Analytical Structure
A. Introduction
Students in middle and high school need help structuring their
analytical thinking and writing as they are often expected to write about,
explain, and analyze fact-based concepts -concepts they can't make up. Analytical
writing in all content areas falls into the following six categories. In a
longer non-fiction work, such as a book, the author will mix things up, using
text structures within text structures :
● Compare-Contrast
A compare-contrast essay focuses on the similarities and
differences between at least two objects or ideas. The purpose is to develop
the relationship between them and, in the process, explain both in detail.
● Cause-Effect
A cause-effect essay first presents a reason or motive for an event,
situation, or trend and then explains its result or consequence.
● Problem-Solution
A problem-solution essay informs readers about a complex,
real-world, philosophical problem (or related problems), followed by actions
that could be taken to remedy the problem.
● Concept-Definition
(descriptive writing)
A concept-definition essay provides a personal, but still
factually complete and correct, understanding of a particular concept or term.
The essay conveys what research and experience have taught the writer (what the
concept is not is often also part of the definition).
●Goal-Action-Outcome
(process or procedural writing)
A goal-action-outcome essay either tells the reader how to do
something or describes how something is done. Math explanations and science lab
reports are good examples of goal-action-outcome writing.
●Proposition-Support
(persuasive writing)
A proposition-support essay uses logic, reason, and supporting
data to argue that one idea is more legitimate than another. The argument must
include sound reasoning and reliable external evidence, stating facts, giving
logical reasons, using examples, and quoting reliable experts and original
sources.
|
Topic
|
Definition
|
Examples of Topics
|
|
A
compare-contrast essay focuses on the similarities and differences between at
least two objects or ideas. The purpose is to develop the relationship
between them and, in the process, explain both in detail.
|
Compare-contrast
how plants and animals respirate.
Compare-contrast Oedipus and Creon as leaders. Compare-contrast the major elements in Christianity and Buddhism. |
|
|
A
cause-effect essay first presents a reason or motive for an event, situation,
or trend and then explains its result or consequence.
|
How and why
do plants grow?
How and why do totalitarian governments form? |
|
|
A
problem-solution essay informs readers about a complex, real-world,
philosophical problem (or related problems), followed by actions that could
be taken to remedy the problem.
|
What should
be done about global warming?
How can the Federal Reserve help keep economic crises from spinning out of control? |
|
|
In a concept-definition
essay, the writer provides a personal, but still factually complete and
correct, understanding of a particular concept or term. The essay conveys
what research and experience have taught the writer (what the conceptis
not is often also part of the definition).
|
Provide a
detailed definition of "democracy."
What is figurative language? What is the Greek heroic ideal? |
|
|
A
goal-action-outcome essay either tells the reader how to do something or
describes how something is done. Math explanations and science lab reports
are good examples of goal-action-outcome writing.
|
A science lab
report
An explanation of how to solve a complex, multi-step math problem(s). A business proposal A fitness plan |
|
|
A
proposition-support essay uses logic, reason, and supporting data to argue
that one idea is more legitimate than another. The argument must include
sound reasoning and reliable external evidence, stating facts, giving logical
reasons, using examples, and quoting reliable experts and original sources.
|
Are modern
values and morals more conservative than those exhibited in the life and
times of Henry VIII?
Is racism still a problem in this country? |
B Tips for writing each text structure
A compare-contrast essay focuses on the similarities and differences
between and among situations, processes, objects, or ideas. The purpose is to
develop and explain the relationship between two or more items in order to
better understand both.
When
choosing similarities and differences, mention those that are the most
important, the most descriptive, or the most informative. For example, when
comparing-contrasting cars, focus on those elements that truly differentiate
them based on their purpose. If a car's purpose is to move people and things
from one place to another safely, car color is not that important. However, the
difference in the power of the engines would be. Elaborate in such a way that
similarities and differences are clear and distinct.
A cause-effect essay first presents a reason or motive for a
particular event, situation or trend and then explains the results or
consequences of that situation. The study of science and history most often use
the cause-effect structure.
