Analyzing Written Texts: Uncovering Deeper Meanings

This section provides guidance on how to analyze written texts, focusing on revealing the underlying meaning and the author's techniques.

Key aspects to examine in a text analysis:

• Central idea or message
• Style and register (objective, subjective, etc.)
• Tone and language (formal, informal, colloquial)
• Stylistic devices (metaphor, contrast, imagery, etc.)

For literary texts, also consider:

• Narrative techniques (point of view, mode of presentation)
• Genre (poem, story, etc.)
• Theme (love, conflict, etc.)
• Characterization (direct, indirect)
• Setting (time, place, atmosphere)
• Action/plot (internal, external)
• Formal aspects (stanza, refrain, rhyme)

For non-literary texts, additionally examine:

• Structure of the text (paragraph order, subheadings, topic sentences, graphics)
• Genre (newspaper article, etc.)
• Purpose/intention (argumentation, persuasion)

Highlight: The main goal of text analysis is to explain how and why the author uses various techniques to make their point and to describe the effect on the reader.

Structure of a text analysis:

1. Introduction:

   • Begin with a central assertion or statement
   • Include an introductory sentence with text details
   • Provide a short summary of the text
   • Present a hypothesis to be analyzed in the main part

2. Main part:

   • Analyze linguistic, stylistic, and structural devices
   • Provide examples and evidence
   • Analyze the effect on the reader (use quotes to support arguments)

3. Conclusion:

   • Summarize main points
   • Answer the hypothesis
   • State your opinion

Example: "In the short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author uses vivid imagery and a first-person narrative to convey the protagonist's descent into madness, creating a powerful critique of 19th-century attitudes towards women's mental health."

Crafting an Outline: Focused Information Extraction

This page explains the process of creating an outline, which differs from a full summary by focusing on specific aspects of a text.

Key points for writing an outline:

• Concentrate only on information relevant to the given task
• Do not summarize the entire text
• Use an introductory sentence that relates to the specific issues required by the task
• Include the genre, title, author, publication details, and overall topic in the introduction

For the main part of the outline:

• Present all essential information concerning the task
• Avoid text interpretation
• Use present tense
• Employ your own words without personal opinions
• Use indirect speech and avoid direct quotes
• Aim to shorten sentences for conciseness

Example: "The excerpt from the article 'Migrant Workers in California' by John Doe, published in The Daily News on June 1, 2023, deals with the situation of migrant workers in California. It contains information concerning their working conditions and legal status."

Highlight: An outline is more focused than a summary, addressing only specific aspects of the text as required by the task.