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Do you need to write an analytical essay for school? What sets this kind of essay apart from other types, and what must you include when you write your own analytical essay? In this guide, we break down the process of writing an analytical essay by explaining the key factors your essay needs to have, providing you with an outline to help you structure your essay, and analyzing a complete analytical essay example so you can see what a finished essay looks like.

What Is an Analytical Essay?

Before you begin writing an analytical essay, you must know what this type of essay is and what it includes. Analytical essays analyze something, often (but not always) a piece of writing or a film.

An analytical essay is more than just a synopsis of the issue though; in this type of essay you need to go beyond surface-level analysis and look at what the key arguments/points of this issue are and why. If you’re writing an analytical essay about a piece of writing, you’ll look into how the text was written and why the author chose to write it that way. Instead of summarizing, an analytical essay typically takes a narrower focus and looks at areas such as major themes in the work, how the author constructed and supported their argument, how the essay used literary devices to enhance its messages, etc.

While you certainly want people to agree with what you’ve written, unlike with persuasive and argumentative essays, your main purpose when writing an analytical essay isn’t to try to convert readers to your side of the issue. Therefore, you won’t be using strong persuasive language like you would in those essay types. Rather, your goal is to have enough analysis and examples that the strength of your argument is clear to readers.

Besides typical essay components like an introduction and conclusion, a good analytical essay will include:

• A thesis that states your main argument
• Analysis that relates back to your thesis and supports it
• Examples to support your analysis and allow a more in-depth look at the issue

In the rest of this article, we’ll explain how to include each of these in your analytical essay.

How to Structure Your Analytical Essay

Analytical essays are structured similarly to many other essays you’ve written, with an introduction (including a thesis), several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below is an outline you can follow when structuring your essay, and in the next section we go into more detail on how to write an analytical essay.

Introduction

Your introduction will begin with some sort of attention-grabbing sentence to get your audience interested, then you’ll give a few sentences setting up the topic so that readers have some context, and you’ll end with your thesis statement. Your introduction will include:

• Brief background information explaining the issue/text
• Your thesis

Body Paragraphs

Your analytical essay will typically have three or four body paragraphs, each covering a different point of analysis. Begin each body paragraph with a sentence that sets up the main point you’ll be discussing. Then you’ll give some analysis on that point, backing it up with evidence to support your claim. Continue analyzing and giving evidence for your analysis until you’re out of strong points for the topic. At the end of each body paragraph, you may choose to have a transition sentence that sets up what the next paragraph will be about, but this isn’t required. Body paragraphs will include:

• Introductory sentence explaining what you’ll cover in the paragraph (sort of like a mini-thesis)
• Analysis point
• Evidence (either passages from the text or data/facts) that supports the analysis
• (Repeat analysis and evidence until you run out of examples)

You won’t be making any new points in your conclusion; at this point you’re just reiterating key points you’ve already made and wrapping things up. Begin by rephrasing your thesis and summarizing the main points you made in the essay. Someone who reads just your conclusion should be able to come away with a basic idea of what your essay was about and how it was structured. After this, you may choose to make some final concluding thoughts, potentially by connecting your essay topic to larger issues to show why it’s important. A conclusion will include:

• Paraphrase of thesis
• Summary of key points of analysis
• Final concluding thought(s)

5 Steps for Writing an Analytical Essay

Follow these five tips to break down writing an analytical essay into manageable steps. By the end, you’ll have a fully-crafted analytical essay with both in-depth analysis and enough evidence to support your argument. All of these steps use the completed analytical essay in the next section as an example.

#1: Pick a Topic

You may have already had a topic assigned to you, and if that’s the case, you can skip this step. However, if you haven’t, or if the topic you’ve been assigned is broad enough that you still need to narrow it down, then you’ll need to decide on a topic for yourself. Choosing the right topic can mean the difference between an analytical essay that’s easy to research (and gets you a good grade) and one that takes hours just to find a few decent points to analyze

Before you decide on an analytical essay topic, do a bit of research to make sure you have enough examples to support your analysis. If you choose a topic that’s too narrow, you’ll struggle to find enough to write about.

For example, say your teacher assigns you to write an analytical essay about the theme in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath of exposing injustices against migrants. For it to be an analytical essay, you can’t just recount the injustices characters in the book faced; that’s only a summary and doesn’t include analysis. You need to choose a topic that allows you to analyze the theme. One of the best ways to explore a theme is to analyze how the author made his/her argument. One example here is that Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters (short chapters that didn’t relate to the plot or contain the main characters of the book) to show what life was like for migrants as a whole during the Dust Bowl.

You could write about how Steinbeck used literary devices throughout the whole book, but, in the essay below, I chose to just focus on the intercalary chapters since they gave me enough examples. Having a narrower focus will nearly always result in a tighter and more convincing essay (and can make compiling examples less overwhelming).

#2: Write a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the most important sentence of your essay; a reader should be able to read just your thesis and understand what the entire essay is about and what you’ll be analyzing. When you begin writing, remember that each sentence in your analytical essay should relate back to your thesis

In the analytical essay example below, the thesis is the final sentence of the first paragraph (the traditional spot for it). The thesis is: “In The Grapes of Wrath’s intercalary chapters, John Steinbeck employs a variety of literary devices and stylistic choices to better expose the injustices committed against migrants in the 1930s.” So what will this essay analyze? How Steinbeck used literary devices in the intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants could have it. Crystal clear.

#3: Do Research to Find Your Main Points

This is where you determine the bulk of your analysis--the information that makes your essay an analytical essay. My preferred method is to list every idea that I can think of, then research each of those and use the three or four strongest ones for your essay. Weaker points may be those that don’t relate back to the thesis, that you don’t have much analysis to discuss, or that you can’t find good examples for. A good rule of thumb is to have one body paragraph per main point

This essay has four main points, each of which analyzes a different literary device Steinbeck uses to better illustrate how difficult life was for migrants during the Dust Bowl. The four literary devices and their impact on the book are:

• Lack of individual names in intercalary chapters to illustrate the scope of the problem
• Parallels to the Bible to induce sympathy for the migrants
• Non-showy, often grammatically-incorrect language so the migrants are more realistic and relatable to readers
• Nature-related metaphors to affect the mood of the writing and reflect the plight of the migrants

#4: Find Excerpts or Evidence to Support Your Analysis

Now that you have your main points, you need to back them up. If you’re writing a paper about a text or film, use passages/clips from it as your main source of evidence. If you’re writing about something else, your evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as surveys, experiments, quotes from knowledgeable sources etc. Any evidence that would work for a regular research paper works here.

In this example, I quoted multiple passages from The Grapes of Wrath  in each paragraph to support my argument. You should be able to back up every claim you make with evidence in order to have a strong essay.

#5: Put It All Together

Now it's time to begin writing your essay, if you haven’t already. Create an introductory paragraph that ends with the thesis, make a body paragraph for each of your main points, including both analysis and evidence to back up your claims, and wrap it all up with a conclusion that recaps your thesis and main points and potentially explains the big picture importance of the topic.

Analytical Essay Example + Analysis

So that you can see for yourself what a completed analytical essay looks like, here’s an essay I wrote back in my high school days. It’s followed by analysis of how I structured my essay, what its strengths are, and how it could be improved.

