Real Analysis Comes From Linking
- Ever written ‘the writer uses a metaphor to show sadness’ and wondered if it's enough? It's not.
- Anyone can spot a metaphor.
- But great analysis shows you get how it works with other techniques to hit the reader harder.
That's called linking, and is what examiners want to see.
No Technique Works Alone
Linking
When you analyze two or more techniques in the same quote or moment, and explain how they interact to shape mood, tone, character, or theme.
- Just like you can’t build a house with only steel or only wood, a writer doesn’t rely on a single device to shape meaning.
- They combine tools: diction, syntax, imagery, structure on purpose, layering them to guide how the reader feels, thinks, and responds.
- This is the skill of linking techniques:
- Connecting two or more features: surface, suggestive, structural, or layered, into a single, unified point that explains how they shape meaning.
“The writer uses metahor to show sadness.”
- This is basic.
- You're just scratching the surface and saying what's obvious.
If you write:
“The metaphor is reinforced by long, flowing syntax, which slows the pace and draws the reader deeper into the speaker’s sorrow.”
- This analysis is layered.
- You identify the devices but more importantly, touch on how they elevate each other.
How to Link Techniques
- Let's work with the following example.
- An op-ed published by The Lowry Institute on streamer iShowSpeed's visit to China in May, 2025.
1. Spot Two or More Techniques in the Same Moment
- Start small, look at the headline, image, and text.
- Then, think in categories:
- Surface: diction, tone, visual colour, image choice
- Structural: headline structure, narrative framing, layout
- Suggestive: symbolism, cultural reference, intertextuality
- Layered: irony, satire, implied values
- What is the author/designer trying to do here? What's their purpose?
From the iShowSpeed article, we can spot:
- Juxtaposition in the headline (“American abroad” vs “turned the tables”)
- Playful visuals
- Informal diction (“China travel Let’s Go!”)
2. Ask: How Do These Techniques Work Together?
- Don’t just explain them one by one.
- Instead, ask: What do they create together?
They all reframe geopolitics as fun, youthful, and viral.
3. Write One Strong Paragraph Linking The Techniques
- Follow the PEEL acronym:
- P: Point: Name the techniques and the effect they create together.
- E: Evidence: Give a clear quote or example from the text.
- E: Explain: Break down what each technique does.
- L: Link: Link the techniques together and explain the bigger idea or effect.
The headline “An American abroad: How one influencer’s visit to China turned the tables” uses juxtaposition and narrative structure to challenge expectations. It places the familiar phrase “American abroad” beside “turned the tables,” hinting at a reversal of power, suggesting that China is now influencing Western audiences. This idea is supported by the cartoon-style visual of iShowSpeed flying a happy red-and-yellow plane, wearing a flashy shirt and holding up a phone.
The bright colors and exaggerated style mimic the tone of internet memes, making the message feel light, accessible, and distinctly Gen Z. Meanwhile, the slogan “China travel Let’s Go!” uses informal, upbeat diction to echo the influencer’s energetic voice and make China feel exciting and welcoming. Together, the headline, visual design, and tone work as a coordinated set of techniques, reframing political diplomacy as something driven by culture, youth, and viral media, rather than governments.
But let's break this down:
- P: Point: Name the techniques and their combined effect.
The headline “An American abroad: How one influencer’s visit to China turned the tables” uses juxtaposition and narrative structure to challenge expectations.
- This sentence immediately states which techniques are being used and hints at their shared purpose: reframing assumptions.
- E: Evidence: Quote or describe the evidence from the text.
It places the familiar phrase “American abroad” beside “turned the tables,” hinting at a reversal of power suggesting that China is now influencing Western audiences.
- This is the textual support. It zooms in on the headline’s wording and how it flips the usual narrative.
- E: Explain: Break down what each technique is doing.
The bright colours and exaggerated style mimic the tone of internet memes, making the message feel light, accessible, and distinctly Gen Z. Meanwhile, the slogan “China travel—Let’s Go!” uses informal, upbeat diction to echo the influencer’s energetic voice and make China feel exciting and welcoming.
- Here you explain visual style, tone, and diction. Each explanation is crystal clear: what the technique is and what effect it has.
- L: Link: Link the techniques together to show how they create meaning.
Together, the headline, visual design, and tone work as a coordinated set of techniques reframing political diplomacy as something driven by culture, youth, and viral media, rather than governments.
- This is your insightful, integrated point. You zoom out and show how all the techniques align to support a bigger idea.
- Notice the style and bolded words in this entire guide.
- This is a style of analysis you can reflect in your own exam writing
- Don't fall into the trap of thinking more is more.
- You don’t need to name 10 techniques.
- You just need to go deep on 2–3 and show how they combine to create meaning.
