Analytical Essay Definition
As per the analytical essay definition, it is a piece of writing in which an essay writer analyzes the content, which is generally textual or visual media. Also, an analytical essay is written about music, art, politics, philosophy, historical events, literary work, and many other topics.
Moreover, an analytical essay can explain and contextualize the basic information to benefit a reader. Also, a good analytical essay is based on facts and information about the chosen topic.
There are several different names for this type of essays, such as rhetorical analysis essay or critical essay. It's important to know that an analytical essay is not a summary, and it is not an argumentative essay.
Further, in this type of essay, the writer does not show their point of view and persuade the readers with his writing. Instead, it only demonstrates the already existing work and its impact on the audience.
What is the Purpose of an Analytical Essay?
An analytical essay is written to help the reader understand a topic better. Teachers in high school and college assign analytical essays to help their students improve their writing skills and comprehension of a topic.
The main purpose of writing an analytical essay is to:
- Explain an idea.
- Describe a process.
- Discuss how the writer portrayed an aspect of their work.
- Explore the subject matter in detail.
- Highlight the gaps in the research.
Analytical Essay vs. Descriptive Essay: What’s the Difference?
The below table shows the differences between an analytical and descriptive essay. Take a look at them and get to know them in detail.
Analytical Essay | Descriptive Essay |
Draw conclusion | Give information |
Identify the significance | State what happened to |
Describe options | Give reasons for selecting each option |
Summarize facts | Delve into interpretation |
Types of Analytical Essay
Analytical essays can be divided into different types, and each has its own purpose. The main types are:
- Rhetorical Analysis Essay
An essay that analyses how the author wrote something is called a rhetorical analysis essay. The writer uses persuasive and effective methods to look into the topic in detail.
- Literary Analysis Essay
In the process of writing a literary analysis essay, students share their opinion about a specific theme and other elements from literature. They provide evidence to support this view with relevant reading material.
- Critical Analysis Essay
Critical essays are a type of essay that evaluates, interprets, and analyzes a movie, play, book, or piece of literature. The writer critically evaluates the elements.
Analytical Essay Structure
An analytical essay’s structure is similar to other types of essays that you have written. It includes an introduction (including a thesis), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Below is a structure that you can use for your help.
Introduction Start with a hook statement Body Paragraphs Provide solid evidence to prove the thesis statement Conclusion Summarize the main points |
How to Start an Analytical Essay?
When writing an analytical essay, it can be difficult to know where to start. For the best results and a well-crafted essay that will make your professor proud, just follow these steps:
1. Choose a Topic
The topic is the first thing the readers read, so it should be attention-grabbing. For selecting a good topic, you should follow some expert tips that our writers recommend.
- The topic should be unique and interesting.
- The topic should tell the reader what the essay is all about.
- The topic should push the reader to read the entire essay.
- The topic should be direct and simple.
2. Brainstorm the Ideas
With a little brainstorming, you'll be able to write your essay from many different perspectives. You'll discover what you think about your topic and how to organize it logically. Write down all the main points on a paper in this phase, and then choose the best one for your essay.
3. Create an Analytical Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is an important sentence that can give readers a sense of what to expect from your essay. It should be engaging and arguable, giving the reader something to think about.
4. Find Supporting Evidence
Depending on your topic, you may need to work only with secondary sources or both primary and secondary.
One thing that you need to keep in mind is that good evidence makes an argument more convincing. Therefore, try to gather data or evidence from reliable sources and choose the information that supports your analysis or point.
5. Create an Outline
An essay outline can help you stay focused and organized while writing your essay. It’s also a great way to make sure that each part of the whole process gets covered in detail, from brainstorming ideas through final revisions.
How to Write an Analytical Essay?
When you are ready to write your analytical essay, there is a lot that can go into making the process easier. Thus, take the steps below and create a well-written essay in no time.
1. Write an Introduction
The perfect introduction can make or break your paper. Make it count. A good one starts with an engaging hook like a rhetorical question or bold statement that forces the reader to read further. Also, provide some background information about the topic.
2. Organize the Body of the Essay
The body paragraphs are where you provide evidence to show the reader that your findings are valid. This should start with a clear topic sentence describing what will be discussed in that section.
3. Conclude the Essay
The concluding paragraph should summarize your argument and leave the reader with some final thoughts for consideration. It's not a place to introduce new evidence but to remind readers about what you were trying to say, most importantly.
4. Proofread
After completing the process of writing an essay, don't stop there. Revise your work and recheck it for any mistakes you might have made throughout the process.
Analytical Essay Outline
An essay outline will help to structure your essay and make the writing phase easy. With the help of a detailed outline, you will never forget any key points. Therefore, for a well-written essay, you must draft an outline and make your content presentable.
