how to start a critical analysis essay

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide

A critical analysis essay is an academic paper that requires a thorough examination of theoretical concepts and ideas. It includes a comparison of facts, differentiation between evidence and argument, and identification of biases.

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Crafting a good paper can be a daunting experience, but it will be much easier if you have the right approach. In this guide by our custom writing team, you will find:

• Different types of critical analysis;
• Best ways to structure your essay;
• Two excellent critical analysis essay examples.
• 📝 Critical Analysis Definition
• ✍️ Writing Guide
• ✅ Critical Analysis Types
• 📑 Examples & Tips

📝 What Is a Critical Analysis?

Criticism is the process of appraising things such as works of art and literature. It comes from the word meaning “able to make judgments”. A critical analysis essay is often referred to as a critical thinking essay, critical response paper, critical evaluation essay, and summary and response essay.

When we hear the word “criticism,” we often associate it with negative judgments. However, to criticize doesn’t necessarily mean to find faults. Even though criticism involves active disagreement, it strives to understand the meaning further and evaluate its efficiency. We call it constructive criticism .

In other words, critical analysis is an evaluation of a piece of work that promotes its better understanding . Have a look at this comparison and see what critical analysis is and what it isn’t:

Aside from art and literature, critical analysis is often used in theoretical research, nursing, and social work. In any of these areas, you have an opportunity to exercise your critical faculties.

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Analysis in Writing: Definition & Examples

Analysis is a step you take before writing any paper. It’s aimed at evaluating and interpreting the sources. To do it, you break them down and study them in detail. You can learn more from this article on critical analysis by Southeastern Louisiana University .

In the following table, we’ve compiled several forms of analysis in writing and illustrated each type with a topic example:

What Is the Difference between Summary and Analysis?

Students often confuse analysis with summary and get a lower grade as a result. Here is how two notions differ. A summary is a brief restatement of the text’s main points that involves paraphrasing. An analysis is a detailed examination of the evidence that uncovers something new.

Check out this comparison to understand the difference better:

✍️ How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay

Now, we will show you the steps to writing a critical analysis with examples to guide you through this process. Keep in mind that the purpose of your critical analysis paper is to help readers understand a subject to a full extent.

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Critical analysis consists of two stages: critical reading and critical writing. Read on to learn more about them.

Critical Reading Examples & Definition

Critical reading a technique that involves discovering and evaluating the text’s meaning and incorporating it into what you already know. It’s the first stage of critical analysis.

According to Cleveland State University, critical reading occurs after you’ve skimmed the research material and decided where to focus your efforts. While you are reading, use the following techniques to stay on track:

• Determine the central claim and identify how it is argued;
• Look for the large patterns that give purpose, order, and meaning to arguments;
• Contextualize the text within an original historical, political, or religious context;
• Distinguish the kinds of reasoning and methodology the text employs;
• Examine the evidence;
• Recognize manipulations.

When it comes to recognizing manipulations, authors use three persuasive appeals to convince their readers of something: ethos , pathos , and logos .

Now, let’s apply the critical reading techniques to an actual text:

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The death estimates during the US invasions of Tokyo were exaggerated by a factor of ten to twenty. The wartime casualty estimates were based on inaccurate assumptions. The data was not updated to exclude the civilians’ deaths and justify the strategic decision to drop off an atomic bomb.

• What is the text saying?  US bombs killed up to two million people.
• What is the text doing?  The death estimates were exaggerated to downplay the casualties and emphasize the importance of dropping the atomic bomb.

When you are able to recognize these persuasive modes in your reading, you can master them in writing.

What Is Critical Writing: Definition & Techniques

Critical writing is a process of commenting on another piece of work using several writing strategies. It is the second stage of critical analysis.

Want to know how to write critically? Have a look at the following tips:

• Take a critical stance: recognize that every text comes from a perspective and is subject to interpretation.
• Pay close attention: look not only for the facts but also for explanations.
• Think big picture : put your sources in context with the time it was written.
• Bring yourself in: consider the connections between several texts and add your own perspective.

When it comes to the critical writing, certain strategies can be beneficial. Yet, others are better to avoid. We’ve compiled the most important dos and don’ts in the table below:

Want to learn more? Check out our article on critical writing .

Critical Analysis Essay Topics: How to Choose

Now that you’ve learned about critical analysis, there is a big question to answer: how do you choose the topic for your essay? It might require using a specific strategy to make the right choice.

Many students find it helpful to have a list of critical thinking questions to answer while brainstorming. We’ve prepared them for you:

• Theme : How well does the author approach the central theme? Are the arguments strong enough?
• Organization : Is this piece of work well-structured and easy to follow?
• Audience : Who is the audience? Are there any manipulations the author is using to persuade the reader?
• Tone : Is there a specific tone used by the author throughout their work? How does it affect the reader?
• Bias and informational gaps : Does the author look at their work from several angles? Are there any contradicting arguments or missing information?
• Word choice : Does the author invent new words? Is the vocabulary serious or silly, casual or technical? How does it affect the overall writing?
• Logos : Does the author use logic to prove their point?
• Ethos : Does the author have any proof of their credibility? Do they claim to be an expert? In what ways is the reader’s trust gained?
• Pathos : Does the author use emotion to connect with the reader? Does the writing appeal to common beliefs and values?

Answering these questions will help you with deciding on critical thinking essay topics. If you want some additional inspiration, feel free to use our topic generator .

Critical Analysis Template

After carefully analyzing all of your sources, you can start writing your first draft using our critical analysis template. Use this outline to structure your essay and to ensure your arguments are related to your thesis.