When
selecting causes and effects, choose those that are the most important, the
most descriptive, or the most informative. For example, all ships on the North
Atlantic the evening the Titanic sank had to contend with the same weather,
ice, and light conditions. Not all ships ran into an iceberg and sank. So,
while the weather conditions contributed to the sinking of the Titanic, they
were not a primary cause. Similarly, when looking at the effects of an event or
situation, we focus on the long-term effects, not the immediate effects.
Although 1500 people died the night the Titanic sank, we want to focus on the
actions taken after the
sinking
that contributed the safety of life at sea.
A problem-solution essay addresses a complex philosophical dilemma
with no clear right answer, develops criteria for addressing the problem, and
informs readers about possible actions that might be taken to remedy the
situation. No matter what sort of complex problem is encountered, the chances
of solving it improve if it is approached analytically, conscious of the steps
one can take and escape routes available if the steps become too rigid.
After describing the problem, the essay should outline a realistic
solution. Begin by choosing one possibility. Assess any difficulties involved.
Perhaps there are rules and regulations that need to be followed. Perhaps the
solution will be prohibitively expensive. Where will the money come from?
Discuss the solution in detail. Move onto other possibilities, if required,
only after the first solution has been explained in full.
A concept-definition essay provides a personal (but still
factually accurate understanding of a particular concept or term. The essay
conveys what research, understanding, and experience have taught the writer
about the concept or term. What a concept "is not" is often part of
the definition.
As the name suggests, the purpose of a concept-definition essay is
to define a concept. However, a definition can be developed in a number of
ways, some of which mimic other text structures. That is OK. If a definition
requires an explanation of cause-effect, so be it. The introduction and
conclusion will focus the reader on the concept-definition purpose of the
essay.
Here
are some rhetorical points about definitions :
Avoid
using the phrases "is where" and "is when": A professional
sport is when gifted athletes are paid to play a sport as a job. Or A computer
virus is where…
Avoid circular definitions (repeating the defined term within the
definition itself). A computer virus is a virus that destroys or disrupts
software.
Avoid
using a too narrow definition, one that would unduly limit the scope of the
essay. Reggae music is sung on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. In fact, reggae
music is sung all over the world, although it was born in Jamaica.
A goal-action-outcome essay, or process essay, either tells the
reader how to do something or describes how something is done. There are two
types of process essays: those that instruct and those that explain or analyze.
The goal-action-outcome pattern of organization is especially important in
scientific and mathematical writing. For example, it is used to describe
biological processes like T-cell lymphocyte production, chemical processes like
drug interactions, and technical processes like a colonoscopy. In mathematics
it is used to explain how to solve complex, real-world, multi-step math
problems.
Clarity is critical. When writing a goal-action-outcome essay, the
reader should be able to replicate the process or visualize it well enough to
explain it to someone else.
"Proposition" is a fancy word for argument. The purpose
of a proposition-support essay is to be as convincing as possible, and to
convince readers to accept the proposition as true. A proposition-support essay
uses logic, reason, and evidence to show that one idea is more legitimate than
another. The argument must always use sound reasoning and solid evidence by
stating facts, giving logical reasons, using examples, and quoting reliable
experts.
Though the goal is to convince others that a thesis statement is
valid, it is important to remember that reasonable people can disagree. The act
of writing the essay should help both the writer and the reader to examine
their own and others' assumptions and ideas more carefully. Writing a
proposition-support essay helps students to weigh evidence, clearly state
ideas, fairly consider the claims of the opposition, and justify the position
taken.
It is critically important that the tone of a proposition-support
essay be reasonable, and that the presentation be factual and believable.
Additionally, although this type of essay reflects the writer's opinion, the
first-person point of view is not appropriate in analytical essays. The goal is
to convince the opposition. In order to write an effective proposition-support
essay, the writer must anticipate and overcome objections that an adversary
might raise.
A writer, thinker, learner should be able to effectively argue
both sides on an argument — no matter his personal opinion or beliefs. In fact,
it is good practice to write the opposing argument; it strengthens the writer's
understanding of the issue and helps her to intelligently, rather than
emotionally, rebut opposition arguments.
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