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Critical Strategies and Writing
Analysis
Analysis provides the foundation for the other writing strategies. When we analyze, we break down a whole into its parts. Then we observe the relationships between those parts, and we put the whole back together again. This analyzing process provides a better understanding of the parts and the whole.
There are many kinds of analysis, but they generally fall into two categories:
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- COMPARATIVE
- CAUSE AND EFFECT
Comparative Analysis
When we analyze comparatively, we seek to understand something by comparing or contrasting it with something else. We consider the similarities and differences. Keep in mind, however, that comparisons and contrasts need limits.
A comparative analysis takes place within a larger category or frame of reference. This larger frame of reference is similar to the controlling idea we discussed in our earlier page on thesis statements. It keeps the comparative analysis focused on one overall topic.
For example, imagine you are writing a paper on narrative strategies in the novels of Toni Morrison. “Narrative strategies in Toni Morrison’s fiction” would be your frame of reference. You would look for similarities and differences only between “narrative strategies” and only within “Toni Morrison’s fiction.”
Cause and Effect Analysis
When performing this form of analysis, we determine how change happens. We identify causes and effects, and we distinguish between them. This is a more difficult category of analysis, as few effects have only one cause and few causes have only one effect. For this reason, framing your analysis becomes even more important. Your framing idea should pertain to either causes or effects.
For example, imagine you are a historian investigating the cause of the U.S. entering World War II. This event, or effect, would be your framing idea or subject. You would limit your search for causal factors that moved the U.S. toward entering the war, and your final work would focus on a set of those causes.
You can also reverse the process above and make your framing idea a cause. Modifying the example above, imagine you are interested in distinguishing between causes for the U.S. entry into World War II. You might, for example, focus on the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Your work would then consist of demonstrating the extent to which the Lend-Lease Act led to the U.S. entering World War II.
Comparative Analysis
When we analyze comparatively, we seek to understand something by comparing or contrasting it with something else. We consider the similarities and differences. Keep in mind, however, that comparisons and contrasts need limits.
A comparative analysis takes place within a larger category or frame of reference. This larger frame of reference is similar to the controlling idea we discussed in our earlier page on thesis statements. It keeps the comparative analysis focused on one overall topic.
For example, imagine you are writing a paper on narrative strategies in the novels of Toni Morrison. “Narrative strategies in Toni Morrison’s fiction” would be your frame of reference. You would look for similarities and differences only between “narrative strategies” and only within “Toni Morrison’s fiction.”
Cause and Effect Analysis
When performing this form of analysis, we determine how change happens. We identify causes and effects, and we distinguish between them. This is a more difficult category of analysis, as few effects have only one cause and few causes have only one effect. For this reason, framing your analysis becomes even more important. Your framing idea should pertain to either causes or effects.
For example, imagine you are a historian investigating the cause of the U.S. entering World War II. This event, or effect, would be your framing idea or subject. You would limit your search for causal factors that moved the U.S. toward entering the war, and your final work would focus on a set of those causes.
You can also reverse the process above and make your framing idea a cause. Modifying the example above, imagine you are interested in distinguishing between causes for the U.S. entry into World War II. You might, for example, focus on the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Your work would then consist of demonstrating the extent to which the Lend-Lease Act led to the U.S. entering World War II.
Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing
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How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing? -
What Is College Writing? -
Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?
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Doing Exploratory Research -
Getting from Notes to Your Draft -
Introduction -
Prewriting -
Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition -
Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience -
Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started -
Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment -
Rewriting -
Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic -
Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy -
Rewriting: Getting Feedback -
Rewriting: The Final Draft -
Techniques to Get Started - Outlining -
Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques -
Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea -
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting -
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas -
Writing: Outlining What You Will Write
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A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone -
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction -
Critical Strategies and Writing -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion -
Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis -
Developing a Paper Using Strategies -
Introduction -
Kinds of Assignments You Will Write -
Patterns for Presenting Information -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data -
Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern -
Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts -
Supporting with Research and Examples -
Writing Essay Examinations -
Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete -
Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing -
Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question
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Introduction -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature -
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources -
Research Resources: What Are Research Resources? -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources -
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources -
Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure -
Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure -
The Nature of Research -
The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated? -
The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed? -
The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?
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Academic Integrity -
Giving Credit to Sources -
Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws -
Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation -
Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides -
Integrating Sources -
Practicing Academic Integrity -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source -
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources -
Types of Documentation -
Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists -
Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style -
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style -
Types of Documentation: Note Citations
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Introduction -
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews -
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers -
Writing Arguments -
Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure -
Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument -
Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition -
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion -
Writing Arguments: Types of Argument
Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing
Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing
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Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project -
Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report -
Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve -
Collaborative Writing: Methodology -
Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation -
Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members -
Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan -
Conclusion -
General Introduction -
Peer Reviewing