Essay Analysis

English 621

Purpose

The purpose is what the essay tries to accomplish.The essayist wouldn’t have created it without some sort of purpose in mind

Common purposes are to narrate, to describe, to express, to argue, to persuade, to instruct, to report, etc.

Purpose is usually expressed as a verb.

Figuring out the purpose behind the essay is the key to essay analysis (on paper, film, and in speech).

Subject Matter

Subject

The topic (broad or specific) of the essay being analyzed (homework, for example)

Thesis

The main point of the essay; all subordinate points should support thesis.Homework puts undue stress on family relationships.

Subordinate Points

Individual thoughts or arguments that develop the thesis (topic sentences for each paragraph).

Too much time spent on homework, parents unfamiliar with material, too many kids equals too much homework, etc.

Supporting Details

Examples, illustrations, quotes, reasons used to support the subordinate points (which support thesis).

Audience

To whom the essay is directed.

We must assume that the essayist chose to direct this essay at a particular audience.

If we know an essay’s purpose, determining audience is easy.

Believe it or not, most essayists have a target audience, not just anyone who will read, listen, or view.

Vehicle

The text form the essayist has selected to share his/her message.

It could be a letter, article, review, column, video, documentary, editorial, speech, photo essay, etc.

Context (one of the most important essay elements)

Context is the personal, historical, or social circumstances of the essayist that influence the content and form of his/her essay.Basically, what is happening at this time in the essayist’s life that led to the creation of this piece?

For example, what would prompt filmmaker Lee Hirsch to produce a documentary (an essay on film) which examines what he sees as an epidemic of physical and emotional bullying in the US?The context in this case is that Hirsch was bullied himself and he sees and hears about too many cases today that lead to suicide.

Determining Context: Rick Mercer

Style

The essayist’s writing style, filming style, speaking style, structure, diction (word choice), use of figurative language and the use of rhetoric.

Style is affected by:- geography- culture- imagination- intelligence

Style: Beginnings and Endings

Beginnings and endings are important. Why?- the audience often remembers them best;- they contain the ideas that will be emphasized;- the beginning draws the reader in;- the ending leaves the reader with a strong final thought, image,

or insight.

Style: Diction

Also called word choice.

The level of diction often points to the purpose of the essayist and the audience he/she wishes to address.

Simple Diction: informal, humourous, narrativeElevated Diction: formal, scientific, academic

Style: Martin Short Style: Figurative Language

In writing, this includes figures of speech and specific imagery.- what impact do these devices have on the passage?- what impact do these devices have on the reader?- which of these figures of speech are also rhetorical language?

Style: Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the study of effective speaking and writing; the art of persuasion and many other things.

Rhetorical devices include techniques that help persuade the audience to agree with the view presented.

Knowledge of these devices is critical to effective and successful writing and speaking.

Tone and Mood

Tone: the essayist’s feelings towards the subject matter.It is created through a number of features, like rhetorical devices, diction, and the types of evidence presented.

Tone can be:- ironic- frustrated- sincere- angry- self-mocking- encouraging- nostalgic- etc.

Tone and Mood

Mood: how the subject matter is supposed to make the audience feel.

The essayist’s tone should be directly responsible for the audience’s mood. It is how he/she wanted the audience to react.