Fish cheeks questions and answers

ESL 160 Erin Lofthouse Analyzing Text Handout

In many of your college courses you will be asked to read and “analyze” or “respond” to a piece of writing. Analysis is basically “taking something apart” in order to understand it better. Response is writing answers to questions or offering your own feedback on the text. Responding to specific questions about a reading is fairly straightforward. You read the questions, find the answers in the reading and then write them down. However, sometimes you will be asked to give more complex responses to a reading, or even prompted by questions such as “What is your opinion of the reading?” or “How can you relate this reading to your own personal experiences?” This is where you will need to consider what exactly a personal response or reaction is. In your response you will always begin by referencing the title and author, and the main thesis of the text. You will then decide which of the analysis tools best serve your own purposes—and most importantly, the purpose of the assignment. Some of the most common ways that a text can be analyzed are: 1. ANALYZE THE TEXT AS A MATERIAL OBJECT

a. Analyze the text as argument. Who is the intended audience? What is the author trying to persuade the audience to believe or do? What arguments are used in the text to convince the reader? What was the author's purpose in writing this text? What evidence is used to support the argument of the text? How does the author use reasoned argument, emotion, or personal character to persuade?

b. Analyze the structure. What comes first? What comes after? How is it built? Is it a newspaper article, or fantasy or a historical novel or a nonfiction work or poetry or what? Does it follow a time-line, a logical sequence, a problem-solution-resolution process, a simple list of items, a comparison and contrast analysis, or does it simply jump back and forth chaotically? How are the chapters and sections divided? What sort of language does the text contain? What style (tone) of language is used (high, medium, or low)?

c. Analyze the text as a product. How long or short is the text (and is it too long or too short? Why?. What is the context (social, economic, political, historical, commercial, intellectual) in which form was the text produced and sold? How attractive is the physical form and appearance of the text (cover, printing, type-faces, website, etc.)? Who is the intended consumer? Why was this text written or published, and how well does it fulfill that purpose for the majority of readers? Is it commercial (popular), scholarly, journalistic, or some other form of writing, and does it meet expectations for this form of writing?

d. Analyze the text as the product of the author's mind. Who was the author? When and where did she/he live? What is the author's personality, attitude and outlook on life and how does it show up in the text? What were the author's upbringing, physical circumstances, health, ethnic background and social class? What other works has this author published, and how do they relate to this text?

e. Analyze the text as communication. How effective is the text in communicating the main idea? Who is the intended audience or actual audience of this text? How does the voice of the author shine through in the text? How true are the facts in the text, or is it purely made-up fiction or fantasy? How powerful is the writing, whether in persuading the audience or simply in entertaining? How effective is the text in accomplishing the purpose for which it was created?

f. Analyze the text in a social context. Whom does this text serve best? Who in society does it put down, ignore, pretend not to notice or shove aside? Does the author speak for the dominant part of

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society, or was she/he writing with the voice of the majority who are not dominant? Does the text glorify the wealthy, the famous and the proud? Does it lift up the powerless and those who have been pressed down? Is everyone assumed in the text to be prosperous, white and healthy, or straight, or young, or English-speaking? Does this text make you feel contented and satisfied about the way things are right now in the world, or does it make you want to help make the world better? Does it make you feel hopeless and that life lacks meaning, or does it suggest that people can make a difference?

g. Analyze the text from a psychological viewpoint. What are the possible psychological motivations of the author in writing this book, and what does it suggest about the author's mind? What about the psychological motivations of the characters in the text?

h. Analyze the text from some certain specific point of view or belief. How does this text treat women--does it honor and raise them up, or disrespect and put them down? In what way? How might this text read differently through the eyes of a gay or lesbian reader than in the view of a straight reader? What analysis of the text would a person from a developing nation or a person of color give, or a senior citizen, or a disabled audience? How would you analyze this text from a faith-based perspective?

2. ANALYZE THE TEXT AS A WORK OF ART. THIS MIGHT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

a. Clarity - How clear is the writing? Is it easy to understand or is it confusing and mysterious, and did the author intend it that way or not?

b. Grandeur - How strong, educated, mature and vigorous is the language? Why?

c. Beauty - Is this text a pleasure to read? Or, does the author use any annoying or ugly words and expressions where they are not appropriate? Is the imagery lively or boring?

d. Speed - Does the writing in the text flow along easily, making it easy to read, or does it drag along with extra words, phrases and sentences? Does the author repeat him/herself anywhere in the text? Does it keep you at the edge of your seat, or put you to sleep? Why?

e. Character - If applicable, how realistic or believable are the characters in the text? How is the character of the author reflected in the text?

f. Truth - How true are the facts used in the text? How well does the author use facts? How well does he/she present sources and proofs for facts, quotes or data cited in the text?

g. Gravity - Does this text pass the "who cares?" test? How much does this text MATTER? Does it change your mind or your feelings, inform you, or make you agree more with the author? Why or why not?

3. ANALYZE THE TEXT FROM YOUR PERSONAL VIEWPOINT AS AN INDIVIDUAL READER.

a. How much does it agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong? Why or why not? How much were your views challenged? How well does it address things that you, personally care about and consider important in the world?

b. How did you like or enjoy the text overall, and (most importantly) why or why not? Keep in mind that some texts (news reports, textbooks, obituaries) are not written to be enjoying or entertaining.