of a smaller topic highlights your depth of understanding.

Topic Examples for Analytical Inspiration

Literature: Analyze the recurring motif of nature in a specific author's works.

History: Explore the influence of a specific economic policy on a society, or compare first-hand accounts of a pivotal historical event.

Science: Analyze data trends from an experiment and discuss potential implications.

Art and Media: Examine the use of symbolism in a specific film/artwork, or dissect the portrayal of a social issue within a media genre.

Tips for Topic Refinement:

Start Broad, Then Narrow: Brainstorm a broad area of interest, then progressively narrow your focus until you have a manageable topic with sufficient depth.

Test With Preliminary Research: Does a quick search reveal enough scholarly debate, potential primary sources, or data to support your analysis?

"So What?" Test: If you can't articulate what unique insights your analysis would reveal, the topic may be too broad or obvious.

Crafting the Conclusion

A strong conclusion doesn't just wrap up your analytical paper; it highlights the significance of your findings and may even open doors for future inquiry. Here's how to hit those essential notes:

Synthesize, Don't Summarize: Remind the reader of your thesis, but rephrase it in light of the analysis you've conducted. Don't just list your main points.

Highlight the "So What?": Explain the broader significance of your analysis. How does it expand our understanding of the subject matter?

Potential Implications: If relevant, consider briefly discussing what your analysis implies for further research or real-world applications.

Incisive Closing: Leave the reader with a memorable thought, related to your analysis, that reinforces the paper's overall impact.

Can Conclusions Introduce New Ideas?

While conclusions can suggest avenues for further research, introducing entirely new concepts in your concluding remarks disrupts the flow of the paper and undermines your core argument:

Maintaining Focus: New ideas at the end distract from the main thesis and analysis you've carefully crafted.

Coherence is King: Your conclusion should be a logical culmination of the preceding paragraphs, not a sudden tangent.

Space Constraints: Conclusions are typically brief. There isn't room to thoroughly develop a brand new concept.

Tips for Impactful Conclusions

Think Back to the Introduction: Did you open with a hook (question, quote, anecdote)? Find a way to subtly answer or revisit that opening in your conclusion.

Elevating Your Language: The conclusion is a moment to use slightly more sophisticated language to emphasize the significance of your analysis.

Note: Analytical papers often don't have single, definitive answers. It's perfectly fine to acknowledge limitations in the existing research or areas where further investigation could shed even more light on the topic.

Revision and Refinement

The revision stage is where your analytical paper achieves its true potential. Here's how you can improve your work and ensure it makes the strongest possible impact:

Clarity: Could a reader unfamiliar with the subject easily understand your analysis? Rework any convoluted phrases, and eliminate jargon.

Coherence: Do paragraphs flow logically, and is the connection between your arguments and thesis crystal clear?

Strength of Argument: Scrutinize your evidence. Is there a way to use it more effectively? Can you address potential counterarguments more thoroughly?

Take a Step Back: If possible, set your paper aside for a day or two, and then return with fresh eyes. You'll be surprised at what you catch!

Seeking Feedback

Feedback is an analytical writer's superpower! Here's how to tap into its value:

Peer Reviews: Exchange drafts with a classmate. They may spot issues with flow or clarity that you've overlooked.

Instructor Guidance: Your instructor provides insights specifically tailored to the assignment goals. Implement their feedback diligently.

Seek Diverse Perspectives: If possible, getting feedback from someone less familiar with your topic can help identify areas where extra clarity might be needed for a general reader.

How to Utilize Feedback Effectively

Be Open-Minded: Don't be defensive! Seek to understand the feedback's intent, even if you don't agree initially.

Ask for Specifics: If a comment is vague (e.g., "This part is confusing"), ask for clarification on what exactly caused the confusion.

You're Still in Charge: It's your paper! Feedback is guidance, but you get to decide which suggestions make sense to incorporate. Sometimes, feedback highlights a difference in interpretation, not a wrong answer.

Tips for Effective Peer Review

Giving good feedback is a skill as crucial as receiving it. Here's how to help your colleagues:

The Sandwich Approach: Start with something positive, then deliver constructive criticism, then end with a suggestion for improvement.

Focus on Big Picture First: Does the thesis make sense? Does the evidence support it? Nail the fundamentals before commenting on sentence-level issues.

Annotate Directly: If you're exchanging papers digitally, make comments directly on the draft for targeted feedback.