How to Start a Critical Analysis Essay

To create an outstanding opening paragraph, you may want to start it with a hook. It can be a quote from your source or a rhetorical question. Be sure to make it catchy so that it will grab your reader’s attention.

After you’re done with the hook, write the following:

• the work’s title and some background information,
• an outline of the main ideas from your sources,
• your thesis statement.

Here are two introduction examples for your inspiration:

What happens when there is a considerable wage gap between the upper and middle classes? The unsurprising reality forces poor people to use credit cards to pay off their debt. Credit card industries collect interest from those who can’t pay off their debt right away.

A romantic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is about overcoming social stereotypes in the name of love. Its main character, Elizabeth Bennet, has to fight against her discrimination against wealthy men like Mr. Darcy to find love and be happy.

Critical Analysis Essay: Thesis

A thesis statement is what you are aiming to prove. Ideally, it should be the first thing you write because every other part of your critical analysis paper will be connected to it.

To create a strong thesis statement, you want to start with a broader idea of what you would like to critique. Then, you narrow it down. Choose a debatable thesis so you can back it up with evidence from your sources and anchor your entire paper around it.

The examples below will help you write your essay’s thesis:

People in positions of power are less likely to recognize the social injustice than marginalized groups of the civilian population.

In a 1989 American superhero film Batman, Tim Burton subverts the concept of heroism by refraining Batman from murder and making him morally ambiguous.

Critical Analysis Essays: Summary and Response

The body paragraphs of a critical essay consist of your source’s summary and a response with arguments.

A summary should present specific facts from your source to help your reader understand your arguments better. You can use these sentence starters to structure a summary:

• The book is about…
• The theme of the article is…
• The author argues that…
• The author concludes…
• The main character is…
• The main points are…

The main plot of Elizabeth Bennet’s plan to save her family from poverty intersects with stereotypes that romantic love and marriage don’t go together. She does not accept a marriage proposal from Mr. Darcy because she does not want to be walking proof that women marry for money. The rejected proposal leads Darcy to open up and change Elizabeth’s perception of him.

A response should present your main arguments that support your thesis statement. Each argument is a sub-thesis that connects to your central thesis. It’s crucial to discuss each point in detail and prove it with strong evidence.

Your arguments should be:

• clear, informative, and persuasive;
• well-researched and backed up with solid evidence;
• connected to your thesis.

At first, Elizabeth Bennet sees Mr. Darcy only as a powerful man with wealth and high social status. For her, he represents a marriage of convenience that she is so desperately trying to fight against. After Mr. Darcy attempts to separate Jane and Bingley, Elizabeth gets proof for her ideas about powerful men who do everything in their power to destroy a loving relationship for a better financial suit.

Critical Essay Outline: Conclusion

The final stage of essay writing is to ensure you have proven your arguments. The goal of your conclusion is to remind the reader of your thesis and the essay’s main points. You may also want to leave them with some final statements for consideration.

Keep in mind that the concluding paragraph is not a place to introduce new evidence. Instead, you can do the following:

• Restate your thesis;
• Summarize your main ideas;
• Talk about the work’s overall performance or outcome;
• Identify potential opportunities for further research or investigation.

Elizabeth Bennet struggles with the societal association of marriage with financial stability. Eventually, she marries a rich man, Mr. Darcy, but she marries him for love rather than his money and social status. Her pride and prejudice towards him were destroyed by his acts of kindness and true love. Their relationship had a rough start, but both of them could get their happy ending by breaking out of old beliefs and habits.

✅ Types of Critical Analysis

Choosing the correct type of analysis will help you stay on track with your research objectives. It will give you the anchor to develop your essay around in a systematic manner.

Critical analysis can be categorized into 4 main types:

• Literary analysis gives a critical evaluation of a literary text.
• Article analysis reflects upon arguments presented in an article.
• Media analysis essay interprets messages conveyed through visual media, music, or radio.
• Cultural analysis interprets cultural phenomena and practices.

Literary Analysis: Definition & Characteristics

Literary analysis is an argument that expresses one’s critical evaluation of a poem, novel, short story, or play. A critique of literature has the same characteristics as other types of critical essays. The difference is the kind of information you can include in this type of essay.

Here’s how to analyze literature:

You will find more interesting info in our article on literary analysis essays .

How to Write an Analysis of an Article

Critical analysis of an article aims to analyze the writing strategies and techniques an author uses to develop their argument. The process is a little different than persuading the reader to accept a particular point of view. Here is a sample outline:

Critical Film Analysis: Types & How to Write

Film analysis goes beyond the plot structure and includes composition elements such as camera work, lighting, costume choices, etc. After watching the film at least twice, you can select what type of film analysis you will be performing. Check out the types and see what they’re about:

• Semiotic analysis involves interpretation of signs and symbols within a film.
• Narrative analysis examines the story the film seeks to tell.
• Historical analysis is an examination of a film’s relationship to a cultural or historical context.
• Mise-en-scène analysis is an analysis of compositional elements used in a scene or a single shot.

Once you’ve chosen a topic, use this outline to guide you through the writing process:

You can learn more from our article on film analysis .

