ESSAY 3: ANALYSIS ESSAY
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to get students to critically think about some work of art (e.g. a television program, a film, an album, a novel, a poem, a sculpture, etcetera) instead of merely summarizing or describing it.
Frequently, the most effective arguments are those told in narrative, through art, or in music. This assignment asks students to choose a work of art and explore its argument.
Your statements should identify the work’s argument—instead of just a summarizing that work.
“The character of Hamlet is consumed by his need to exact revenge” is just a summary
“William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet argues that revenge is a fundamentally corruptive pursuit” is an example of an analysis . The first example is bad because it’s just what happens in the play. The second example is good because it articulates the implied argument of the work as a whole.
Your main points should explain how the author/creator/producer makes the argument you identify in your statements, and you should use evidence from the work to prove your point.