Navigating Challenges in Analytical Writing

Even seasoned writers face obstacles in the analytical process. Let's examine common challenges and equip you with strategic solutions:

Challenge #1: Finding Focus

Problem: You start with a general interest area but struggle to narrow down a specific analytical question to guide your paper.

Preliminary Research: Skim a few key articles/texts related to the topic and note where there are debates, unresolved questions, or contrasting interpretations.

Brainstorming with Guidance: Discuss your broad interests with your instructor or librarian. They can help you hone in on an analytical angle.

Challenge #2: Insufficient Evidence or Analysis

Problem: Your argument feels weak, or like you're just circling the same point, unable to delve deeper.

Revisit Sources: Is there additional relevant data or theoretical frameworks you missed that could inform your analysis?

Change Your Analytical Lens: Have you tried applying a different critical theory, examining context/authorship, or comparing it to a similar text? Variety adds depth.

Challenge #3: Clarity and Coherence

Problem: You grasp your ideas, but struggle to articulate them clearly on paper, or paragraphs feel clunky and disconnected.

Reverse Outlining: Write a list summarizing the main point of each body paragraph after it's written. Does it flow logically? Identify gaps or transitions that could be smoother.

Explain It Out Loud: Try explaining your analysis to a friend. Where do you stumble in your explanation? Those areas probably need clarification on paper, too.

Is Seeking External Feedback Essential in Overcoming Writing Challenges?

Fresh Eyes Catch What You Miss: You become too immersed in your own thinking and can easily overlook areas of confusion or weak arguments.

Identifies Unconscious Bias: A good feedback provider may point out hidden assumptions or potential blind spots you hadn't even recognized in your own analysis.

Enforces Accountability: Knowing someone will read your work encourages you to put in that extra revision effort.

Exploring the Landscape of Research Papers

The world of research papers is diverse, with each type serving a distinct academic purpose. Analytical papers occupy a pivotal position within this landscape, providing the tools for critical dissection, interpretation, and insight. Let's explore their place within the broader spectrum of research papers :

Types of Research Papers

Empirical Research Papers: Focus on the author's original data collection (surveys, experiments).

Review Papers: Synthesize existing research on a topic to identify trends or highlight gaps in knowledge.

Argumentative Papers: Advocate for a specific viewpoint, supported by credible evidence.

Analytical Papers: Break down information to reveal insights, relationships, and interpretations.

Definition Papers: Explain complex concepts and establish a shared understanding of terms.

Compare and Contrast Papers: Examine similarities and differences between concepts, theories, or events for insights.

Cause and Effect Papers: Investigate the underlying factors leading to specific outcomes or phenomena.

Connection to Argumentative Papers

While analytical and argumentative papers have distinct aims, they strongly overlap:

The Foundation of Argument: Strong argumentative papers often incorporate analysis. You might analyze data to support a claim or dissect a text to highlight flaws in an opposing viewpoint.

Shared Skills: Both require critical thinking, effective use of evidence, and clear organization.

Defining Through Analysis

Clarity as a Precursor: Defining a complex term or concept is often the first step before deeper analysis can take place.

Example: A paper analyzing the impact of social media on mental health must first establish a working definition of "mental health" that draws on scholarly consensus.

Comparing and Contrasting as Analytical Tools

Within analytical papers, comparing and contrasting can be powerful tools:

Identifying Nuances: Comparing two artistic works under the same analytical lens (e.g., feminist theory) can highlight subtle differences in the portrayal of similar themes.

Revealing Contradiction: Contrasting opposing viewpoints on an economic policy can expose weaknesses in the supporting data or reveal hidden assumptions.

Analyzing Cause and Effect

Analytical papers can delve into cause and effect , but with a key distinction:

Beyond Just Identifying: Analysis adds complexity. Is it a single cause, multiple contributing factors, or a chain reaction?

Correlation ≠ Causation: Analytical papers emphasize that while correlation may be suggestive, proving true causation often requires a more robust methodology than a single paper can offer.

The Beauty of the Spectrum: While each paper type has its purpose, they often intersect. A good writer blends analytical techniques within other frameworks to strengthen their overall findings.

Crafting Your Analytical Masterpiece: A Final Reflection

Writing an analytical paper involves meticulous research, thoughtful analysis, and careful synthesis. Through exploring credible sources, forming your own interpretations, and weaving those insights into a coherent structure, you have sharpened your critical thinking skills.

Embrace the challenges you've faced, the revisions undertaken, and the insights gained throughout your analysis Each analytical paper you write strengthens your ability to see the world through a critical lens, gaining a deeper understanding of the subjects that shape our world.