One way Steinbeck illustrates the connections all migrant people possessed and the struggles they faced is by refraining from using specific titles and names in his intercalary chapters. While The Grapes of Wrath focuses on the Joad family, the intercalary chapters show that all migrants share the same struggles and triumphs as the Joads. No individual names are used in these chapters; instead the people are referred to as part of a group. Steinbeck writes, “Frantic men pounded on the doors of the doctors; and the doctors were busy.  And sad men left word at country stores for the coroner to send a car,” (555). By using generic terms, Steinbeck shows how the migrants are all linked because they have gone through the same experiences. The grievances committed against one family were committed against thousands of other families; the abuse extends far beyond what the Joads experienced. The Grapes of Wrath frequently refers to the importance of coming together; how, when people connect with others their power and influence multiplies immensely. Throughout the novel, the goal of the migrants, the key to their triumph, has been to unite. While their plans are repeatedly frustrated by the government and police, Steinbeck’s intercalary chapters provide a way for the migrants to relate to one another because they have encountered the same experiences. Hundreds of thousands of migrants fled to the promised land of California, but Steinbeck was aware that numbers alone were impersonal and lacked the passion he desired to spread. Steinbeck created the intercalary chapters to show the massive numbers of people suffering, and he created the Joad family to evoke compassion from readers.  Because readers come to sympathize with the Joads, they become more sensitive to the struggles of migrants in general. However, John Steinbeck frequently made clear that the Joads were not an isolated incident; they were not unique. Their struggles and triumphs were part of something greater. Refraining from specific names in his intercalary chapters allows Steinbeck to show the vastness of the atrocities committed against migrants.

Steinbeck also creates significant parallels to the Bible in his intercalary chapters in order to enhance his writing and characters. By using simple sentences and stylized writing, Steinbeck evokes Biblical passages. The migrants despair, “No work till spring. No work,” (556).  Short, direct sentences help to better convey the desperateness of the migrants’ situation. Throughout his novel, John Steinbeck makes connections to the Bible through his characters and storyline. Jim Casy’s allusions to Christ and the cycle of drought and flooding are clear biblical references.  By choosing to relate The Grapes of Wrath to the Bible, Steinbeck’s characters become greater than themselves. Starving migrants become more than destitute vagrants; they are now the chosen people escaping to the promised land. When a forgotten man dies alone and unnoticed, it becomes a tragedy. Steinbeck writes, “If [the migrants] were shot at, they did not run, but splashed sullenly away; and if they were hit, they sank tiredly in the mud,” (556). Injustices committed against the migrants become greater because they are seen as children of God through Steinbeck’s choice of language. Referencing the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s novel and purpose: to create understanding for the dispossessed.  It is easy for people to feel disdain for shabby vagabonds, but connecting them to such a fundamental aspect of Christianity induces sympathy from readers who might have otherwise disregarded the migrants as so many other people did.

The simple, uneducated dialogue Steinbeck employs also helps to create a more honest and meaningful representation of the migrants, and it makes the migrants more relatable to readers. Steinbeck chooses to accurately represent the language of the migrants in order to more clearly illustrate their lives and make them seem more like real paper than just characters in a book. The migrants lament, “They ain’t gonna be no kinda work for three months,” (555). There are multiple grammatical errors in that single sentence, but it vividly conveys the despair the migrants felt better than a technically perfect sentence would. The Grapes of Wrath is intended to show the severe difficulties facing the migrants so Steinbeck employs a clear, pragmatic style of writing.  Steinbeck shows the harsh, truthful realities of the migrants’ lives and he would be hypocritical if he chose to give the migrants a more refined voice and not portray them with all their shortcomings. The depiction of the migrants as imperfect through their language also makes them easier to relate to. Steinbeck’s primary audience was the middle class, the less affluent of society. Repeatedly in The Grapes of Wrath , the wealthy make it obvious that they scorn the plight of the migrants. The wealthy, not bad luck or natural disasters, were the prominent cause of the suffering of migrant families such as the Joads. Thus, Steinbeck turns to the less prosperous for support in his novel. When referring to the superior living conditions barnyard animals have, the migrants remark, “Them’s horses-we’re men,” (556).  The perfect simplicity of this quote expresses the absurdness of the migrants’ situation better than any flowery expression could.

In The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck uses metaphors, particularly about nature, in order to illustrate the mood and the overall plight of migrants. Throughout most of the book, the land is described as dusty, barren, and dead. Towards the end, however; floods come and the landscape begins to change. At the end of chapter twenty-nine, Steinbeck describes a hill after the floods saying, “Tiny points of grass came through the earth, and in a few days the hills were pale green with the beginning year,” (556). This description offers a stark contrast from the earlier passages which were filled with despair and destruction. Steinbeck’s tone from the beginning of the chapter changes drastically. Early in the chapter, Steinbeck had used heavy imagery in order to convey the destruction caused by the rain, “The streams and the little rivers edged up to the bank sides and worked at willows and tree roots, bent the willows deep in the current, cut out the roots of cottonwoods and brought down the trees,” (553). However, at the end of the chapter the rain has caused new life to grow in California. The new grass becomes a metaphor representing hope. When the migrants are at a loss over how they will survive the winter, the grass offers reassurance. The story of the migrants in the intercalary chapters parallels that of the Joads. At the end of the novel, the family is breaking apart and has been forced to flee their home. However, both the book and final intercalary chapter end on a hopeful note after so much suffering has occurred. The grass metaphor strengthens Steinbeck’s message because it offers a tangible example of hope. Through his language Steinbeck’s themes become apparent at the end of the novel. Steinbeck affirms that persistence, even when problems appear insurmountable, leads to success. These metaphors help to strengthen Steinbeck’s themes in The Grapes of Wrath because they provide a more memorable way to recall important messages.

John Steinbeck’s language choices help to intensify his writing in his intercalary chapters and allow him to more clearly show how difficult life for migrants could be. Refraining from using specific names and terms allows Steinbeck to show that many thousands of migrants suffered through the same wrongs. Imitating the style of the Bible strengthens Steinbeck’s characters and connects them to the Bible, perhaps the most famous book in history. When Steinbeck writes in the imperfect dialogue of the migrants, he creates a more accurate portrayal and makes the migrants easier to relate to for a less affluent audience. Metaphors, particularly relating to nature, strengthen the themes in The Grapes of Wrath by enhancing the mood Steinbeck wants readers to feel at different points in the book. Overall, the intercalary chapters that Steinbeck includes improve his novel by making it more memorable and reinforcing the themes Steinbeck embraces throughout the novel. Exemplary stylistic devices further persuade readers of John Steinbeck’s personal beliefs. Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath to bring to light cruelties against migrants, and by using literary devices effectively, he continuously reminds readers of his purpose. Steinbeck’s impressive language choices in his intercalary chapters advance the entire novel and help to create a classic work of literature that people still are able to relate to today. 