How to Write a Cultural Analysis Essay

Critical analysis essay refers to your comment upon one specific cultural aspect that works or doesn’t work in a society. After you’ve chosen a topic for your cultural analysis paper, you can start drafting your outline. Here is how the structure of this kind of paper differs from others:

Critical Analysis Essay Topics

• Critical analysis of qualitative research article. 
• Rhetorical analysis of articles on qualitative studies in healthcare.  
• American Exodus by James N. Gregory: Rhetorical Analysis. 
• Critical analysis of religion and faith .  
• Analyze the sonnet My Mistress’ Eyes by W. Shakespeare .  
• Critical essay on issues of cognitive neuroscience.  
• A Doll House as an example of feminist literature: rhetorical analysis.  
• Conduct a comparative critical analysis of Judaism and Christianity.  
• Rhetorical analysis of an Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf .  
• Semantic meaning of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath .  
• Critical evaluation of Seligman articles.  
• Analyze psychological literature based on A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by E. Hemingway.  
• Rhetorical analysis of literary devices and expressive means in A Good Man Is Hard to Find .  
• Analyze the characteristic features of drama using the example of Death of a Salesman .  
• Critical analysis of the most popular business strategies .  
• Discuss the problem of childhood obesity in Active Living by Van Kann.  
• Analyze IT strategies and planning.  
• Critical analysis of a controversial art using the example of Home by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.  
• Emotional impact of comedy films.  
• Rhetorical analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone as an example of Greek drama.  
• Influence of Socrate’s philosophy on the ancient Greek playwrights.  
• Critical analysis of Sophocles’ plays.  
• Different sets of values in Everyday Use by A. Walker .  
• Analysis of corporate crimes using the example of Lehman Brothers’ scandal.  
• Critical analysis of a scientific article based on Nursing Pain Management .  
• Different interpretations of A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor. 
• Critical analysis of Longinus’ idea of sublime .  
• The importance of a teacher’s role in Freedom Writers .  
• Critical analysis of the efficiency of CBT. 
• Rhetorical analysis of an article on a proactive care program.  
• The concept of emotional intelligence : critical analysis.  
• Evaluate implementation of Windsome’s risk management strategy to enhance the company’s response to stress.  
• The importance of symbolism in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s .  
• Critical analysis of Thomas Paine’s pamphlets.  
• Rhetorical techniques used in Hamlet by W. Shakespeare .  
• In-depth analysis of the modern world’s social issues in The Handmaid’s Tale . 
• Social messages in Robinson’s and Kincaid’s stories.  
• Analysis of rhetorical strategies used in Dwellings by Linda Hogan.  
• Critical analysis of issues elucidated in A Loss for Words by J. Thurman.  
• Discuss the problems of alienation and perception in The Things They Carried . 

📑 Critical Analysis Essay Examples & Bonus Tips

The following writing tips will help you understand how to apply your critical thinking skills in practice and write an excellent critical essay on your own.

Critical Essay Format & Free Samples

Looking for some tips on how to format your paper? This section reflects the latest guidelines for citing your sources with the latest APA 7th and MLA 9th publication manuals.

Before you dive into writing your critical analysis paper, get inspired with some compelling essay examples. The first is a film analysis example. You can download the PDF file below:

The Birds  by Alfred Hitchcock is a thriller that derives its suspense from the violence which stands on the borderline with divine retribution. The birds of the film are the symbol of the said violence and primary actors that contribute to the semiotic revelations of the film.

The following critical analysis essay is concerned with a literary work. You can download it below:

Feminism has been influential in various aspects of society for many decades. With the beginning of women’s emancipation, humanity has progressed not only in political and social life but also in science, culture, and literary studies. A feminist standpoint in literature research points to the limited portrayal of the characters in literary works, which showed the world mainly from a patriarchal perspective.

Here’s the list of critical analysis essay examples. You can check them out to get a better understanding of critical analysis and to gain some inspiration.

• Managing Business Risks: A Critical Analysis
• A Critical Analysis of a Research Study Conducted to Establish the Quality of Pain Management
• Nursing Skills for Palliative Care: A Critical Analysis
• Critical Analysis of Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
• Nighthawks by Edward Hopper: Critical Analysis
• Roosevelt and Obama: Critical Analysis of Two Speeches
• “The Love of My Life” by T. C. Boyle Critical Analysis
• Nursing Education-Practice Gap: Critical Analysis
• Affordable Care Act: A Critical Analysis
• Mother Tongue by Amy Tan: Critical Analysis

Bonus Tips: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the process of conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. It is about careful reasoning directed to a goal. The main components of this process include observing, wondering, imagining, experimenting, judging, and deciding.

This type of thinking is instrumental in conducting a critical analysis. To succeed at it, you need to be attentive, confident, and open-minded. Below are some questions that you can ask yourself while thinking critically:

• Why are you being told this?
• What are you not being told?
• Who is telling you this?
• How reliable is this information?
• Are there any manipulations involved?
• How else can you analyze the same material?

Critical thinking is a skill that develops with time and effort. However, you may encounter barriers that can prevent you from making accurate judgments. The following tips will help you overcome them:

• Step back from your personal feelings and biases
• Look for different ways to examine the data
• Check your sources for reliability
• Do your best to detect manipulations in arguments
• Always conceptualize what you are reading
• Challenge your worldview

Want to learn more? Feel free to check out our article on critical thinking essays .

Now you know everything necessary to write a perfect critical analysis essay. Feel free to share this article or leave a comment!

Further reading

• How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples
• How to Write an Art Critique: Examples & Strategies
• How to Write an Analysis Essay: Examples + Writing Guide
• How to Write a Book Review: Format, Outline, & Example
• How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples

❓ Critical Analysis Essay FAQs

When analyzing any literary text, it is essential to evaluate the work and use the theme to support your opinion. The response’s goal is to show the reader what the selection of the source and the theme means to you personally.