An analytical essay uses a basic outline structure that contains three parts:
- Analytical Essay Introduction
Writing a good introduction for an analysis paper is an excellent way to engage your reader's interest. The best introductions start with hooks such as rhetorical questions or bold statements and provide global context.
The introduction of your essay serves as a miniature giving the reader a general overview of what you will be talking about. Also, state the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph at the end.
- Analytical Essay Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs of an essay tell what you're trying to say. Make sure to present all your evidence here. The essay’s body is responsible for proving and explaining your point or analysis.
Each body paragraph should have:
- Topic sentence
- Analysis of the text
- Evidence that supports your text and the thesis statement
- Background information about the topic.
Moreover, the number of body paragraphs will vary depending on the scope or length of your essay. The structure and organization are just as important as what you're trying to say, so make sure every paragraph has a clear point.
- Analytical Essay Conclusion
The final part of any essay is the conclusion. It's your opportunity to remind your reader what you're arguing and how you support it.
You should start by restating your thesis statement to show that you have fully proven it and then summarize the main points.
Your conclusion should be informative and concise, so the reader can use it as a reference point. In addition, the readers should see your conclusion as an overview of what the whole analytical essay was about.
Here is a template of a great analytical essay outline for your ease.
Analytical Essay Outline
Analytical Essay Examples
Students are always looking for examples to help them write an essay. Thus, look at this example and get an idea about this type of essay.
Analytical Essay Example There is a lot of evidence that suggests that having a college degree is important for a person's future. Many notable people throughout history have said this, and it is still believed by many today. College degrees offer many benefits, such as economic and social advantages. Even though times are changing, and the importance of having a college degree may be evolving, the consensus still seems to be that getting an education is a good investment. People who have completed their college degrees can handle various jobs easier than those who only have a high school diploma. This is because they have been trained to think more clearly and articulate their thoughts better. In addition, studies also confirm that students who acquire a college degree also gain valuable noncognitive skills. Another study found that people with higher education tend to get more financially beneficial job offers. In fact, people whose highest degree is a Bachelor's degree make around $32k more than workers who only hold a high school diploma. Of course, the earnings may vary depending on the industry and each specialist’s unique case. But the gaps are still large between more and less educated job seekers. Looking at the current job market, you can see that having a higher education increases your chances of getting a good job. The Job Growth and Education Requirements report says that in 2020, 35% of jobs will require a Bachelor's degree, 30% will require some college or an associate degree, and only 36% won't require anything more than a high school diploma. And even if you don't have the required degree, employers often prefer people who have some higher education. There are many benefits to getting a college education. College graduates have better cognitive skills and are more likely to find a job. They also make more money and are less likely to experience poverty. People who have college degrees gain a lot of benefits. While they are in school, they learn different skills that help them with their careers. Employers usually choose people who have degrees over people who only have high school diplomas. College education also brings social benefits. So, based on all of this information, we can say that getting a college degree is worth it because you will have more career opportunities and a better quality of life. |
These are some more analytical essay examples that will guide you to work on your essay and make it more impressive.
Analytical Essay Sample
Critical Analytical Essay
Analytical Essay Outline Worksheet
Analytical Essay Example College
Analytical Essay Introduction Example
Analytical Essay Format
Analytical Essay Topics
The following are some great analytical essay topics that will help you write an excellent essay.
Analytical Essay Topics About Psychology
- Describe the influence of single parenting on children’s psychology.
- What are the reasons for personality disorders?
- How does parents' separation impact children’s mental health?
- How can cartoons be helpful in a child’s development?
- Why all people cannot be kind and polite?
Child brain and physical development - How does single parenting affect a child’s psychology?
- Anxiety disorder
- Eating disorders
- Judgment
Analytical Essay Topics About Pop Culture
- Effects of pop culture on gender imbalance
- The ways technology affects pop culture
- Religion is corrupting popular culture.
- Some old music and books are better than some of the modern bestsellers
- Does social media make people sad?
- Impact of pop culture on society
- Do morality and pop culture mix?
- Western pop culture
- Is Chris Martin a hero to his fans?
- Is food a part of pop culture?
Analytical Essay Topics About Art and History
- The history of art affairs
- Modern art in Europe
- The secrets of Egyptian pyramids
- The role of recurring subjects in art
- Gothic architecture and its elements
- Art therapy in a group setting.
- Notable museum and its collection
- Role of musical instruments
- Oil made paintings of ancient kings
- Traditional Japanese costumes
Analytical Essay Topics About Society
- Why do pets help older people live happier and longer?
- Advantages of playing video games for children under 13?
- How should businesses enhance job satisfaction among employees?
- Analyze the components that makeup willpower.
- What makes people develop short-term memory?
- Analysis of a story in the newspaper.
- Why do people lie?
- Why do people do fake activities?
- Why are teenagers more prone to peer pressure?
- Why is society too difficult to manage?
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