This essay sticks pretty closely to the standard analytical essay outline. It starts with an introduction, where I chose to use a quote to start off the essay. (This became my favorite way to start essays in high school because, if I wasn’t sure what to say, I could outsource the work and find a quote that related to what I’d be writing about.) The quote in this essay doesn’t relate to the themes I’m discussing quite as much as it could, but it’s still a slightly different way to start an essay and can intrigue readers. I then give a bit of background on The Grapes of Wrath and its themes before ending the intro paragraph with my thesis: that Steinbeck used literary devices in intercalary chapters to show how rough migrants had it.

Each of my four body paragraphs is formatted in roughly the same way: an intro sentence that explains what I’ll be discussing, analysis of that main point, and at least two quotes from the book as evidence.

My conclusion restates my thesis, summarizes each of four points I discussed in my body paragraphs, and ends the essay by briefly discussing how Steinbeck’s writing helped introduce a world of readers to the injustices migrants experienced during the dust bowl.

What does this analytical essay example do well? For starters, it contains everything that a strong analytical essay should, and it makes that easy to find. The thesis clearly lays out what the essay will be about, the first sentence of each of the body paragraph introduces the topic it’ll cover, and the conclusion neatly recaps all the main points. Within each of the body paragraphs, there’s analysis along with multiple excerpts from the book in order to add legitimacy to my points.

Additionally, the essay does a good job of taking an in-depth look at the issue introduced in the thesis. Four ways Steinbeck used literary devices are discussed, and for each of the examples are given and analysis is provided so readers can understand why Steinbeck included those devices and how they helped shaped how readers viewed migrants and their plight.

Where could this essay be improved? I believe the weakest body paragraph is the third one, the one that discusses how Steinbeck used plain, grammatically incorrect language to both accurately depict the migrants and make them more relatable to readers. The paragraph tries to touch on both of those reasons and ends up being somewhat unfocused as a result. It would have been better for it to focus on just one of those reasons (likely how it made the migrants more relatable) in order to be clearer and more effective. It’s a good example of how adding more ideas to an essay often doesn’t make it better if they don’t work with the rest of what you’re writing. This essay also could explain the excerpts that are included more and how they relate to the points being made. Sometimes they’re just dropped in the essay with the expectation that the readers will make the connection between the example and the analysis. This is perhaps especially true in the second body paragraph, the one that discusses similarities to Biblical passages. Additional analysis of the quotes would have strengthened it.

Summary: How to Write an Analytical Essay

What is an analytical essay? A critical analytical essay analyzes a topic, often a text or film. The analysis paper uses evidence to support the argument, such as excerpts from the piece of writing. All analytical papers include a thesis, analysis of the topic, and evidence to support that analysis.

When developing an analytical essay outline and writing your essay, follow these five steps:

Reading analytical essay examples can also give you a better sense of how to structure your essay and what to include in it.

What's Next?

Learning about different writing styles in school? There are four main writing styles, and it's important to understand each of them. Learn about them in our guide to writing styles , complete with examples.

Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Literary devices can both be used to enhance your writing and communication. Check out this list of 31 literary devices to learn more !

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Module 8: Analysis and Synthesis

Analytical thesis statements, learning objective.

• Describe strategies for writing analytical thesis statements
• Identify analytical thesis statements

In order to write an analysis, you want to first have a solid understanding of the thing you are analyzing. Remember, when you are analyzing as a writer, you are:

• Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts
• Uncovering relationships among those parts
• Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions
• Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations

You may be asked to analyze a book, an essay, a poem, a movie, or even a song. For example, let’s suppose you want to analyze the lyrics to a popular song. Pretend that a rapper called Escalade has the biggest hit of the summer with a song titled “Missing You.” You listen to the song and determine that it is about the pain people feel when a loved one dies. You have already done analysis at a surface level and you want to begin writing your analysis. You start with the following thesis statement:

Escalade’s hit song “Missing You” is about grieving after a loved one dies.

There isn’t much depth or complexity to such a claim because the thesis doesn’t give much information. In order to write a better thesis statement, we need to dig deeper into the song. What is the importance of the lyrics? What are they really about? Why is the song about grieving? Why did he present it this way? Why is it a powerful song? Ask questions to lead you to further investigation. Doing so will help you better understand the work, but also help you develop a better thesis statement and stronger analytical essay.

Formulating an Analytical Thesis Statement

When formulating an analytical thesis statement in college, here are some helpful words and phrases to remember:

• What? What is the claim?
• How? How is this claim supported?
• So what? In other words, “What does this mean, what are the implications, or why is this important?”

Telling readers what the lyrics are might be a useful way to let them see what you are analyzing and/or to isolate specific parts where you are focusing your analysis. However, you need to move far beyond “what.” Instructors at the college level want to see your ability to break down material and demonstrate deep thinking. The claim in the thesis statement above said that Escalade’s song was about loss, but what evidence do we have for that, and why does that matter?

Effective analytical thesis statements require digging deeper and perhaps examining the larger context. Let’s say you do some research and learn that the rapper’s mother died not long ago, and when you examine the lyrics more closely, you see that a few of the lines seem to be specifically about a mother rather than a loved one in general.

Then you also read a recent interview with Escalade in which he mentions that he’s staying away from hardcore rap lyrics on his new album in an effort to be more mainstream and reach more potential fans. Finally, you notice that some of the lyrics in the song focus on not taking full advantage of the time we have with our loved ones.   All of these pieces give you material to write a more complex thesis statement, maybe something like this:

In the hit song “Missing You,” Escalade draws on his experience of losing his mother and raps about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in order to connect with his audience.

Such a thesis statement is focused while still allowing plenty of room for support in the body of your paper. It addresses the questions posed above:

• The claim is that Escalade connects with a broader audience by rapping about the importance of not taking time with family for granted in his hit song, “Missing You.”
• This claim is supported in the lyrics of the song and through the “experience of losing his mother.”
• The implications are that we should not take the time we have with people for granted.

Certainly, there may be many ways for you to address “what,” “how,” and “so what,” and you may want to explore other ideas, but the above example is just one way to more fully analyze the material. Note that the example above is not formulaic, but if you need help getting started, you could use this template format to help develop your thesis statement.

Through ________________(how?), we can see that __________________(what?), which is important because ___________________(so what?). [1]

Just remember to think about these questions (what? how? and so what?) as you try to determine why something is what it is or why something means what it means. Asking these questions can help you analyze a song, story, or work of art, and can also help you construct meaningful thesis sentences when you write an analytical paper.

Key Takeaways for analytical theses

Don’t be afraid to let your claim evolve organically . If you find that your thinking and writing don’t stick exactly to the thesis statement you have constructed, your options are to scrap the writing and start again to make it fit your claim (which might not always be possible) or to modify your thesis statement. The latter option can be much easier if you are okay with the changes. As with many projects in life, writing doesn’t always go in the direction we plan, and strong analysis may mean thinking about and making changes as you look more closely at your topic. Be flexible.

Use analysis to get you to the main claim. You may have heard the simile that analysis is like peeling an onion because you have to go through layers to complete your work. You can start the process of breaking down an idea or an artifact without knowing where it will lead you or without a main claim or idea to guide you. Often, careful assessment of the pieces will bring you to an interesting interpretation of the whole. In their text Writing Analytically , authors David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen posit that being analytical doesn’t mean just breaking something down. It also means constructing understandings. Don’t assume you need to have deeper interpretations all figured out as you start your work.