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Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are essentially two basic types of research papers. These are argumentative and analytical .

Argumentative

In an argumentative research paper, a student both states the topic they will be exploring and immediately establishes the position they will argue regarding that topic in a thesis statement . This type of paper hopes to persuade its reader to adopt the view presented.

 Example : a paper that argues the merits of early exposure to reading for children would be an argumentative essay.

An analytical research paper states the topic that the writer will be exploring, usually in the form of a question, initially taking a neutral stance. The body of the paper will present multifaceted information and, ultimately, the writer will state their conclusion, based on the information that has unfolded throughout the course of the essay. This type of paper hopes to offer a well-supported critical analysis without necessarily persuading the reader to any particular way of thinking.

Example : a paper that explores the use of metaphor in one of Shakespeare's sonnets would be an example of an analytical essay.

*Please note that this LibGuide will primarily be concerning itself with argumentative or rhetorical research papers.

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A strong analytical question

  • speaks to a genuine dilemma presented by your sources . In other words, the question focuses on a real confusion, problem, ambiguity, or gray area, about which readers will conceivably have different reactions, opinions, or ideas.  
  • yields an answer that is not obvious . If you ask, "What did this author say about this topic?” there’s nothing to explore because any reader of that text would answer that question in the same way. But if you ask, “how can we reconcile point A and point B in this text,” readers will want to see how you solve that inconsistency in your essay.  
  • suggests an answer complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of discussion. If the question is too vague, it won't suggest a line of argument. The question should elicit reflection and argument rather than summary or description.  
  • can be explored using the sources you have available for the assignment , rather than by generalizations or by research beyond the scope of your assignment.  

How to come up with an analytical question  

One useful starting point when you’re trying to identify an analytical question is to look for points of tension in your sources, either within one source or among sources. It can be helpful to think of those points of tension as the moments where you need to stop and think before you can move forward. Here are some examples of where you may find points of tension:

  • You may read a published view that doesn’t seem convincing to you, and you may want to ask a question about what’s missing or about how the evidence might be reconsidered.  
  • You may notice an inconsistency, gap, or ambiguity in the evidence, and you may want to explore how that changes your understanding of something.  
  • You may identify an unexpected wrinkle that you think deserves more attention, and you may want to ask a question about it.  
  • You may notice an unexpected conclusion that you think doesn’t quite add up, and you may want to ask how the authors of a source reached that conclusion.  
  • You may identify a controversy that you think needs to be addressed, and you may want to ask a question about how it might be resolved.  
  • You may notice a problem that you think has been ignored, and you may want to try to solve it or consider why it has been ignored.  
  • You may encounter a piece of evidence that you think warrants a closer look, and you may raise questions about it.  

Once you’ve identified a point of tension and raised a question about it, you will try to answer that question in your essay. Your main idea or claim in answer to that question will be your thesis.

point of tension --> analytical question --> thesis

  • "How" and "why" questions generally require more analysis than "who/ what/when/where” questions.  
  • Good analytical questions can highlight patterns/connections, or contradictions/dilemmas/problems.  
  • Good analytical questions establish the scope of an argument, allowing you to focus on a manageable part of a broad topic or a collection of sources.  
  • Good analytical questions can also address implications or consequences of your analysis.
  • picture_as_pdf Asking Analytical Questions

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Writing a Research Paper

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The Research Paper

There will come a time in most students' careers when they are assigned a research paper. Such an assignment often creates a great deal of unneeded anxiety in the student, which may result in procrastination and a feeling of confusion and inadequacy. This anxiety frequently stems from the fact that many students are unfamiliar and inexperienced with this genre of writing. Never fear—inexperience and unfamiliarity are situations you can change through practice! Writing a research paper is an essential aspect of academics and should not be avoided on account of one's anxiety. In fact, the process of writing a research paper can be one of the more rewarding experiences one may encounter in academics. What is more, many students will continue to do research throughout their careers, which is one of the reasons this topic is so important.

Becoming an experienced researcher and writer in any field or discipline takes a great deal of practice. There are few individuals for whom this process comes naturally. Remember, even the most seasoned academic veterans have had to learn how to write a research paper at some point in their career. Therefore, with diligence, organization, practice, a willingness to learn (and to make mistakes!), and, perhaps most important of all, patience, students will find that they can achieve great things through their research and writing.