The purpose of a response to a literature essay is to inform your reader about something interesting and insightful you found in a literary work. It may focus on the characters, plot, or theme of the story.

In a critical essay, choose the formal language and avoid using “I” statements. Focus on the piece you are analyzing, its strengths, and weaknesses. Using the first-person singular will take away the reader’s attention from your argument to you.

A critical source is a source that interprets, analyzes, critiques, and adds to the discussion of the primary source. It is then integrated into critical writing. The best critical sources can be found through library catalogs and scholarly databases.

🔍 References

• Critical Analysis: University of Wollongong
• Some Suggestions on Critically Evaluating Your Reading in History: Carleton College
• Criticism and Critical Analysis: Kansas State University
• Resources for Writers: Analytical Writing: Drew University
• Critical Thinking and Writing: University of Kent
• Writing Critical Essays about Literature: Gallaudet University
• Film Analysis: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Cultural Critique: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Writing a Critical or Rhetorical Analysis: Bellevue College
• Writing Critical Analysis Papers: University of Washington
• Critical Analysis Template: Thompson Rivers University
• Writing Effective Summary and Response Essays: Colorado State University
• Rhetorical/Critical Analysis: Houston Community College
• Writing Critical Reviews: Queen’s University
• General APA Guidelines: Purdue University
• Using MLA Format: MLA.org
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How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay With Examples

11 December 2023

last updated

Students in various higher learning institutions must complete critical analysis papers, which focus on evaluating the effectiveness of other sources in presenting multiple facts. In this case, the primary goal is to assess and observe objective elements. For example, a scholar may write about a wide range of topics and subjects in these papers. Moreover, these essays lead to a better understanding of subjects or sources under analysis. Then, such compositions help one to examine a controversial point of view. Besides, this guide on how to write a critical analysis essay provides steps that one must use when writing a critical analysis essay. In particular, facts revealed that critical analysis papers must contain a hook and clear thesis in the introduction. Also, writers should include a summary of a source in question. In turn, outstanding papers should have a detailed analysis of a subject. Finally, essays must end with a summative conclusion that brings the work to closure without introducing new details.

General Guidelines for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

A critical analysis paper requires one to critique and evaluate another literary work. In practice, one may need to assess a book, an essay, a movie, or a painting, among other sources. Basically, critical analysis papers help readers to develop a better understanding of the work under evaluation. Also, one engages in objective writing that expresses his or her opinion or assessment of a text. In turn, the term “analysis” means the process of breaking down and studying various parts. Hence, one must engage in critical reading and writing.

Purpose of Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Scholars write critical analysis essays when they focus on telling readers about a subject. For instance, a writer explains the purpose and meaning of a specific work. In this case, critical evaluation papers help one to express a point of view. Hence, students should communicate how they feel about a specific work. In practice, writers must analyze subjects critically to show their weaknesses and strengths. 

Important Features and Steps for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Scholars in higher learning institutions must engage in the critical writing process. Basically, this process requires them to read all the sources that they must use to support their opinions. In this case, one must ensure that the reading process helps to identify significant points and subjects related to assigned topics. For example, prudent writers ensure that they have a definite opinion on the matter of a critical analysis essay. However, one should examine an issue from multiple perspectives. Also, this aspect ensures that a person remains more objective and open-minded to the point. In turn, one must identify a thesis statement in a written piece under analysis and include supporting evidence for main arguments. Therefore, students in higher learning institutions should be prepared to take part in the critical writing process.  

1. Presenting an Opinion

Professional writers take their time to present other people’s opinions. For instance, one must think about a response and reaction toward a subject matter presented in an essay. Basically, a prudent writer must take the time to examine all the answers shown in a written piece. In turn, this process should focus on eliminating all forms of offensive responses and opinions toward literary works. Moreover, outstanding essays do not offend targeted readers. Instead, they consider different backgrounds and experiences that individuals might have into consideration.

2. Drafting

Consequently, one should draft an essay to include all the points. For instance, students should begin writing a critical analysis essay by having an overview of a subject and its major issues. In this case, writers must draw the readers’ attention toward the thesis statement created. Then, all body paragraphs must support the central argument, which helps to affirm the writer’s opinion. As a rule, each passage must focus on addressing a single point for such an analysis. Moreover, themes presented in each paragraph must give a fair judgment to a subject by avoiding an extreme bias and any irregular needs. In turn, such a strategy helps writers to prove primary arguments effectively. 

A critical analysis paper must end with a summative conclusion. For instance, writers should reiterate each point made in the essay’s body. Also, prudent students begin writing a critical analysis essay by restating their overall opinions. In this case, the process helps to bring a paper to an effective closure. Moreover, the process of writing a critical analysis involves significant steps. Basically, one must engage in essential reading and writing processes.

Step 1: Preparation

1. critical reading.