When you decide upon the main claim, make sure it is reasoned . In other words, if it is very unlikely anyone else would reach the same interpretation you are making, it might be off base. Not everyone needs to see an idea the same way you do, but a reasonable person should be able to understand, if not agree, with your analysis.

Look for analytical thesis statements in the following activity.

Using Evidence

An effective analytical thesis statement (or claim) may sound smart or slick, but it requires evidence to be fully realized. Consider movie trailers and the actual full-length movies they advertise as an analogy. If you see an exciting one-minute movie trailer online and then go see the film only to leave disappointed because all the good parts were in the trailer, you feel cheated, right? You think you were promised something that didn’t deliver in its execution. A paper with a strong thesis statement but lackluster evidence feels the same way to readers.

So what does strong analytical evidence look like? Think again about “what,” “how,” and “so what.” A claim introduces these interpretations, and evidence lets you show them. Keep in mind that evidence used in writing analytically will build on itself as the piece progresses, much like a good movie builds to an interesting climax.

Key Takeaways about evidence

Be selective about evidence. Having a narrow thesis statement will help you be selective with evidence, but even then, you don’t need to include any and every piece of information related to your main claim. Consider the best points to back up your analytic thesis statement and go deeply into them. (Also, remember that you may modify your thesis statement as you think and write, so being selective about what evidence you use in an analysis may actually help you narrow down what was a broad main claim as you work.) Refer back to our movie theme in this section: You have probably seen plenty of films that would have been better with some parts cut out and more attention paid to intriguing but underdeveloped characters and/or ideas.

Be clear and explicit with your evidence. Don’t assume that readers know exactly what you are thinking. Make your points and explain them in detail, providing information and context for readers, where necessary. Remember that analysis is critical examination and interpretation, but you can’t just assume that others always share or intuit your line of thinking. Need a movie analogy? Think back on all the times you or someone you know has said something like “I’m not sure what is going on in this movie.”

Move past obvious interpretations. Analyzing requires brainpower. Writing analytically is even more difficult. Don’t, however, try to take the easy way out by using obvious evidence (or working from an obvious claim). Many times writers have a couple of great pieces of evidence to support an interesting interpretation, but they feel the need to tack on an obvious idea—often more of an observation than analysis—somewhere in their work. This tendency may stem from the conventions of the five-paragraph essay, which features three points of support. Writing analytically, though, does not mean writing a five-paragraph essay (not much writing in college does). Develop your other evidence further or modify your main idea to allow room for additional strong evidence, but avoid obvious observations as support for your main claim. One last movie comparison? Go take a look at some of the debate on predictable Hollywood scripts. Have you ever watched a movie and felt like you have seen it before? You have, in one way or another. A sharp reader will be about as interested in obvious evidence as he or she will be in seeing a tired script reworked for the thousandth time.

One type of analysis you may be asked to write is a literary analysis, in which you examine a piece of text by breaking it down and looking for common literary elements, such as character, symbolism, plot, setting, imagery, and tone.

The video below compares writing a literary analysis to analyzing a team’s chances of winning a game—just as you would look at various factors like the weather, coaching, players, their record, and their motivation for playing. Similarly, when analyzing a literary text you want to look at all of the literary elements that contribute to the work.

The video takes you through the story of Cinderalla as an example, following the simplest possible angle (or thesis statement), that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.” (Note that if you were really asked to analyze Cinderella for a college class, you would want to dig deeper to find a more nuanced and interesting theme, but it works well for this example.) To analyze the story with this theme in mind, you’d want to consider the literary elements such as imagery, characters, dialogue, symbolism, the setting, plot, and tone, and consider how each of these contribute to the message that “Dreams can come true if you don’t give up.”

You can view the transcript for “How to Analyze Literature” here (opens in new window) .

• UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center. "What, How and So What?" Approaching the Thesis as a Process. https://wp.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/UWC_handouts_What-How-So-What-Thesis-revised-5-4-15-RZ.pdf ↵
• Keys to Successful Analysis. Authored by : Guy Krueger. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Thesis Statement Activity. Authored by : Excelsior OWL. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/research/thesis-or-focus/thesis-or-focus-thesis-statement-activity/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• What is Analysis?. Authored by : Karen Forgette. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY: Attribution
• How to Analyze Literature. Provided by : HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4BjZkQ5Nc . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

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Feeling a bit lost when it comes to writing an analytical essay and don't know how to structure the data? 

Many students find it challenging to dissect a text, organize their thoughts, and structure their analysis essays effectively. 

But don't worry; we've got your back!  In our blog, we've put together some easy-to-follow templates and examples that will help you make a perfect analytical essay outline. No more staring at a blank page! With our tips and examples, you'll have a clear roadmap for your essay. 

So, let's get started!

• 1. Analytical Essay Overview
• 2. How To Write An Analytical Essay Outline? 
• 3. What is the Format of an Analytical Essay?
• 4. Analytical Essay Outline Samples
• 5. Tips to Structure an Analytical Essay

Analytical Essay Overview

An analytical essay is a type of academic writing that examines a topic, idea, or piece of literature in-depth. It involves breaking down the subject into its components, analyzing them, and presenting a well-structured argument or interpretation. 

The goal of an analytical essay is to explore the "how" and "why" of the subject, rather than just describing it. Unlike an argumentative essay , an analytical does not include persuasion of the writer’s claim. It often requires evidence, critical thinking, and careful evaluation to support your thesis and provide insights. 

This essay type is commonly assigned in literature, history, and other academic disciplines to assess your ability to think critically and articulate your ideas clearly.

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How To Write An Analytical Essay Outline? 

Like every other academic writing, an analytical essay requires an organized structure for its content to be readable and understandable. In order to shape all the raw information, an outline is drafted.  

An analytical essay outline is similar to the traditional essay outline of five paragraphs. Here are given the sections of a 5 paragraph analytical essay outline:

The researched information about the specific topic needs to be organized. This is to make sure that the content is clear and effective for the readers. 

Read on to get a better idea of each section of the outline.

Analytical Essay Introduction

The importance and significance of the introduction of an essay can not be denied. An analytical essay introduction is the first section of the essay that sets the stage for analysis.

The purpose of writing an essay introduction is to attract the readers and motivate them to read the essay. The introduction lays the whole groundwork for your essay. So the more substantial the introduction is, the more effective the paper is going to be.

The analytical essay introduction is based on three main elements:

Background Information

• Thesis statement 

A hook statement is an opening sentence of the introductory paragraph. Just as the name suggests, a writer uses a hook statement to “hook” the audience to read further.

A hook can take various forms, such as humor, statistics, questions, or anecdotes. Writers can select any type of opening sentence depending on the essay topic, provided it aligns with the theme and subject matter.

Example Hook:

Ready to write hooks that hook? Check out our ' hook examples' blog post and discover different types of powerful hooks!

Following the hook, provide some context about the topic being analyzed. This is where you bridge the gap between the general attention grabber and the specific argument you'll present in the thesis statement.