The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper:

  • Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper.
  • Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics, whether the topic be one that is assigned or one that the student chooses themselves.
  • Identifying an Audience - This section will help the student understand the often times confusing topic of audience by offering some basic guidelines for the process.
  • Where Do I Begin - This section concludes the handout by offering several links to resources at Purdue, and also provides an overview of the final stages of writing a research paper.

thesis analytical research paper

Analytical Methods

A polylactic acid–carbon nanofiber-based electro-conductive sensing material and paper-based colorimetric sensor for detection of nitrates †.

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* Corresponding authors

a Food Toxicology Group, CSIR – Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

b Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR – Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India

c Drug & Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR – Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India

d Systems Toxicology Group, CSIR – Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India

e Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India

Plastics are ubiquitous in today's lifestyle, and their indiscriminate use has led to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans. The waste accumulates and breaks into micro-particles that enter the food chain, causing severe threats to human health, wildlife, and the ecosystem. Environment-friendly and bio-based degradable materials offer a sustainable alternative to the vastly used synthetic materials. Here, a polylactic acid and carbon nanofiber-based membrane and a paper-based colorimetric sensor have been developed. The membrane had a surface area of 3.02 m 2 g −1 and a pore size of 18.77 nm. The pores were evenly distributed with a pore volume of 0.0137 cm 3 g −1 . The membrane was evaluated in accordance with OECD guidelines and was found to be safe for tested aquatic and terrestrial models. The activated PLA–CNF membrane was further used as a bio-based electrode for the electrochemical detection of nitrates (NO 3 − ) in water samples with a detection limit of 0.046 ppm and sensitivity of 1.69 × 10 −4 A ppm −1 mm −2 , whereas the developed paper-based colorimetric sensor had a detection limit of 156 ppm for NO 3 − . This study presents an environment-friendly, low-carbon footprint disposable material for sensing applications as a sustainable alternative to plastics.

Graphical abstract: A polylactic acid–carbon nanofiber-based electro-conductive sensing material and paper-based colorimetric sensor for detection of nitrates

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thesis analytical research paper

A polylactic acid–carbon nanofiber-based electro-conductive sensing material and paper-based colorimetric sensor for detection of nitrates

P. Rai, S. Mehrotra, K. Gautam, R. Verma, S. Anbumani, S. Patnaik, S. Priya and S. K. Sharma, Anal. Methods , 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D3AY02069J

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Extraction of Cell-Free DNA: Evaluation of Efficiency, Quantity, and Quality.

Author(s): Terp SK, Pedersen IS, Stoico MP

Publication: J Mol Diagn , 2024, Vol. , Page

PubMed ID: 38336350 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

The purpose of this study was to compare the yield, fragment size, percentage of double-stranded DNA, and day-to-day variability of DNA extracted from the plasma of healthy volunteers using four different methods.

Conclusion of Paper

Recovery of the spike-in control and yield of the two targeted endogenous cfDNAs were significantly higher when extraction was with the manual or automated (QIAcube) QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit than with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument. All methods yielded an acceptable ratio of long to short amplicons (<0.4, indicating low lymphocyte contamination) and more than 50% of isolated fragments were less than 700 bp, but some differences were observed between methods. The extraction methods evaluated did not differ in the percentage of isolated DNA that was double-stranded. The between-day variance in spike-in DNA recovery or levels of either endogenous cfDNA were comparable among the extraction kits evaluated.

Study Purpose

This study compared the yield, fragment size, percentage of double-stranded DNA, and day-to-day variability of DNA extracted from the plasma of healthy volunteers using four different methods.  Blood was collected from eighteen healthy volunteers into four EDTA tubes on two different days. Plasma was obtained by dual centrifugation at 2000 g for 10 minutes at 4°C within 2 h of blood collection. The four plasma specimens from the same venipuncture were pooled and spiked with a 191 bp fragment cysteine-rich polycomb-like protein (CPP1) mRNA (5800 copies/mL) before aliquoting. Plasma aliquots were stored at -80°C until cfDNA extraction. cfDNA was extracted from 1 mL aliquots of plasma using the Manual QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit, the QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit with a QIAcube instrument, the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument, or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument. Extracted cfDNA was stored in LoBind or Qiagen collection tubes at -20°C until analysis. Levels of ribonuclease P/MRP subunit P30 (RPP30) and ER membrane protein complex subunit 7 (EMC7) mRNA and the spike-in CPP1 were quantified by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). cfDNA fragment size was analyzed using a TapeStation instrument and cfDNA was defined as 50-700 bp. Contamination with high molecular weight DNA was analyzed by amplification of long (250 bp) and short (65 bp) amplicons of EMC7 with a ratio <0.4 considered to be low contamination and >0.7 as high contamination.

