How to analyse writing

October 31, 2022 Off By Zak Morris
  • How to analyse writing

When you are asked to analyse writing, there are a number of things that you need to take into account in order to do a thorough job. The first thing that you should consider is the purpose of the writing. What is the author trying to achieve with their words? Once you have considered the purpose, you can move on to looking at other important factors such as the audience, tone and style of the piece.

  • Purpose

The purpose of any piece of writing is always going to be the most important factor when it comes to analysing it. Without understanding why an author has written something, it is very difficult to understand what they are trying to say. When considering the purpose, ask yourself questions such as: What does the author want me to know? What do they want me to feel? What do they want me take away from this piece? Once you have answered these questions, you will have a much better understanding of what the writing is all about.

  • Audience

Who is the target audience for this piece of writing? It is important to consider who will be reading or listening to what you are analysing as it will affect how you interpret it. For example, if an article is aimed at teenagers then it will likely use language and examples that are relevant to them. However, if an article is aimed at businesspeople then it will use language and examples that are more appropriate for that group. By taking into account who the audience is, you can get a better sense of how effective the writing is likely to be.

  • Tone and Style

The tone and style of a piece of writing can tell us a lot about its overall message and theme. For example, if something has been written in a light-hearted and humorous style then we can assume that its main purpose is not serious or overly negative. Conversely, if something has been written in a more serious and formal style then we can assume that its message is more important or significant. By considering both the tone and style together, we can start to build up a picture of what an author was trying TO SAY through their words rather than just WHAT they said.. In some cases