For Example:

Thesis Statement 

Following the hook comes the most critical element of an essay - the thesis statement. A thesis statement is the writer’s stance or argument on the chosen work. This is where the writer states and highlights the main argument of the essay topic. 

The thesis statement can be written by keeping in mind the original text’s goal and the writer’s analysis. 

For example,

Analytical Essay Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an essay support your claim by providing shreds of evidence. All the gathered and relevant information that justifies the argument is presented in this section.

The body of the analytical essay should be divided into different paragraphs. Discuss each point in a specific paragraph, making your essay organized and understandable for the reader.

All paragraphs in the body section should cover the following components:

• Topic Sentence - A topic sentence is an opening sentence of a paragraph. This sentence is the claim or the important point that proves the thesis statement. Begin each of your paragraphs with a topic sentence. 
• Specific examples: Use concrete details, quotes, or scenes from the work you're analyzing.
• Data or statistics: If relevant, incorporate data or statistics to support your claims.
• Expert opinions: Opinions from credible sources can strengthen your analysis.
• Why is this evidence important?
• How does it illustrate the point you're making?
• What deeper meaning or insight does it reveal about the work being analyzed?

Note: Ea ch paragraph should be transitioned to make logical content. This transition will act as a bridge and will connect the previous paragraph with the next paragraph. 

Analytical Essay Conclusion 

The essay conclusion is the last section where all the discussion comes to an end. Here the writer restates the thesis statement and provides a short summary of the major points in the content. It will prove that the main argument is justified using the evidence for the readers.

For example, 

What is the Format of an Analytical Essay?

When it comes to formatting your analytical essay, adhering to specific guidelines is essential to ensure a professional presentation and clarity for your readers. Here are some key formatting guidelines to follow:

• Page Setup: Use standard letter-sized (8.5" x 11") paper with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Font: Select a legible font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and maintain consistency throughout the document.
• Font Size: Use a 12-point font size for the main text to ensure readability.
• Spacing: Double-space the entire essay, including the title, headings, and references.
• Title Page: Include a title page with the essay title, your name, course, instructor's name, and date. This information is typically centered and formatted according to your institution's guidelines.

By adhering to these formatting guidelines, you'll present your work professionally, making it easier for readers to engage with your analysis.

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Analytical Essay Outline Samples

An analytical essay is a little different than other types of essay . Therefore, to write a good analytical essay, students require essay examples to know what to produce and how to produce it. 

We have some free analysis essay outline samples for you to take assistance for your next assignment. Let’s take a look:

Analytical Essay Structure Sample

Critical Analytical Essay Outline Template

Literary Analytical Essay Outline

Macbeth Analytical Essay

Analytical Essay Outline Worksheet

Analysis Essay Outline College

5 Paragraph Analytical Essay Outline

Need more analytical essay samples? Check out our “ analytical essay examples ” blog and get the ideas!

Tips to Structure an Analytical Essay

Here are some essential tips to help you create a well-organized and effective analytical essay:

• Choose a Clear Analytical Essay Topic: Select a specific topic or idea to analyze. Make sure it's something you can dissect and discuss thoroughly. If you are looking for ideas read our blog on analytical essay topics to get inspiration.
• Begin with an Analytical Essay Outline: Start with a clear outline to organize your thoughts. Use an outline example or sample as a template.
• Introduction with a Strong Thesis: Your introduction should introduce the topic and contain a strong thesis statement that lays out your argument.
• Use Evidence to Support Thesis: Dedicate individual paragraphs to supporting evidence and arguments. Use the analytical essay structure to create a logical flow.
• Cite Sources Properly: If you're using references, ensure you follow the analytical essay format and cite sources correctly.
• Analyze and Interpret: Analyze text in detail and provide insights and interpretations.
• Conclusion with Restated Thesis: Summarize your main points and restate the thesis in the conclusion.
• Edit and Proofread: Review and edit your essay for clarity and coherence.

By following these tips and employing an analytical argument essay outline, you'll structure your essay for maximum impact.

In summary, we've covered the ins and outs of creating an analytical essay outline in our guide. With this, you should feel more confident in structuring your essays effectively. Remember, a well-structured outline is your dependable guide for successful essay writing so create one wisely!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for an analytical essay.

The formula for an analytical essay typically involves introducing a thesis statement, providing evidence to support the thesis, and analyzing that evidence to draw conclusions.

What is the outline of an analytical paragraph?

The outline of an analytical paragraph often includes a topic sentence introducing the main point, followed by evidence or examples to support that point, and analysis or interpretation of the evidence to connect it back to the thesis.

What are the three major parts of an analysis essay?

The three major parts of an analysis essay are the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction sets up the thesis and provides context for the analysis. The body paragraphs present evidence and analysis to support the thesis. The conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the thesis in light of the analysis provided.

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168 Classification Essay Topics & Analysis by Division Essay Ideas

If you are ready to discover genuinely fresh classification essay topics, this article is for you! We will introduce 168 inspirational classification essay ideas that will make your papers rock. We will explain what a classification essay is, and also describe some features of classification essay structure and format! Now is the time to choose your favorite idea from the following essay topics list. Enjoy your excellent grades and the envy of your classmates.

❓ What Is a Classification Essay?

• 🔑 How to Write a Classification Essay?
• For College Students
• For a Descriptive Essay
• About Yourself
• About Friends
• Other Topics

👀 Classification Essay Example

🔥 top 13 classification and division essay topics 2024.

• Types of self-care.
• Ways to earn easy money.
• Eco-friendly activities.
• Ways to stay productive.
• Best learning techniques.
• Types of social media.
• Forms of political activism.
• Ways of coping with stress.
• Types of fashion brands.
• Language learning techniques
• Types of travelers.
• Types of cyber attacks.
• Marketing strategies.

A division or classification essay is an essay that aims to evaluate one’s skills of categorizing and generalizing. The task is to organize things into categories . Before doing this, you’ll need to choose and describe the criteria for classification. You’ll also need to provide several examples of things from each category. For instance, when writing an essay on mobile platforms, you might distinguish the following categories: iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone.

🔑 How to Write a Classification Essay? Key Principles & Steps

A classification essay divides objects into groups according to a particular system, depending on the subject.

Writing a Classification/Division Essay: 5 Steps

Below are the five steps that will help you write a successful classification essay .

Step #1: Choose a Classification & Division Essay Topic

This idea is the central concept behind classification and division essays. Unlike other essay types , a good classification essay usually describes how the parts relate to the whole in a given category. When choosing a topic for a division essay, keep in mind that you should divide the topic into important categories. In the article, we will suggest various classification essay topics. They may inspire you and give you the overall idea of what one should look like. Remember, a good classification and division essay topic needs to be easily divided into categories.

Step #2: Define the Categories of your Classification Essay

A classification essay combines two different techniques:

• Firstly, you need to divide a complex and difficult topic into subtopics
• Next, you need to determine what categories are needed and what information fits into those specific categories

For example, a newspaper. All the information inside is divided into different parts. There are news, advertisements, and classifieds. Then the information is also classified into different categories. The news may, for example, be categorized as sports, international, local, lifestyle, etc.

Before starting an essay, make sure you have chosen an organizing principle. Information can be organized chronologically, logically, etc. You also need enough examples and supporting details for each category of your classification and division essay.

