Structured Approach to Non-Fiction Text Analysis

Non-Fiction Text Analysis Structure

A structured approach to analyzing non-fiction texts typically involves four main sections:

• Introduction: Presenting the text and context.
• Text Summary (Rendering): Identifying the theme, main arguments, reasons, consequences, and proposed solutions.
• Text Analysis (Findings): Analyzing formal design elements, rhetorical devices, and determining the author's intention.
• Opinion (Assessment): Evaluating the text and the author's stance, followed by a personal assessment or proposed solutions.

1. Introduction

The introduction aims to familiarize the reader with the article and its subject matter by citing essential references (title, author, publication source, and date).

Key Introductory Phrases:

• "The present text (e.g., informational article, commentary, persuasive or provocative text) is an article entitled..."
• "It was published on [Date] in [Source] and written by [Author]."
• "The author addresses the topic of..."
• "The article, published on [Date], deals with..."

2. Text Summary (Rendering)

Goal and Language Norms:

• Goal: To provide a consistent, concise representation of the text using your own language and structure.
• Language: Choose objective and neutral formulations. Avoid inserting personal ratings or opinions.

Linguistic Norms for Summaries:

• Tense: Use the present tense.
• Mode: Use the subjunctive mode (indirect speech).
• Usage: Employ indirect speech consistently.

Phrases for Rendering External Opinions:

To clarify that an external opinion is being summarized, the following phrases can be used:

The author/writer:

• points out that...
• says, asserts, or applies to...
• requests that, emphasizes, or clarifies...
• suggests, persuades, or assumes...
• supports, provokes, or relents...
• proves well-founded, concludes, or admits that...
• doubts are based on, or explains...

3. Text Analysis (Findings)

The primary objective of this section is to examine the author's intention. The key question is: What effect does the author intend to achieve in the reader using specific linguistic means?

Assessment of Argumentative and Linguistic Approach:

Authors typically employ different strategies:

1. Factually Informative: Characterized by factual, neutral wording and balanced arguments.
2. Provocative or Influencing: Achieved through exaggeration, irony, figurative language, or the reproduction of prejudices.
3. Persuasive or Manipulative: Involves taking up existing prejudices, using specific word classes (e.g., adjectives) to evoke moods (e.g., aggression, compassion), directing arguments one-sidedly, and assessing the overall argumentative and linguistic approach.

4. Personal Opinion (Assessment)

In this final part, the task requires you to relate personally to the article's foundational statement. You must develop your own thoughts on the problem.

Key Assessment Questions:

• What do I think of the author's statement?
• How do I assess the article's arguments?
• What solutions do I prefer?

Therefore, personal formulations must be used in this part of the non-fiction text analysis:

• "I am of the opinion that..."
• "In my view..."
• "I believe the testimony of [Author]..."