Writing a critical analysis paper means engaging in a careful and focused reading process. Basically, students must read their texts under analysis thoroughly to identify the author’s central argument and the nature of the academic support provided. In practice, one may not understand a source by reading along. Instead, scholars should consider other related sources that can help to understand various concepts. Also, this process enables one to understand different takes and opinions on the same subject. Then, a prudent writer should pay close attention to details presented by an author and recognize possible biases, assumptions, and rhetorical devices. Hence, students should keep an eye on basic guidelines when engaging in the critical reading process:

• Scholars need to write down vocabulary words and define terms that may remain unclear. Basically, this process helps them to understand ideas presented in a source under analysis. Also, one should rely on dictionaries and thesaurus to understand the meaning of problematic terms presented in an essay.
• One should identify the author’s intended audience. For example, good writers prepare their works in a specific way, which appeals to a particular audience. In this case, sources with statistical language tend to appeal to business people. Also, identifying this language helps one appreciate the intended purpose of the source’s author.
• Writers should identify the author’s means of persuasion. For instance, an author may use language or rhetoric devices to persuade the targeted audience. Basically, this strategy helps to understand the source’s effectiveness in communicating the intended message.
• Students should identify the general structure of the writing and its role in supporting the central message. In this case, significant scholarly sources utilize a unique design to communicate the main message to the intended audience. Also, authors must focus on the structure used in the reference under analysis and identify its role in communicating the intended message. In turn, this process helps to identify significant flaws in such a source.

These guidelines presented above show the purpose of the critical reading process. For instance, a good writer must identify the author’s intended audience, means of persuasion, and general structure. In turn, these three elements enhance one’s level of understanding of the intended message in the source under consideration.

2. Preparing Ideas for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Writers should prepare all the ideas identified in sources under review. In this case, students group the main ideas together during the writing process. Also, this process helps to organize thoughts before responding to an essay. Then, flow charts and flashcards are useful tools for managing important concepts considered in the text. In turn, scholars should use these tools to identify significant ideas and those that must appear when writing a critical analysis essay. Therefore, authors should consider organizing ideas to ensure that they capture intended messages.  

Step 2: Setting-Up the Stage

A prudent writer sets up the stage for developing writing a critical analysis essay. Basically, this process plays a crucial role in ensuring that students gather the necessary information and evidence for writing their papers. Hence, some activities that one must consider when preparing for the writing process are:

1. Finding Sources

Students must focus on finding credible sources to support central ideas to be presented in a paper. For example, reliable sources must contain credible information that supports all significant arguments and claims. In this case, writers must take time when identifying relevant references for their essays. Moreover, all scholarly sources must contain credible evidence that relates to assigned topics. Then, one should use journal articles, books, and reports published in the past ten years. In turn, this approach ensures that students obtain current evidence to support their arguments and claims. Besides, a prudent writer must avoid websites that may contain irrelevant information related to an issue in question. Hence, one must identify adequate and appropriate sources for supporting the main arguments when writing a critical analysis essay.  

2. Making Notes for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Writers should make notes related to a topic in question. For instance, one should engage in the critical reading process for all the sources considered. Basically, students should take relevant notes as they read through identified sources. Besides, one must determine appropriate in-text citations based on applicable formatting guidelines. In turn, the note-taking process allows one to remember and organize the relevant evidence for supporting opinions presented in the essay’s body. Hence, scholars must consider making notes from identified sources.  

3. Creating an Outline

Prudent students write outlines for their critical analysis papers. For instance, an essay outline contains all the sections of an essay. In this case, a suitable general description must have relevant evidence that writers must use to support arguments and claims made. Also, some of the parts that one must include are a brief introduction, a draft thesis statement, a body, and a summary. In turn, the body section should state the main points as opposed to containing paragraphs.

4. Writing an Annotated Bibliography for a Critical Analysis Essay

Scholars should consider preparing an annotated bibliography for sources. In particular, an annotated bibliography refers to a list of citations for scholarly articles on a specific topic. Basically, this list resembles a page with references but includes annotations for each entry. In this case, one should consist of a summary or a critical evaluation of a source. Moreover, students may consider some types of annotations when preparing for writing a critical analysis essay.

Type 1: Summary Annotation

This type of annotation should describe a source by answering:

• Who wrote the source?
• What does the source discuss?
• When and where was the source published?
• Why was the source published?
• How was the source provided to the public?

Type 2: Evaluative Annotation

• This annotation should include a summary of a source. However, one should consist of a critical assessment of the work. Also, the evaluation must examine the work for accuracy, relevance, and quality. In turn, evaluation annotations can help writers to learn more about a topic in question, develop a thesis statement, and decide if a specific source remains useful. Besides, this annotation allows students to determine if this source contains adequate and valid information to complete a paper. 

Prudent writers focus on preparing evaluative annotations when writing a critical analysis paper. Basically, this method helps to identify the most credible sources for supporting the main arguments in an essay. Besides, this process lays the foundation for evaluating and eliminating weaker sources.

Step 3: Start Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

1. critical analysis writing.

The essential purpose of the writing process is not to de-legitimize the author’s work. In turn, the fundamental purpose of the writing process is to help readers to explore a specific literary piece. Moreover, writers should open up ignored or neglected aspects. Then, students have a primary duty of helping to understand a subject to a full extent. In particular, the critical analysis process begins with a summary of the considered source. For example, the overview demonstrates that students develop an adequate understanding of the main message. In practice, papers should not contain the writer’s opinion or reveal any bias toward the source under investigation. Instead, one should focus on addressing the following questions when preparing an outstanding summary:

• How has the author organized the information in the text?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Why does the author target a specific audience?
• What are the main assumptions about the audience made by the author?
• What are the rhetorical, language, and imagery devices that the author uses in the text?

2. Creating a Draft

Writers should use a summary and working thesis to develop a draft of a paper. For example, credible drafts resemble actual critical analysis essays. In this case, students should organize drafts by having an introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, the primary goal of bringing the information together is to ensure that one develops a clear picture of an essay. In turn, this process ensures that one identifies the correct flow of ideas and possible gaps.