Step #3: Create a Thesis Statement

Developing the correct thesis statement is crucial. The main idea of the essay is summarized and expressed in a thesis. Once you have decided on the purpose, group, and categories, develop a thesis statement.

• describe the basis of the classification
• name what group of people or things you intend to classify
• label the categories you have developed

For example:

“The last five U.S. presidents have practiced physical fitness regimens that varied from the formal to the informal. They have been either disciplined public joggers, regular private gym-goers, or casual, active sports enthusiasts.”

Step #4: Make a Classification Essay Outline

Outlining your classification essay is an essential step if you want to get a great essay. It helps you keep your paper organized and flow from point to point naturally. It also allows you to be more flexible. An outline provides a structure for what you will articulate in every section and every paragraph of your essay. Take a look at the table below!

Step #5: Remember Classification Essay Structure

It is essential always to remember the basic essay structure.

📇 Classification Essay Topics

We have introduced some of the main principles of classification/division papers. Now, we will write about and introduce some good topics for the classification essay. This classification essay list can help you to tackle this unique type of essay creatively.

• Facebook users
• YouTube videos
• Search engines
• Computer users
• Dormitory rooms
• Friends in need
• People queuing at the dentist
• People in the street when it rains cats and dogs
• Most annoying songs
• Dancing styles
• Movie endings
• Cinema-goers
• Extracurricular activities
• College athletes
• College fraternities
• Parenting styles
• Child-parent relationships
• Students and their study habits
• Students during an exam
• Students during a class discussion
• Television shows
• Shop assistants
• First dates
• Ways to apologize
• Happy couples
• Reasons (not) to get married
• Ways (not) to resolve a personal conflict
• Christmas gifts
• New Year’s parties
• Halloween costumes
• Attitudes to sports
• Ways to quit smoking
• Sports fans
• Sports coaches
• Ways to spend a dinner break
• Sales representatives
• Advertisements
• Shopping behaviors
• Types of restaurant decor
• Family dinners
• Public speakers
• World religions
• Political regimes
• International organizations
• Stereotypes
• Decision-making strategies
• Types of motivation
• Change management strategies
• Clients’ behaviors in conflictual situations
• Sources of energy
• Evolution theories
• Debating strategies
• Stress-coping strategies
• Responses to jokes
• Laughter sounds
• Compliments

📋 10 Classification Essay Topics with Categories

Here are the top 10 topics and category examples!

🖌️ Classification Topics for a Descriptive Essay

In case you might want to consider writing a descriptive or exemplification essay, we are introducing 12 extra topics that may help you.

First, you have to remember that the descriptive essay asks the student to describe something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This kind of writing encourages the student’s ability to create a written account of a particular occasion or experience. While working on a descriptive essay, try to use vivid and clear language, use your senses, and leave an impression on the reader.

Here are some classification essay topics samples:

• The influence of literature on daily life. Consider some examples and thoroughly describe how they affected people in certain situations.
• Behavior in critical situations. Exemplify typical and atypical behavior of people you know (or yourself) in different extreme situations or imagine how you would react.
• Most influential phenomena in the 21st century. Draw a few examples from modern history and chose one of them explaining your selection.
• Conflict of generations. Describe how sides of the conflict react to the same situations and draw a conclusion stating what can be done to fix the issue.
• Creativity in daily life. Explore the meaning of creativity and explain how it affects our lives on a daily basis.
• Circumstantial wisdom. Describe some situations from your life and what wisdom you have gained from them.
• Car ownership in a future city. Give some examples of how cars would look like 50 years from now.
• The Second World War lessons. Exemplify the modern-day life aspects that might have formed under the influence of WWII.
• Physics in daily life. Identify real-life situations where the knowledge of physics could be a game-changer.
• Importance of physical education . State your opinion on why PE is so important in life, mentioning examples of famous people.
• Everyday moral choices. Describe what moral decisions you have to take every day and whether you think you choose right.
• Daily heroism . Think about the people whose work we do not notice but who have great importance in our lives.

🙋 Easy Classification Essay Topics about Yourself

Essays about yourself are usually one of the simplest topics. It is always easier to write about yourself rather than an abstract object.

If you want to write about yourself, here is a bunch of simple essay topics to consider:

• My sources of inspiration. You may describe what keeps you going every day.
• Inspiring stories that changed my life. Here you may remember an inspiring story from your childhood that someone told you or you read yourself.
• My favorite personality from real life. You could write a descriptive essay about a modern person you know or read about.
• My favorite book character. The narration might provide an explanation of why you chose this particular character.
• My favorite success story. You can choose a real-life person who achieved success and describe his or her path.
• Modern cultural trends in my country. Describe one or two significant cultural trends and elaborate how they are influential on different groups of people.
• My personal life goals. In this essay, you might critically and retrospectively think about what you wanted to achieve in the past and now. Also, tell about how your goals have changed and what the present motivation behind them is.
• My modern role model. Describe who you are inspired by and what is so special about him or her.
• Role models of the past and their relevance to me. This is one of the essays on people where you can review some books or internet sources to find role models of the previous 50 years and discuss their relevance to you personally.
• A motivational speech I admire. Choose one example of a motivational speech, describe its relevance and how it has changed you.
• Leisure activities I would rather do. Write an essay about the things you would prefer to occupy your free time with. Mention why you would consider changing your present activities.
• Motivational quotes that give me strength. A motivational essay on life that sheds light on the words that have special meaning for you. Mention a few examples of how the chosen quotes inspired you to do something.
• The teacher that inspired me. You might choose this topic if you have such a teacher and write about the things he or she inspired you to do.
• The most influential person in my life. A descriptive essay that gives the reader an understanding of a personality of a person you chose to write about and how he or she influences you.
• Essay for a scholarship. A typical scholarship essay where you build your arguments on why you need it and what you will achieve with it.
• Who am I? A written answer to this existential question lets you enhance your qualities as an essay maker.
• My place in a world. Another interesting essay where you can write about how you are going to contribute to society as a human being.
• My culture and ancestry. Here you may elaborate on what your parents’ and grandparents’ culture is and whether you associate yourself with it. If yes, then to what extent.
• Minimum and maximum of things you need for a living. Describe what you need to live the life you picture for yourself in your worst and sweetest dreams.
• Internet habits at different times. Here you might research into what people usually did on the internet when it first became available to the masses as compared to what people do there now.
• Internet behaviors of different social groups. An example of a classifying and divisive essay where you need to identify and tie behaviors to a specific social group .
• Internet habits in different cultures. Another essay on differences in Internet use. You can ask representatives of other cultures how they usually surf the Internet and write about it.
• Internet hobbies. Write about how you can productively spend your time online.
• Influence of games on health . A popular topic where you can express your opinion and cite reputable sources.
• Gaming habits of boys and girls. An analysis by division where you identify gender differences in gaming habits.
• Problems of a modern-day social media . Describe a few problems, name their source, and how they influence internet users.
• My favorite website. State your opinion on why you like this website and describe its contribution to society.
• Practical ways of searching information on the Internet. Enumerate several techniques and describe how they make the search more productive or easy.
• Online vs. offline games. A division paper where you need to describe features of online or offline games, stating your opinion on which is best.
• Online learning techniques. Research sources and create a list of the most useful and practical techniques for learning on the Internet.
• Online teaching. Imagine yourself in the role of a teacher and describe how you would organize the learning process for your students.
• Best websites for e-learning . Name a few examples and state their advantages in comparison to others.
• Internet commerce. A college essay where you can describe ways people sell and buy goods on the Internet.
• Internet of things. This is one of the essay kinds where you have you be specific about the terms. Give an explanation of the Internet of things and state how it affects today’s world.
• Big data. Define reputable sources and describe the term’s influence.
• Future of the Internet technology. Try to imagine what would become of our experience on the Internet in 10-30-50 years.
• The emergence of the Internet. In a story-telling mode, narrate about the internet was created.
• Classification of online businesses. Write a categorical essay on the types of online enterprises and their characteristic features.

