How to Write an Analysis Essay

Whether you are in high school or college, it is likely that you will be required to write an analysis essay at some point. You may have to analyze plot, character, theme or some other element from a story. Any type of analytical essay may seem challenging, but it does not need to be.

Things You'll Need

• Literary work to analyze
• Secondary sources

Instructions

1. Choose a literary work and an element, or multiple elements, from it that you wish to analyze.

2. Write an introduction for the analysis essay that includes the name of the literary work, the author and a brief summary.

3. Come up with a thesis for the analysis essay that sums up the essence of your paper. Include this in the first paragraph of the essay.

4. Write each new paragraph so that it relates to the thesis. Every point should support the thesis.

5. Select passages from the literary work to cite in the paper.

6. Use secondary sources if they are required, including scholarly essays. Try to incorporate someone else’s thoughts into your essay while maintaining your own voice.

Tips & Warnings

• An analysis essay should not include biographical information about the author unless it directly relates to the work being analyzed.

• Look for hidden or deeper meanings.

• Never plagiarize.

• Material from secondary sources shouldn't make up more than one-third of your analysis essay.

References

• Silver Creek High School: How to Write a Literary Analysis
• Harvard University: How to Write a Comparative Analysis

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Literary Analysis Essay