3. Putting Everything Together

Scholars must put the information together into a complete paper. Basically, writers should consider including all the evidence gathered in the previous section. In this case, this step lays the foundation for revising a paper and ensures that all the evidence presented supports the essay’s central argument.

4. Finding New Sources for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

A prudent writer must consider if sources support an essay virtually. In this case, the primary goal of reviewing the references’ applicability is to ensure that critical analysis papers have a unique level of clarity. Moreover, if some sources fail to align with the ideas presented, one should look for more sources. Then, writers must look for those scholarly articles that contain weightier evidence and support to their essays. In turn, one should add more sources where applicable. As a result, writers must delete old ones if they have weaker evidence.

5. Altering an Outline

Prudent writers consider altering an initial outline after changing sources. In this case, one should change annotated sources used to support the main points in an essay. Besides, students should alter some of the claims presented to strengthen them by considering their working topics. In turn, a reviewed essay outline ensures that writers develop an essay structure that can guide the final paper’s preparation. Hence, one should revise the general description to ensure that it captures desired changes.

6. Developing a Working Thesis Statement

One should create a working thesis after summarizing the work. Basically, this approach helps authors to capture all the main ideas presented in the scholarly work under analysis to develop a balanced opinion. In practice, the critical analysis paper’s thesis statement represents the writer’s reaction to the analyzed source. Moreover, good opinions must be subjective, which implies that one should make a debatable claim. In turn, students should expect other scholars to challenge the thesis statement. However, one should articulate a personal opinion carefully and thoroughly to achieve the reader’s trust. Hence, scholars should remember the following points when developing a thesis statement for a critical analysis essay.

• The thesis statement must communicate the main point to be proven by using various tools, like logical or emotional reasoning. Basically, students must create a thesis that acts as a root of where a paper develops.
• The main claim must remain relevant to the topic under discussion. In this case, one must defend the central claim by using logic, analysis, and external support.
• Students should not confuse the thesis statement with the introduction. In practice, the introduction of a critical analysis essay should include a hook, a summary of the topic, and a clear thesis statement. Moreover, the thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction of the essay.
• One should rely on adequate research when developing the thesis statement. In particular, writers must gather credible evidence to have sufficient background information about the topic before writing the central claim. Also, this process leads to an accurate and understandable thesis that guides the body section of the essay.
• A good thesis must reflect organized thoughts and a narrow focus on the entire paper. For example, many students make the mistake of developing an idea that covers a broad scope of the topic. In turn, this flaw makes the essay sound vague to readers. As a rule, one should create a first draft and revise it after completing a written piece to ensure that such a composition captures the main ideas.

Step 4: Wrapping Up

Students must consider the final stage of essay writing. For instance, scholars must ensure that writing a critical analysis essay meets the necessary quality before submitting it for marking. Hence, some activities that one must consider when wrapping up a paper are:

1. Revisioning

Writers must revise the work to ensure that it meets the desired quality. Basically, the revision process involves reading written compositions several times and ensuring that these papers contain the correct format and structure. In this case, one should pay close attention to spelling and grammar mistakes. Also, the primary goal of revising an essay is to ensure that it meets the necessary quality.

Prudent writers consider the importance of the editing process in improving the quality of the paper. For example, students should consider making essential changes in their essays. Then, reading by peers plays an instrumental role in the editing process. In this case, scholars rely on peers to identify some flaws that may impact the readability of their essays. Moreover, one should depend on positive criticism to make necessary changes when writing a critical analysis essay. In turn, editing should focus on all writing mechanics.

3. Topic Sentences in Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Credible essays should have topic sentences in each paragraph. In this case, one must ensure that each section dwells on a single point. For example, the first sentence of every body paragraph should state a single issue clearly. Basically, writers must ensure that all the passages reveal their themes. Otherwise, papers may appear vague and fail to communicate the intended message. In turn, all topic sentences must relate to the thesis statement presented in the introduction paragraph.

4. Concluding and Transition Sentences

Outstanding essays contain closing and linking sentences. In particular, the last sentence in each paragraph must summarize the main ideas presented. Also, one must ensure that this sentence gives a summative closure to the passage while linking it to the next section. In turn, failure to include effective closing and relating statements disrupts the unique flow of ideas in an essay.

5. Formatting When Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Different learning institutions require writers to follow specific formatting styles. Basically, one must follow such guidelines when writing a critical analysis essay. In this case, writers must make necessary consultations from lecturers before submitting final copies. Also, one should rely on an essay rubric to format a paper and achieve higher grades.

6. Peer Review

Prudent writers share their works with peers for reviewing purposes. For example, one should identify other scholars with adequate knowledge in a subject matter. Basically, such choices support positive criticism and allow students to identify significant gaps that may undermine the essay’s readability. Moreover, one should consider the effectiveness of reviews before making final adjustments to papers. As a rule, scholars should consider various critics if they enhance the essay’s quality and readability. In turn, writers should feel free to reject some critics that may distort the meaning of the work. 

Sample Outline for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

I. introduction.

• Identify a source under critical review.
• Preview the main argument and state some steps taken to prove this claim.
• Present a thesis statement as the central argument of an essay.

II. A summary of a Source

• This summary should not be comprehensive – present what readers need to know and understand the thesis statement.

III. Analysis/Argument

Include arguments that contain several other points of view. In turn, some of the factors of analysis include:

• Discussion of the work’s organization.
• Discussion of the work’s style.
• Effectiveness.
• Discussion of the topic’s treatment.
• Discussion of appeal to a particular audience.

