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Description:

This video covers what makes a strong analysis essay—you don’t even have to like the material to write a good one. With this kind of essay, it’s all about making a strong argument about why the material succeeds and fails by dissecting it and putting it back together once you understand its overall meaning. Just analyze and support your way to success.

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English Language

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Transcript

00:05
Analysis Essay, a la Shmoop. Did you hate The Hunger Games movie but love
00:10
the book?
00:12
Do the Kay Jewelers commercials make you want to puke?
00:15
To answer these questions...
00:18
... you must first analyze a text or film or TV show or ad...

00:22
... and then form an evaluation and support it.
00:26
You can't just say, "Two and a Half Men sucks" then cross your arms, pout, and refuse to
00:30
say another word about it. The easy part of this kind of essay is that
00:34
it asks for your opinion. And we know you've got plenty of those.
00:40
Here's your chance to tear The Rime of the Ancient Mariner a new one.
00:44
In order to score points in this paper, you don't have to be a brown noser who claims
00:47
to love everything your teacher made you read or watch.
00:50
In fact, essays are often more interesting when the writer does take issue with the work
00:55
in question. However, the tricky part of this kind of essay
01:00
is that you will have to explain the why.
01:03
Why did it suck? Why was it awesome?
01:07
If you think an easy solution would be to claim that something is just average...
01:11
...it's an acceptable opinion, but... you'd still have to explain why it's just "meh."
01:17
And to support your opinion, you will have to analyze the material.
01:22
So no short cuts for you unless you're enlisting in the army.
01:26
The main focus, as you analyze—whatever it is you're analyzing...
01:29
...is to first get a really, really firm grasp on the material.
01:33
It might mean staring at a painting for hours...
01:36
...or watching a movie a couple times...
01:38
...or eating a diverse range of items from the menu of the restaurant you are reviewing.
01:43
Know your material well, and it will be easier to take it apart and support your evaluation.
01:49
When we say, "take it apart," we mean exactly what we say.
01:53
Dissect it. Slice it down the middle, peel it open, and watch its little heart beating.
02:00
What makes it tick? What makes it stop ticking?
02:04
Ask yourself questions about it: What are its various parts?
02:08
How do they all come together?
02:10
Examine it closely to discern its meaning or significance and to support your evaluation.
02:14
If it's great, what works? Why is it great? What made it so?
02:18
If it's a fail, what exactly is ineffective about it?
02:22
Do you just not like the way it's looking at you?
02:25
Hey, wait a minute.
02:26
If you're arguing that your opinion on something is valid, are you not writing an Argument
02:30
Essay?"
02:31
Bravo for being sharper than an elven sword!
02:33
There are no watertight divisions between essays, and elements of argumentation creep
02:38
into most essays.
02:39
If it helps, you can think of Analysis Essays being like a type of argument essay that focuses
02:45
on other things...
02:46
...things that you did not think of or create...
02:49
things that you have to give your opinion on, or evaluate or analyze.
02:53
All right, you're ready, Daniel-san.
02:56
Find your critical thinking cap, and make sure it still fits.
02:59
If it doesn't, you may have to settle for your critical thinking sombrero. It's not
03:03
as fashionable, but it should get the job done.
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