Analysis is Not Fake
- I know what you're thinking, sometimes analysis feels fake.
- So what's the point?
- The best answer I can give you is that analysis is really about seeing through things.
If you can’t analyse, you’re at the mercy of people who can.
Because Language is Never Neutral
- Every text you read tries to shape how you see the world.
- Think about:
- An advert that says “New look. Same great taste.”
- A politician who says “We're protecting families” instead of “cutting immigration.”
- A breakup text that says “I just need time to work on myself.”
- All of these are carefully worded to make you feel something specific.
- Language has the power to make lies sound reasonable and strong emotions sound weak.
- And most of the time, people don’t even notice it happening.
Purpose: Writers Always Write for a Reason
Definition
Purpose
What the writer wants you to think, feel, or do.
- This is the why behind the text and you must uncover it.
- To start, understand most texts have more than one purpose.
- It helps to break this down into:
- Primary purpose: the writer’s main goal. What they most want the reader to do, think, or feel.
- Secondary purpose: an additional goal that supports or disguises the real intent.
- Writer's might write to:
- Convince you that mining companies are destroying the planet
- Express the beauty of pigeons
- Prove that pizza is the best food
- A writer’s purpose might be obvious (e.g. "advertise this product") or more subtle ("make the reader feel guilty").
- Good analysis always thinks about the effect on the reader.