IV. Conclusion

• Reflect on the thesis statement’s support given in an essay.
• Point out the significance of a central argument.
• Identify potential opportunities for supplementary research or investigation.

An example template for a critical analysis essay outline presented above varies from those of other paper types. Basically, one should not assume that the design of a critical analysis essay contains a summary of a source. In turn, this summary follows the introductory paragraph and reveals one’s understanding of the main ideas presented. As a rule, students must focus on the most important concepts presented in a critical analysis essay essay.

Breaking Down an Outline for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

The opening paragraph should begin with an interesting phrase. In this case, students should give a brief overview of a source under review. Besides, the last sentence must represent the primary argument or thesis statement. In turn, one should not use a question for the thesis statement. Instead, writers must present debatable claims.

II. Summary

Prudent writers summarize only important concepts. In particular, summaries must relate to the thesis statement. Unfortunately, many learners dwell much on this section, which makes their essays appear weak. Basically, students must remember that the summary does not contribute to supporting the thesis statement. Instead, writers should focus on presenting specific facts that promote the understanding of the main argument. 

The body of a critical analysis essay should present major arguments. Basically, prudent writers break down the thesis statement into different subsections. In this case, one must discuss each sub-thesis exhaustively. Then, students must focus on the most crucial essay concepts while providing adequate supporting details. In turn, good critical analysis papers should contain real-life examples that relate to the topic and relevant explanations.

a critical analysis essay should contain a relevant closing paragraph. In particular, students must ensure that the last paragraph summarizes all the ideas presented. As a rule, one should not introduce new evidence in this section. Instead, writers should bring the work to a unique closure by restating the thesis statement.

Example of Writing a Critical Analysis Essay

Critical Analysis Essay of “Two Principles of Justice”

I. Sample of an Introduction Section

The unjust social system undermines the effectiveness of human struggles to achieve equality. Basically, many individuals assume that they cannot access equal justice. In this case, Rawls argues that every society should ensure that all people access equal justice. Moreover, the first principle by Rawls advocates for equal liberty and equal rights for all citizens. Then, the second principle advocates for social and economic equality where individuals should access equal opportunities irrespective of their backgrounds. While societies struggle to achieve equality in justice, the article “Two Principles of Justice” by John Rawls presents hypotheses for promoting fairness that fails to lead to justifiable outcomes (thesis).

II. Example of a Summary Part

Rawls presents two principles of justice when referring to the supposed situation where societies choose standard justice. For example, the first standard focuses on equal freedom for all individuals irrespective of their social, economic, cultural, political, or religious background (Rawls, 1971). In this case, each person has fundamental rights to the most respected liberties. Moreover, Rawls holds that all members of society must enjoy similar privileges. Then, the second standard promotes social and economic justice across the country (Rawls, 1971). In this case, all citizens should benefit from public opportunities available. Also, all individuals should access equal job prospects without any form of barriers. For instance, two principles intend to allocate extensive liberties to all people equally (Rawls, 1971). Further on, these values provide practical strategies that should govern the allocation of available resources and opportunities. In turn, modern societies should embrace two principles as pillars in sharing social and economic reimbursements. Hence, Rawls presents two principles that allow all people to get equal opportunities irrespective of their backgrounds.

III. Sample of an Analysis/Argument Section

Rawls fails to clarify the level of equality that each community must achieve. Basically, the first principle states that people should access essential liberties without any possible barriers (Rawls, 1971). In turn, the statement disregards the nature of the universal trait of human rights. On the other hand, fundamental human freedoms have conflicting interests, which makes it hard for individuals to access them equally. Moreover, Rawls fails to make justifications that lead to a better understanding of the fundamental rights that societies must promote. Hence, Rawls does not explain the universal rights clearly that people must access.

Rawls makes some assumptions that disregard important factors that lead to inequality in modern society. In particular, the second principle argues that disadvantaged people should have easy access to the most significant benefits (Rawls, 1971). Basically, this argument fails to consider factors that influence leadership in modern communities. In this case, people with higher literacy attainments make more outstanding contributions to the management of various institutions. As a result, they deserve more significant advantages than those who make lesser contributions. Therefore, differences in commitment levels among multiple members of the community disapprove of Rawls’ second principle.

IV. Example of a Conclusion Part

Many civilizations strive to achieve equality in justice processes. However, achieving absolute parity remains an elusive goal. In this case, the article “Two Principles of Justice” by John Rawls presents hypotheses that people can embrace in promoting equality. Moreover, Rawls argues that all individuals must access equal liberty and social and economic opportunities. In turn, this example of writing a critical analysis essay shows that two principles appear vague since such statements may not lead to justifiable outcomes. Hence, scholars should focus on defining specific liberties that promote equality.

Citing a Source for Writing a Critical Analysis Essay in Various Formats

APA 7th edition – A reference entry should follow a sentence case rule, while in-text citations should include the author’s name and publication year. Hence, examples of a reference with an in-text citation are:

• Rawls, J. (1971). Two principles of justice. In a theory of justice (pp. 1017–1024). Harvard University Press.
• (Rawls, 1971).

MLA 8th edition – A Works Cited entry should follow a title case rule. Also, in-text citations should entail the author’s surname and page numbers. Hence, examples of a Works Cited entry with an in-text citation are:

• Rawls, John. “Two Principles of Justice.” A Theory of Justice , Harvard University Press, 1971, pp. 1017–1024.
• (Rawls 1017).

