Structured Approach to Text Analysis and Critical Commentary

Part A: Internal Structure and Content Analysis

Identifying the Core Theme (Main Idea)

The analysis should focus not just on the subject matter itself, but on how the author presents it within the text. The content provided by the author, even if the subject is generally known, must be examined.

Summary

(Rating: up 1 point)

Analysis of the Structure

(Rating: up 1.5 points)

Structural Division (Split)

Schematic: Hierarchical Relationship of Ideas

Note the hierarchical relationship (primary-secondary) between ideas.

Part B: Characterization of the Text

Communicative Approach

It is important to analyze all elements using a communicative approach, assuming that a text is the fundamental unit of communication.

Elements of the Act of Communication

Start by referring to the various elements of the act of communication (sender, receiver, recipient, channel, code [written/oral], area) and note briefly the most significant. Relate these elements to the specific language features belonging to the text (journalistic, humanist, scientific, etc.).

To finish this introduction, note the intent of the author (e.g., an informative nature).

Analyzing Basic Textual Characteristics

Cohesion

Assess the text by the presence or absence of elements that contribute to this quality:

• Markers, coordinating and subordinating ties, ellipses, etc.
• Connectors: Especially those that order/structure the discourse in general, structure ideas, and modalize and focus content.
• Deixis: Both textual (supported by deictic pronouns, adverbs, and lexical coherence) and extra-textual (the external references the text indicates: personal, spatiotemporal, social, intertextual references to the receiver).

Adequacy

• The level of lexicon (classify, analyze alternatives and values).
• Modalizing elements (verbs, adverbs, adjectives, verbal periphrasis, figures of speech, irony, etc.).
• Formulas of universality and impersonality.
• Elements of subjectivity and/or objectivity.
• Details of sentence/text mode.
• Language functions (which predominate).
• Formulas of involvement or sender-receiver relationship (rhetorical questions, use of first person plural, periphrasis of obligation, salutations).

Part C: Critical Commentary and Evaluation

Paraphrase the text; do not create an abstract or write a new text.