Mastering Text Analysis for Academic Writing

Comprehensive Framework for Text Analysis

Understanding Textual Context

• Era and Literary Movement: Identify the historical period and literary movement.
• Setting and Author's Origin: Analyze the geographical and cultural context, and the author's background.

Analyzing Textual Elements and Style

• Forms of Discourse: Examine description, narration, dialogue, exposition, and argumentation.
• Text Type: Determine if the text is journalistic, literary, humanistic, scientific, or other.

Exploring Theme, Purpose, and Argumentation

• Theme and Treatment: Identify the main theme and how it is developed.
• Author's Intention and Text's Purpose: Understand what the author aims to achieve and the text's overall goal.
• Universality or Localism: Discuss whether the theme has universal relevance or is specific to a local context.
• Originality in Theme Treatment: Assess the uniqueness or conventionality of the theme's presentation.
• Arguments Used: Identify explicit arguments presented by the author.
• Implied or Unstated Arguments: Consider arguments that are suggested but not explicitly recorded.

Intertextuality and Formal Suitability

• Relation to Other Texts: Explore connections and influences from other works.
• Suitability of Form: Evaluate how well the chosen form serves the author's intention.
• Commentary on Secondary Ideas: Discuss any additional interesting points or minor themes.

Crafting Your Personal Evaluation

• Personal Valuation with Arguments: Provide a reasoned personal assessment of the text.
• Agreement, Disagreement, or Recap: State your stance, summarize key points, or offer a concluding thought.
• Closing Statement: Conclude your analysis effectively.