🤝 Classification and Division Essay Topics about Friends

Here are some classification paper topics for college students about friends:

• Types of friendship pointed out by Aristotle . Explain the three types of friendships pointed out by Aristotle. What were the reasons for his classification?
• Importance of friendship in your life. Think about the importance of friendship. What types of friends exist? What importance do they have in your life?
• The characteristics of friendship. Think of the main characteristics of friendship. What kind of people can you call friends?
• The major differences between a good friendship and the bad one. Think of some qualities that make up a good or a bad friendship.
• The effects of friendship. What kind of effects does friendship have on a person? Think about the ways friendship influences a person.
• Love and friendship. What are the differences between love and friendship? You can come up with the types of characteristics that define friendship and love.
• The purpose of friendship. What kind of purpose can a friendship have?
• Friendship and enmity. The difference between friendship and enmity. Think of the qualities that distinguish friendship and enmity.
• Major qualities of a true friend. What the qualities of a true friend?
• Friendship and its effect on the person. Think of ways friends can influence one’s character or life.

🎁 Other Analysis by Division Essay Topics

Below you’ll find some extra classification essay topics for various fields and levels of study.

🤽 Classification Essay Topics on Sports

Here are some examples of classification essay topics you can use while writing a division essay about sport:

• Winter Paralympic sports . Introduce Paralympic games to the reader. Talk about the kinds of sports that people compete in during the games.
• Changes in Olympic sports. Think of the changes that were introduced to the Olympic games.
• Challenges associated with team sports. Talk about challenges that team sports deal with. Why is it hard to be a team player?
• The most expensive sports. List the most expensive sports. Explain why.
• Extreme Sports. What kinds of sports are considered extreme? Why?

Classification Essay Topics on Music

There are the topics you can use while writing about music:

• Types of musical instruments.
• Greatest classical musicians.
• Major types of music .
• History of national music .
• Modern art music.

🎒 Classification Essay Topics for 6 th Graders

Below are some perfect division essay topics for the 6 th Graders:

• School game sports in your country.
• Unusual school subjects.
• Weekend activities in your country.
• Different political beliefs.
• Describe different personality types.

Learning how to write good essays may take time and practice; however, it is not impossible. In this article, we have introduced 168 topics for your essay. Don’t hesitate and start writing now – practice makes perfect! Please leave comments and suggest your ideas for the classification essay topics!

That is so helpful thanks!

tnx it is very good

160 Excellent Analysis Essay Topics & Questions

An analysis essay aims to break down the subject in order to understand it. You can choose to analyze a text, a process, or an idea. This article will help you write a great essay!

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Selecting an interesting topic makes writing a lot easier. We’ve prepared a list of excellent analytical essay topics for your paper. Continue reading to find out more about analysis topics and essays.

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🔝 Top 10 Analytical Essay Topics

✅ types of analysis essays, ⭐ top 10 topics for analytical essay 2024.

• 🎨 Cultural Analysis
• ➡️ Causal Analysis
• 🎬 Visual Media
• ➗ Analysis by Division
• 🤔 Critical Analysis
• 🧑🤝🧑 Society
• 🧪 Healthcare

🔍 References

• Are school uniforms still relevant?
• Is it possible to reduce inequality?
• The main causes of job satisfaction
• What causes phobia development?
• Why is it difficult to take criticism?
• The effect of gambling on one’s health
• What makes social media so addictive?
• Reasons why minors choose to drink alcohol
• Can one’s appearance influence their personality?
• What makes people choose traditional medicine?

For a quality paper, it is essential to know about the analysis essay types. Here is what you need to remember:

• Literary analysis focuses on examining and evaluating a literary work. You can also explore a specific aspect of the piece. Analyze anything from plot to stylistic devices.

• Causal analysis essays are usually connected to human activities. Relational questions or social issues can be the focus of such a piece. You can also center it on the outcomes of people’s actions.
• Begin with evaluating the matter in its entirety.
• Brainstorm your ideas and find the best way to divide the topic.
• Analyze each part separately.
• Bring the components back together to finish the analysis.
• Critical essays focus on examining somebody’s work. You can choose to analyze writing, painting, or movies. Such an assignment requires critical thinking. Consider the intended audience, language, and imagery.

As you can see, all analysis essay types are different.Make sure to follow your assignment instructions thoroughly! Keep in mind that every essay needs a title page. And for that, you can use an online title page generator . But if there are no specific directions, pick one type that fits you.

• Homeopathy vs. naturopathy
• Recent changes in gender roles
• Can introversion be unhealthy?
• Should the voting age be lowered?
• Is standardized testing accurate?
• What makes horror movies entertaining?
• Why do we associate colors with emotions?
• Modern technology’s contribution to job cuts
• How societal pressure affects mental health
• The importance of space exploration for healthcare

🎨 Cultural Analysis Essay Topics

Every nation has its unique worldview and traditions. Narrow down your essay to one cultural component. It can be anything from customs to food. Try to be as specific as possible. Here is a helpful list of topic ideas and prompts on culture:

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• Why is slang language constantly getting updated?
• Analyze the Ancient Spartan community.
• The way art gives voice to national identity.
• Why are there many ways to greet someone?
• Examine how food reflects the culture’s history.
• Does the national anthem foster patriotism in people?
• Discuss the importance of cultural framing.
• The value of personal space in American culture.
• Discuss the worldwide tendency to forget traditions.
• Why does the U.S. have such a variety of accents?
• Write about superstitions and their impact on society.
• Analyze how Europe influenced American history.

• Pick a national hero and examine their legacy.
• How did technology reshape the lifestyle in the U.S?
• Reasons why America developed a two-party system.
• Analyze the way cultural beliefs affect a nation.
• What are the most famous American holidays?
• Take a close look at how fairy tales reflect cultural values.
• Describe how ethnic diversity influences society .
• The importance of humor in a culture.

➡️ Causal Analysis Essay Topics

A causal analysis essay focuses on the consequences of actions or events. This assignment aims to determine how one thing influences another. Research the subject thoroughly and find supporting evidence. This list of topic ideas will help you write a good paper!

