MODUL 10

COURSE : WRITING 2
TIME ALLOCATION : 2X60 MINUTES
TOPIC : Analytical Essay
METHOD : METACOGNITIVE STRATEGY

Definition of Analytical Essay

Analytical implies the breaking down of something into parts, or the discussion of
something in a way that it becomes a dissection of the whole. An analytical type
of essay differs from other types of essays in that its primary goal is to explain
something bit by bit to enhance understanding. Most of the times, an analytical essay
is written about the analysis of a text, or a process, or an idea. In literature, however,
it is a critical analysis of some literary text which is done to enhance its
understanding.

Difference Between an Analytical Essay and a Critical Essay

An analytical essay is just an analysis of a literary text. By contrast, a critical

essay involves, not only an analysis of the text in question, but also dissection of the
literary terms and devices used by the author to make his meanings clear. The critical
essay also explains the functions of the literary terms used, and evaluates their usage,
and whether they have achieved the intended purposes or not.

Types of Analytical Essay

1. Cause and Effect: One way of analyzing something is to discuss the cause of
something, and its effect on other things.
2. Comparison and Contrast: Another way of analyzing something is to
compare and contrast things among themselves.
3. Classification: Classification is yet another method of analyzing things, to
learn of their nature.
4. Process: Process is also a type of analysis writing.
5. Definition: Defining things is also a way of analyzing the nature of things.

Examples of Analytical Essay in Literature

Example #1: Liposuction: The Key to Energy Independence (by Barbara Ehrenreich)

“I say to my fellow humans: It’s time to stop feeding off the dead and grow up! I don’t
know about food, but I have a plan for achieving fuel self-sufficiency in less time than
it takes to say ‘Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.’ The idea came to me from reports of
the growing crime of French fry oil theft: Certain desperate individuals are stealing
restaurants’ discarded cooking oil, which can then be used to fuel cars. So the idea is:
why not skip the French fry phase and harvest high-energy hydrocarbons right from
ourselves?”
This is an excerpt from the essay of Barbara Ehrenreich, in which she has made
comparison and contrast between human beings and animals, regarding food
choices. This is a good analysis of the food we use.

Example #2: Freedom (by Joyce M. Jarett)

“On the first day of school, I was escorted by hordes of national guardsmen. Like a
funeral procession, the steady stream of official-looking cars followed me to the
campus. Some patrolmen were parked near campus gates, while others, with guns
strapped to their sides, stood near building entrances. Though many of my escorts
had given me smiles of support, still I was not prepared for what I encountered upon
entering my new school.”

This is a paragraph from a process analysis. The author, Joyce M. Jaret, has
beautifully described her experience of the security in this paragraph, and how it is
deployed when an important figure faces security issues in his life. This is an analysis
of the process of security deployment.

Example #3: The Ways of Meeting Oppression (by Martin Luther King, Jr.)

“The third way open to oppressed people in their quest for freedom is the way of
nonviolent resistance. Like the synthesis in Hegelian philosophy, the principle of
nonviolent resistance seeks to reconcile the truths of two opposites—the
acquiescence and violence—while avoiding the extremes and immoralities of both.
The nonviolent resister agrees with the person who acquiesces that one should not be
physically aggressive toward his opponent; but he balances the equation by agreeing
with the person of violence that evil must be resisted. He avoids the nonresistance of
the former and the violent resistance of the latter. With nonviolent resistance, no
individual or group need submit to any wrong, nor need anyone resort to violence in
order to right a wrong.”

This is the analysis by classification that Marth Luther King, a famous human rights
activist, has done regarding oppression against African Americans.

Function of Analytical Essay

An analytical essay dissects something such as a concept, an idea, a thing, or even

a character. Its major aim is to enhance the understanding of readers. An analysis
could be done through a process, definition, classification and division, or
comparison and contrast. The thing or idea is broken into several parts, through
classification and division, and then analyzed. A process is broken into several steps
for analysis. Not only do analytical essays enhance understanding, but they also
make readers aware of minute details of things.

1. Write a composition of 1000 words OF ANALYTICAL ESSAY with a

topic OF YOUR OWN :. Read carefully the following direction:
Introduction:
A. Begin your paper with a opening sentence .
 B. State your thesis, your arguable position on the topic. What side will you
ANALYZE? What will you prove in your paper? What are you going to
explore?

Body paragraph:

A. Write a general topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph
for your first body paragraph, or for one you are having difficulty
organizing.
B. Write down the specific textual evidence or evidence from other sources
that you are using to support your thesis.
C. Analyze your evidence: tell the reader what is significant or important
about this evidence. How does the piece of evidence support your thesis?
Why did you choose to include it?
D. Don’t forget a transition sentence: Connect each paragraph with a sentence
or two that demonstrates how each idea leads into the next.

Conclusion:

Make connections for the reader in your conclusion. You should refer back to
your thesis, but don’t simply restate it. Use some of the following questions to
guide you: • Did you propose any solutions? Are there solutions yet to be
discovered? • What questions still need to be answered? • What is the larger
significance of the topic you chose to write about? • What should the reader do
or think after reading your paper?

2. Apply the metacognitive writing strategy to accomplish the process

of writing.