Summary of Findings:

Recovery of the spike-in control was comparable when extraction was with the manual and automated (QIAcube) QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit but was significantly higher than either the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument (P<0.001, both) or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument (P<0.001, both). Similarly, the number of copies of recovered RPP30 was significantly higher when extraction was with the manual or automated QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit than with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument (P=0.009 and P=0.0011, respectively), or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument (P=0.013 and P=0.0016, respectively). Levels of EMC7 were higher when extraction was with the manual or automated QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit than with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument (P=0.001, both), or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument (P=0.001, both). Levels of RPP30 and EMC7 were strongly correlated, regardless of extraction method (R=0.988). Significantly fewer acceptable droplets/per well were found when extraction was with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument than the QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid or QIAsymphony Kits (P<0.001, both). The ratio of long to short amplicons, a marker of lymphocyte DNA contamination, was less than the specified threshold of 0.4 in all extractions; however, the ratio was significantly higher when extraction was with the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a QIAsymphony instrument than extraction with the other methods evaluated (P<0.0001). The percentage of isolated DNA fragments that were between 50 and 700 bp (corresponding to cfDNA) was >50% in all extractions and for all extraction methods evaluated; the average percentage of DNA fragments that were cfDNA-sized was >75%.  However, extraction with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit using a QIAcube instrument resulted in a higher percentage of cfDNA-sized fragments than when extraction was with any of the other methods evaluated (P=0.0001).  The percentage of isolated DNA that was double-stranded did not differ among the methods tested. The between-day variance in spike-in DNA recovery or levels of either endogenous cfDNA were comparable among the extraction kits investigated.

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IMAGES

  1. How to Write an Analytical Research Paper: Detailed Guide

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COMMENTS

  1. Analytical Thesis Statement Examples for You

    The primary function of the analytical essay thesis is to critically examine your write-up, and guide you as you write. This is achievable through: ... This could be taken as an added advantage to make references to existing research and if you want you could study some analytical thesis examples. It could also pose a problem of presenting ...

  2. Analytical Thesis Statements

    Identify analytical thesis statements. In order to write an analysis, you want to first have a solid understanding of the thing you are analyzing. Remember, when you are analyzing as a writer, you are: Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts. Uncovering relationships among those parts.

  3. Creating a Thesis Statement, Thesis Statement Tips

    Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement. 1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing: An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.; An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.; An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies ...

  4. How to Write a Thesis Statement

    Placement of the thesis statement. Step 1: Start with a question. Step 2: Write your initial answer. Step 3: Develop your answer. Step 4: Refine your thesis statement. Types of thesis statements. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

  5. How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper in 2024: Steps and

    Analytical An analytical thesis statement is used for essays, research papers, and other pieces of writing that seek to analyze, interpret, or evaluate a topic's various aspects. Analytical thesis statements typically map out key points of the analysis and include the resulting conclusions (McCombes, 2020).

  6. Writer's Web: Writing an Analytic Research Paper

    An analytic paper demands that you perform many tasks: formulate a thesis, gather sources, evaluate them, use them to support your original ideas and meticulously document everything you've done. You can save yourself a great deal of time, however, by doing a few simple things before you begin writing. We'll use a 1991 assignment about the Gulf ...

  7. Thesis

    Thesis. Your thesis is the central claim in your essay—your main insight or idea about your source or topic. Your thesis should appear early in an academic essay, followed by a logically constructed argument that supports this central claim. A strong thesis is arguable, which means a thoughtful reader could disagree with it and therefore ...

  8. 5.7: Analytical Thesis Statements

    Effective analytical thesis statements require digging deeper and perhaps examining the larger context. Let's say you do some research and learn that the rapper's mother died not long ago, and when you examine the lyrics more closely, you see that a few of the lines seem to be specifically about a mother rather than a loved one in general.

  9. Analytical Thesis Statement Examples

    An analytical essay provides critical analysis and explanation of a subject. Explore examples of how to create a strong thesis statement that will support the argument or claim of the essay.

  10. Crafting Compelling Analytical Essays: A Comprehensive Guide

    An analytical essay is a type of academic writing that delves deeply into a topic, idea, or piece of literature. Unlike descriptive or narrative essays, which focus on providing a vivid description or telling a story, an analytical essay aims to examine and dissect its subject matter. The primary objective of an analytical essay is to present a ...