• How education impacts one’s quality of life.
• Describe the way music piracy affects the recording industry.
• Write about the influence of social media on our lives .
• How does technology impact children’s development?
• Examine the effects of eating high-sodium food.
• Describe how censorship influences the media.
• Does a low-quality pillow cause neck pain?
• Analyze how good time management makes one more productive.
• Correlation between reading and fluency.
• Does classical music help you study better?
• Prove the claim that smoking is bad for the lungs.
• Analyze how eating sugar impacts blood quality.
• Does a pet improve its owner’s health?
• Examine a connection between education and self-esteem.
• How art therapy influences health.
• Write about the effect of video games on one’s cognitive abilities.
• Correlation between ozone depletion and global warming.
• The effect of political conflicts on society.
• Review the adverse effects of increased screen time.
• Analyze why weather affects people’s moods.

🎬 Visual Analysis Essay Topics

The term “visual media” refers to things such as videos and images. For your assignment, analyze how the content is delivered to the viewer. What do the critics say? What about your subjective judgment? Discuss a movie, a painting, or even a website. Here are some ideas for your analysis essay.

• Do the landscapes in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty add value to the film?
• Choose an Oscar-winning movie and say what made it successful.
• Analyze the way BBC Sherlock uses visual elements.

• Describe what makes a successful TV show.
• Techniques used in broadcast journalism to engage with the audience.
• How pictures can convey meaning.
• Analyze Van Gogh’s art from a psychological and aesthetic perspective.
• How promo videos help attract people to an event.
• Choose a digital advert and say what makes it persuasive.
• Discuss the iconography of Procne Showing Tereus the Head of His Child .
• Are posters effective in advertising concerts?
• What visual elements do charities use to attract donors?
• The connection between a website’s design and its traffic statistic.
• Write about the role of masculinity in advertisements.
• Pick a movie with low ratings and analyze why it failed.
• Conduct a visual analysis of an anti-smoking poster.
• Describe how social media ads deduce customer’s preferences.
• Should a business have an Instagram account to be successful?
• Are advertisements that use pictures of people effective?
• Examine the way music adds value to YouTube videos.

➗ Analysis by Division Essay Topics

The purpose of the division analysis is to break an idea into parts. To write an essay, you analyze each part of the subject. This kind of paper shouldn’t be complicated. Still, it needs to support your main argument. The following list will help you choose a topic for your division essay.

• Analyze components of your favorite short story.
• What elements are present in every TV news report?
• Fundamental elements of Christian worldview.
• Write about the process of driving a car.
• Describe the aspects of family happiness.
• Determine the types of social network users.
• Analyze what makes your favorite TV show worth watching.
• What are the dangerous aspects of spots exercises?
• Analyze the success story of a wealthy person.
• Describe the elements of a musical.

• What makes an excellent movie theater experience?
• Necessary elements of a strong friendship.
• Describe the stages of grief in different cultures.
• Analyze the stages of filmmaking.
• Write about things necessary for overcoming addiction.
• Various ways of conflict resolution.
• What are the modern types of energy production?
• Employee performance: positive and negative factors.
• The most effective ways to reduce stress levels.
• Describe the types of world religions.

🤔 Critical Analysis Essay Topics

A critical analysis essay focuses on somebody’s work. It describes its positive and negative sides. Before you start writing, make yourself familiar with the work you will discuss. And remember: all criticism should be constructive!

• Analyze the author’s intentions in your favorite book.
• Give a subjective critique of a fictional villain.
• The theme of family and friendship in One Hundred Years of Solitude .
• Idealism vs. pragmatism in A Farewell to Arms .
• The way racism is portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird .
• The minorities’ role in The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas .
• Gender differences in Eve’s Diary by Mark Twain.
• The meaning of death in The Boarded Window by Ambrose Bierce.
• Discuss the message in Roland Emmerich’s 2012.
• The role of marriage in Amour (2012).
• Analyze the way memories are portrayed in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind .
• What contributed to the success of South Park ?
• The meaning of friendship in Sherlock Holmes (2009).
• The role of money in The Great Gatsby .
• Exposition analysis: Maxine Hong Kingston’s Tongue-Tied .
• Critique the use of language in the magazine article you’ve read recently.
• Pick a painting and analyze how the artist expresses their emotions.
• Discuss the color scheme of Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day .
• The character’s body language in Science and Charity by Pablo Picasso.
• Analyze the mood of Composition X by Wassily Kandinsky.

🧑🤝🧑 Social Issue Analysis Topics

Society is a diverse institution. Your essay can focus on sociological issues or development areas of a society. This list of topics will stir you towards an excellent paper.

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• The impact of the foster care system on American society.
• What resources are available for those who battle addictions?
• Mobility barriers for disabled citizens.
• Analyze the society’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Conduct an ideological analysis of political parties in Canada.
• Describe social benefits for high-risk patients.
• Are we moving towards gender equality in workplaces?
• Examine how schools are welcoming cultural diversity.
• Workplace descrimination: analysis and solutions.
• Material wealth as a motivation for success.
• Challenges faced by single-parent families.

• The effect of social unrest on the legal system.
• What is the meaning of social status in business?
• Analyze the way national pride affects American society.
• The impact of COVID-19 on the world’s economy.
• The way freedom of speech shapes the U.S.
• How does the internet shape the way we think?
• Do workplaces experience the problem of bullying?
• Analyze the effects of global warming on society.
• Policies against prejudice in a racist environment.

🧪 Healthcare Analysis Essay Topics

The subject of health includes anything concerning physical well-being. You can analyze diets or medical programs. Think about the most common health concerns nowadays. What aspect of healthcare do you want to know more about? The following list of topics will help you focus on the right subject.

• Healthcare programs for people on the lower economic level.
• Analyze the efficiency of the American health insurance system.
• What are the most recent innovations in U.S. medicine?
• Healthcare in developing countries.
• What country has the most modernized medical assistance?
• Adult and child obesity levels in America.
• What effect does alcohol have on the human body?
• Examine the necessity of child vaccination.
• What treatments are available for patients with mental illness?
• Analyze the most common psychological disorders in the U.S.
• Cancer diagnostics, staging, and complications.
• Eastern medicine: pros and cons.
• Running as a way to maintain a healthy body.
• Discover the effect of smartphones on national health.
• Ways to prevent getting sick.
• What are the available clinical depression treatment options?
• Write about the effects of sitting meditation on one’s health.
• Benefits and downsides of a vegan diet.
• Analyze the reasons why the keto diet is popular.
• Examine the way weather conditions affect one’s well-being.

We hope that this article has helped you understand what an analysis essay is. Now you only need to pick a topic and ace your paper!

Good luck with your essay!

You might also be interested in:

• How to Write an Analysis Essay: Top 7 Rules for a Good Analysis
• How to Write an Art Critique: Examples and Simple Techniques
• How to Write a Film Analysis Essay: Top 20 Tips + Example
• 435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]
• How To Write A Literary Analysis Essay: Bucks County Community College
• Critical Analysis: Southeastern Louisiana University
• How to Write an Analytical Essay in 6 Steps: Grammarly
• Writing an Analytic Essay: University of Toronto
• How Health Care Data Analytics Improves Quality of Care: University of Southern California
• Writing Critical Analysis Papers: University of Washington
• How to Analyze Visual Media: Lumen Learning
• A Manual for Cultural Analysis: RAND
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