Help for students (college and high school) who are looking to write more effective analytical essays.

1. Keys to a
Strong Analytical
Essay

2. preface

3. Skill-Sets for
Success in
Today’s Economy

4. Analytical

5. Communication
(incl. writing and speaking)

6. and / or…

8. A 98-MPH fastball

9. Keys to a
Strong Analytical
Essay

10. Preparation
• Note down significant details (and page #’s)
as you read your sources
• Read the essay Q closely and highlight its
key parts
• Write an outline before you start your essay

11. Thesis

12. Thesis
• Clear and plausible
• Insightful, sophisticated, original

13. Analysis

14. Analysis
• well-supported with specific evidence
• transcends simple observation, offers
original insights

15. Logic and Argumentation
1 st

16. Logic and Argumentation
• Analysis is clear to see
• Shows an understanding of the essay
assignment
• Evidence is clearly related and supports the
argument

17. Logic and Argumentation
2nd

18. Logic and Argumentation
• Anticipates and defends against counter-
arguments
• Raises new questions and insights on the
topic

19. Traps!

20. Assertion
vs.
Argument

21. Assertion:
Humpty Dumpty was foolish. Sitting on a wall can be a dangerous activity. Later
generations could indeed learn from Humpty Dumpty, avoiding not only the walls but also
the great falls to which they contribute.

22. Assertion:
Humpty Dumpty was foolish. Sitting on a wall can be a dangerous activity. Later
generations could indeed learn from Humpty Dumpty, avoiding not only the walls but also
the great falls to which they contribute.
Argument:
Humpty Dumpty was foolish. His lack of care can be seen not only in his frenetic
assumption of a seat on the wall but also in period accounts of his uncontrolled frivolity as
noted by Francis Dinkelhoffer, one of the so-called ‘Merry Old Men’ [Dinkelhoffer (1483):
45]. Indeed, as one emergency room report from the incident also recounted, Dumpty
“toppled from a great height with injuries worsened via slam dancing and extreme
intoxication.” [Old King Cole Hospital Report, 22 March 1481, p.84, cited in E. G. G.
Benedict (2004): 348]. We can see from this evidence that Humpty Dumpty did not always
utilize his full faculties of wisdom or forethought.

23. Narrative
vs.
Analysis

24. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Your voice. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too

25. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Your voice. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too
much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much
detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail.
Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too much detail. Too

26. Supporting Detail?
Be selective.

27. Don’t retell the whole story… structure your
essay w/ analysis + evidence.

28. Structure?
• Intro Paragraph: including clear statement
of thesis
• Body: paragraphs framed by analysis, with
supporting evidence
• Conclusion: Revisit thesis, raise further
questions or implications…

29. More Traps!

30. Evidence
• Does it actually support your analytical
points?
• Is it thorough throughout the essay?
• Could it support a counter-argument?

31. And don’t forget…

32. Mechanics
• Avoid spelling mistakes, passive voice, run-
on sentences, fragments, and comma
splices…
• Use proper punctuation
• Use a consistent citation format

33. And always…

34. always…

35. always…

36. proofread

38. Overwhelmed?

39. UMW Writing Centers
Visit us!
http://academics.umw.edu/writing-fredericksburg/
http://academics.umw.edu/writing-stafford/

40. Need help on a History Paper?
Visit our UMW History and American Studies
Resources Page at
http://bit.ly/HISA-Resources

41. “Keys to a Strong Analytical Essay” by Susan Fernsebner / susanfernsebner.org
Image Credits
Papelbon Pitches – Waldo Jaquith - http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/126362372/
Outtake – Nooo! [Overwhelmed] – Andres.thor - http://www.flickr.com/photos/andresthor/3963368371/