  11. 5 Steps to Write a Great Analytical Essay

    The analysis paper uses evidence to support the argument, such as excerpts from the piece of writing. All analytical papers include a thesis, analysis of the topic, and evidence to support that analysis. When developing an analytical essay outline and writing your essay, follow these five steps: #1: Choose a topic. #2: Write your thesis.

  12. Writing a Thesis Statement

    The kind of thesis statement you write will depend on the type of paper you are writing. Here is how to write the different kinds of thesis statements: Argumentative Thesis Statement: Making a Claim. An argumentative thesis states the topic of your paper, your position on the topic, and the reasons you have for taking that position.

  13. PDF Analytical Thesis Statements

    An analytical thesis statement will explain: what you are analyzing the parts of your analysis the order in which you will be presenting your analysis Example: An analysis of barn owl flight behavior reveals two kinds of flight patterns: patterns related to hunting prey and patterns related to courtship. A reader who encountered that thesis in ...

  14. PDF Literary Analysis Thesis Statements

    The thesis statement is the announcement of your analytical argument that you intend to make and prove in the duration of your paper. It is a road map for the paper—it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. It should be placed somewhere in the introduction of your paper. Many like to put it as the last sentence(s) of ...

  15. What is a thesis

    A thesis is an in-depth research study that identifies a particular topic of inquiry and presents a clear argument or perspective about that topic using evidence and logic. Writing a thesis showcases your ability of critical thinking, gathering evidence, and making a compelling argument. Integral to these competencies is thorough research ...

  16. Unveiling Analytical Papers: A Comprehensive Guide

    Clearly state your thesis, outlining the analytical approach you'll take. Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph focuses on one distinct aspect of your analysis. Start with a clear topic sentence that supports your thesis. ... Writing an analytical paper involves meticulous research, thoughtful analysis, and careful synthesis. Through exploring ...

  17. PDF Analytical and Critical Writing

    (The professor explains that the student will re-read some content for the essay. For the purpose of this activity, this portion has been removed.) Write a Critique Essay (3-4 pages, approx. 1000 words) of the chapter, following these steps: Step 1: Choose a rhetorical situation for your assignment, and write it at the top of your document.

  18. Genre and the Research Paper

    The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. ... In fact, the thesis statement in an analytical paper is often more fluid than the thesis in an argumentative paper. Such is one of the benefits of approaching the topic without a predetermined stance.

  19. PDF The Structure of an Academic Paper

    Thesis statement The thesis is generally the narrowest part and last sentence of the introduction, and conveys your position, the essence of your argument or idea. See our handout on Writing a Thesis Statement for more. The roadmap Not all academic papers include a roadmap, but many do. Usually following the thesis, a roadmap is a

  20. Types of Research Papers

    Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are essentially two basic types of research papers. These are argumentative and analytical.. Argumentative. In an argumentative research paper, a student both states the topic they will be exploring and immediately establishes the position they will argue regarding that topic in a thesis statement.

  21. Asking Analytical Questions

    In those cases, a useful starting point will be to come up with a strong analytical question that you will try to answer in your essay. Your answer to that question will be your essay's thesis. You may have many questions as you consider a source or set of sources, but not all of your questions will form the basis of a strong essay.

  22. Writing a Research Paper

    The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper: Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper. Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics ...

  23. Research Methods

    Research methods are specific procedures for collecting and analyzing data. Developing your research methods is an integral part of your research design. When planning your methods, there are two key decisions you will make. First, decide how you will collect data. Your methods depend on what type of data you need to answer your research question:

  24. Analytical Paper Outline: Developing Strong Thesis & Structure

    Running head: SHORT PAPER TITLE HERE 1 Analytical Paper Outline Template When you write an analytical paper, your paper focuses on developing a nuanced interpretation of a particular work. Each paragraph should further that interpretation and must relate directly back to your thesis statement from your introduction paragraph. For this assignment, you will develop an outline for your analytical ...

  25. A polylactic acid-carbon nanofiber-based electro-conductive sensing

    A polylactic acid-carbon nanofiber-based electro-conductive sensing material and paper-based colorimetric ... Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma ... acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for ...

  26. Extraction of Cell-Free DNA: Evaluation of Efficiency, Quantity, and

    Conclusion of Paper Recovery of the spike-in control and yield of the two targeted endogenous cfDNAs were significantly higher when extraction was with the manual or automated (QIAcube) QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit than with the QIAamp MinElute ccfDNA Kit with a QIAcube instrument or the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit with a ...