Definition
Analysis
Analysis means breaking something down to explain how it works.
- In English, you're breaking down how a writer shapes meaning using language, structure, and form.
- In other words, analysis is about seeing how words aren't just words.
- Words are tools, and every tool is used for a reason.
Writer's Don't Make Random Choices
- Every word, tone, and sentence length is intentional.
- This means your job boils down to:
- Spotting the most interesting techniques
- Explaining how they shape meaning
- Connecting them to what the writer is trying to do
If a writer made a choice, it’s your job to figure out why.
Pattern of Analysis
Every strong paragraph of analysis follows this pattern
- Technique: The writer uses the simile “as empty as a ripped-out page”
- What it does: to show the narrator’s sense of emotional numbness.
- Why it matters: The comparison to something torn out suggests something missing or damaged, linking to the theme of trauma.
What Analysis is Not
- “This is a metaphor” ← spotting is not analysing
