Essay Analysis Terms Gr.11 PDF

Essay Analysis Terms ​ Essay: Derived from the French term essai, meaning a "try" or "attempt," the word essay refers to a short composition in which a point is made, usually through analysis and example.​ Thesis: The main argument or idea being presented in an essay. It may be explicit (stated clea...

Essay Analysis Terms ​ Essay: Derived from the French term essai, meaning a "try" or "attempt," the word essay refers to a short composition in which a point is made, usually through analysis and example.​ Thesis: The main argument or idea being presented in an essay. It may be explicit (stated clearly in the essay) or implicit (implied throughout the essay).​ Audience: Refers to the reader(s). One of the writer's crucial tasks is to match the level and strategy of an argument to the needs and aptitudes of the particular audience that will read it.​ Tone: The manner a writer uses toward the subject and reader. The tone can be light or serious, formal (deliberate and dignified, avoiding colloquial expressions and slang), or informal, and ironic or literal. Check out the handout for other tone words you may use. Methods of Proof ​ Allusion: When a writer references a known person or event from an unrelated context in their work. Usually, this is done for symbolic or thematic purposes. Common allusions include historical (Wars), literary (Bible, Shakespeare…), and/or media/political.​ Personal Experience (including anecdotes and testimonials): Using a personal experience as evidence to prove a point.​ The Experience of Others (including anecdotes and testimonials): Using other people’s experiences as proof.​ Hypothetical Examples: Using a fictional example to explain a complicated topic.​ Appeal to Authority: When the opinion of an authority/expert on a topic is used as evidence to support an argument.​ Statistics and Facts: When a writer provides data or evidence that is widely accepted and used to prove arguments.​ Predict and Refute Counterarguments: When a writer points out fallacies in other views that oppose their main point. Rhetorical Devices ​ Anaphora: Repeating a word or phrase at the start of a sentence or clause is an effective way of persuasion and attaining emphasis in an essay. When used sparingly for effect, repetition can reinforce the writer’s message and/or entertain the reader. For example: “It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place.” (The Catcher in the Rye)​ Antithesis: When the balanced part of the writer’s sentence contains contrasting ideas. For example: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (Neil Armstrong) or “His body is active, but his mind is sluggish.”​ Balance: A sentence made up of two parts that are equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure. It could also apply to two sentences side by side. For example: “What you see is what you get.” or “Dream without fear. Love without limits.”​ Epistrophe: Repeating a word or phrase at the end of a sentence or clause is an effective way of persuasion and attaining emphasis. Example: “...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Abraham Lincoln)​ Parallelism: When an author creates balance in a sentence by re-using the same word structure in parts of the sentence. The elements in the sentence must have the same grammatical form or structure. Example: “Paulino likes dancing, writing, and spending time with family and friends.”​ Symploce: Using both anaphora and epistrophe in writing for effect. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (A Tale of Two Cities)​ Varying Sentence Length, Style, and Structure: Varying sentence length and style gives emphasis to the writing. It creates rhythm. For example: Using a variety of long and short sentences side by side, or having an incomplete sentence (“Lights!”). Methods of Development/Rhetorical Modes ​ Argumentation/Logic: Using inductive or deductive reasoning to prove or disprove an argument. Induction involves making a series of observations that lead to a conclusion. Deductive reasoning involves using a minimum of two accepted premises or generalizations that lead to a conclusion. Induction Example: “I have only seen black crows. (Observation) Crows are black. (Conclusion)” Deduction Example: “All men are mortal. (Premise 1) Socrates is a man. (Premise 2) Socrates is mortal. (Conclusion)”​ Analogy: Drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect; “The operation of a computer presents an interesting analogy to the working of the brain.” Essay writers often use figures of speech or comparisons (simile, metaphor, personification) for desired emphasis. Related devices: Metaphor, Simile, and Analogy. Example: “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities.”​ Cause and Effect: This pattern of argument states that a particular effect was caused by something or, inversely, that the effect of a certain action has a specific cause.​ Compare and Contrast: Shows how two subjects are similar or different. You would find three bases of comparison or contrast.​ Classification: Places three or more related topics, events, or things into a single class. It describes the various parts of a whole topic.​ Description: Stimulates the reader’s imagination making the writing come alive through the use of imagery.​ Definition: An essay telling how a particular word or phrase should be defined and how the word in a certain context may shift its meaning.​ Narratives: 50% of every essay is made up of examples. This method of proof takes many forms including but not limited to: Personal experience, the experience of others, Hypothetical examples, Appeal to authority, Statistics/Facts… Narratives usually focus on one moment in time and use a lot of imagery and description.​ Persuasion/Emotional Appeal: Writers may appeal to fear, anger, or joy to sway their readers. They may also add climax or excitement. This technique is strongly connected to the essay’s mood.​ Process Analysis: Gives an explanation of a certain procedure, which may be directional or informational.