How do I write a text analysis?

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Writing text analyzes doesn't seem easy at first. However, a few rules can help. Once you've gotten started, these instructions will help you finish it off.

Writing a text analysis - there are rules for that.
Writing a text analysis - there are rules for that.

Text analyzes are written to make a text easier to understand. This assumes that the author of the analysis has read and understood the text himself and that he has followed the rules of the Text analysis holds.


Text analysis - what belongs in it?

  1. First, start a text analysis with simple information about the text: title, author, time of creation, type of text (Factual text, Poem, fable or similar) and text volume. This information represents the introduction.
  2. Put a short one at the beginning of the main part Table of contents. This must be written in your own words.
  3. Now you provide information on the structure of the text and the structure of the argument. The text analysis also includes information on the author's linguistic style and an evaluation of the text.
  4. Then describe the connection between the linguistic characteristics, the structure of the text and the statement that the author wants to achieve with his text. Has he succeeded in finding the right stylistic devices for his text message?
  5. Text analysis - these examples might help you

    The difficulty is that between a text analysis and a text interpretation ...

  6. Finally, make a personal assessment of the text. This also belongs to the main part of the text analysis.
  7. In the final part you summarize how deep and intense the text unfolds its effect.


This is how I write a text analysis

  1. First of all, you should read the text once without actually analyzing it in your mind. Let the text sink in and then write down your first impression.
  2. On the second reading you divide the text into sections and mentally form subheadings. Check whether your first impression stayed that way. Make notes in prominent places, even where you can quote them as a text excerpt.
  3. Now summarize the content in your own words and ask the W-questions: Who, what, when, how, where and why?
  4. Analyze the structure of the text and ask yourself how that argumentation the author looks like. Are there arguments, i.e. prejudices, examples, built-in evaluations?
  5. If you are familiar with the language When dealing with the author, consider this in the context of the time at which the text was written. 300 years ago an author wrote differently than he does today.
  6. The most difficult thing is to establish the connection between the content, structure of the text, linguistic peculiarities and the message of the text. On the basis of quoted text excerpts you can, for example, show typical language peculiarities, i.e. repetitions, special adjectives, dialect of the people or the like. Once you get started, you'll find the right words for yourself.
  7. Finally, write down objectively how you assess the text. Does the author reach the desired target group and the desired statement? Give reasons for your answer.


Hopefully this short guide has helped you. It is not easy to analyze a text at first. With the help of a few rules, however, the individual steps can be worked through gradually.

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