What is analysis?

Analysis is “the process of methodically breaking something down to gain a better understanding of it. Analysis also includes the ability to connect pieces of information as the basis for generalization or explanation” (“What is Analysis?” par. 1). As a  skill, analysis involves “breaking something down and taking a close look at each of its parts while looking for themes, patterns, and assumptions” (“What is Analysis” Figure 1). Developing and practicing a skill such as this is foundational to creating complex arguments and communicating critically with others and in our communities.

We perform analysis just about every day in our interactions with people, places, and materials. Let’s say you’re walking down the street with your friend and you spot this neat little coffee shop with tables and comfy sofas outside. You think, “Hmm. That looks like a cool place; let’s check it out!” But as soon as you walk in it looks rundown and there’s an odd smell of old food and burnt coffee. What do you do? Well, you might have a look around, think about it for a minute, but then walk right out. Guess what you just did there? You analyzed! You broke down the components of the place, the situation, and your tolerance level to determine whether it was worth your while to stay. You probably also analyzed the shop’s appeal to customers after you left and continued walking down the street, talking with your friend. You may have even discussed the occurrence with your friend. Either way, you analyzed the situation and made a determination based on your analysis.

Analysis can be applied to content but may also cover form, function, and context. For example, an analysis assignment in an art appreciation class might ask you to analyze the subject and iconography of a painting, but also expect you to analyze the use of shape, space, color, and texture, form, as well as the artist’s intended purpose (function) and the culture or time period in which the work was created (context).

While each academic discipline approaches the analytic process a bit differently, the essential skills of analysis are the following:

1. 1. Breaking down information or artifacts into parts
   2. Uncovering relationships among those parts
   3. Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions
   4. Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations

These all work in conjunction with one another to present critically sound insight on an idea, movement, argument, film, painting, place, or other object of analysis.

What is written analysis?

As much as analysis is a skill, it is also a genre that comes with certain expectations identifying it as analysis. Recall our discussion regarding genre expectations and how they relate to the audience. When a text or, as we like to say, an artifact,  is classified as a certain genre, the audience expects it to follow a certain pattern. So, in composing an analysis and using this skill to do so you will:

1. 1. Identify and describe the content’s components (Describe)
   2. Examine closely how or why these components are put together (Analyze)
   3. Explain how effective or ineffective the content’s structure and purpose is, and why (Evaluate)

Following these three steps, your audience will recognize it as analysis and be able to understand your purpose better.

Why does analysis matter so much both as a genre and skill, though? Well, analysis helps us understand what we’re seeing, reading, and expressing. The process of breaking an artifact down and looking closely at its parts helps us understand what makes effective writing; and this process  provides us with a blueprint for making our writing more effective. So, regardless of the genre we’re working with, if our analysis is sound, then our message is clearer and our communication is more successful.

Analysis prompts you to take a deeper look at what’s in front of you by breaking a text down into smaller components in order to better understand how various elements interact to send a particular message to an audience. Below are five questions to help you get started writing your analysis essay.

Analysis prompts you to take a deeper look at what’s in front of you by breaking a text down into smaller components in order to better understand how various elements interact to send a particular message to an audience. Below are five questions to help you get started writing your analysis essay.

1. A question that prompts a closer look: what is an important question you have about this text and its presentation?
2. A description of the subject you are analyzing: what is the context for this text? What various elements catch your attention first, second, and third?
3. Evidence drawn from close examination: what textual evidence might support your analysis of various elements that stand out to you?
4. Insight gained from your analysis: how do you understand the subject of the text differently after having paid close attention to particular elements and components? How specifically can this text be criticized or praised?
5. Clear, precise language: what are the key terms that need to be defined for any reader to understand this text and your analysis of it?