Harvard – A reference entry should follow a sentence case rule. Moreover, in-text citations should include the author’s surname, publication date, and page numbers. Hence, examples of a reference entry with an in-text citation are:

• Rawls, J 1971, ‘Two principles of justice’, in a theory of justice , Harvard University Press, pp. 1017–1024.
• (Rawls 1971, p. 1017).

Chicago/Turabian – A bibliographic entry should follow a capital case rule. Also, in-text citations must appear as footnotes. Hence, examples of a bibliography entry with a footnote are:

• Rawls, John. “Two Principles of Justice.” In A Theory of Justice , 1017–1024. Harvard University Press, 1971.
• 1. John Rawls, “Two Principles of Justice,” in A Theory of Justice (Harvard University Press, 1971), 1017.

Summing Up on How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay

Writing a critical analysis essay is common in a higher learning institution. Basically, topics for critical analysis focused on evaluating the effectiveness of other scholarly sources. In this case, students write about a wide range of topics and subjects. Moreover, the primary goal is to evaluate and observe the defined elements. Then, the process leads to a better understanding of the matter in question. Besides, these essays help one to examine a controversial point of view. Hence, some points that one must remember when writing critical analysis essays are:  

• include a hook and a clear thesis in the introduction;
• provide a summary of a source in question.
• focus on a detailed analysis;
• end with a summative conclusion.  

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How to Write an Analytical Essay in 6 Steps

An analytical essay is an essay that meticulously and methodically examines a single topic to draw conclusions or prove theories. Although they are used in many fields, analytical essays are often used with art and literature to break down works’ creative themes and explore their deeper meanings and symbolism . 

Analytical essays are a staple in academics, so if you’re a student, chances are you’ll write one sooner or later. This guide addresses all the major concerns about how to write an analytical essay, such as the preferred structure and what to put in the outline. Let’s start with an in-depth answer to the question, what is an analytical essay? Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is an analytical essay?

One of the seven main types of essay , analytical essays intricately examine a single topic to explain specific arguments or prove the author’s theories. They commonly deal with creative works like art, literature, film, or music, dissecting the creator’s artistic themes and revealing hidden meanings. However, they can also address other issues in realms like science, politics, and society. 

Analytical essays are a type of expository essay , so they’re not supposed to express bias, opinions , or persuasions . Even when the author is trying to prove their own theory (or disprove an opposing theory), their argument should stick solely to facts and logic and keep the author’s personal feelings to a minimum. 

An analytical essay example could be a deep dive into the character of Hamlet, but this topic itself could have multiple interpretations. Your essay could focus on whether or not Hamlet truly loved Ophelia, question the motives for his constant hesitation, or even attempt to prove the theory that he was mentally ill—after all, he did see apparitions! 

How to structure an analytical essay

Although analytical essays tend to be more detailed, specific, or technical than other essays, they still follow the same loose essay structure as the rest:

1 Introduction

3   Conclusion

The introduction is where you present your thesis statement and prepare your reader for what follows. Because analytical essays focus on a single topic, the introduction should give all the background information and context necessary for the reader to understand the writer’s argument. Save the actual analysis of your topic for the body. 

The body is the nucleus of your essay. Here you explain each separate point and offer evidence to support the thesis, breaking up your argument into paragraphs. While the introduction and conclusion are each usually just a single paragraph, the body is composed of many different paragraphs and often stretches out over pages, thereby making up most of the essay. 

Every paragraph in the body still relates to your chosen topic and your thesis, but each paragraph should make a different point or focus on a different piece of evidence. For example, if your topic is about how Edgar Allan Poe uses the theme of death in his writing, one paragraph could explore the use of death in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” while a different paragraph could explore death in “The Raven,” and so on. 

Finally, the conclusion wraps everything up. Conclusions usually don’t introduce new evidence or supporting details but instead reiterate the previous points and bring them all together to strengthen your original thesis. At this point your reader has sufficient background to understand the topic. With your evidential examples in mind, they’ll be more receptive to your main argument when you present it one last time. 

How to write an analytical essay in 6 steps

The process of writing an analytical essay largely follows the same guidelines as all essay writing . Here we break down each individual step from start to finish. 

1 Choose your topic

This step may be optional if your topic has been given to you as an assignment. If not, though, you should choose your topic with care. 

Your topic should be specific enough that you’re able to discuss it thoroughly. If you choose a broad topic like “love in novels from Victorian England,” it’s unlikely you’ll be able to cover all Victorian novels in a single analytical essay (or even ten analytical essays!). However, narrowing the topic down to something such as “love in Jane Austen novels” makes your task more achievable. 

That said, don’t be too specific, or you won’t have enough material to cover. Try to find a good middle ground: specific enough that you can discuss everything but general enough that you’ll be able to find enough research and supporting evidence. 

2 Research your topic

Once you know your topic, you can begin collecting data and evidence to discuss it. If your analytical essay is about a creative work, you may want to spend time reviewing or evaluating that work, such as watching a film closely or studying the details of a painting. It’s also useful to review other people’s critiques of that work to inspire new ideas or reveal details you hadn’t noticed before. 

Don’t forget to write down where you get your information, including page numbers for books or time codes if you’re watching visual media. You may need to reference these in your essay, so making a quick note about where you find your information while researching saves time later when you’re citing your sources . 

It helps to know your thesis from the onset. However, you may realize during your research that your original thesis is not as strong as you thought. If this happens, don’t be afraid to modify it or choose a new one. In any case, by the time your research is finished, you should know what your thesis will be.  

3 Create an outline

An essay outline gives you the opportunity to organize all your thoughts and research so you can put them in the optimal order. Ideally, you’ll have finished your research by now and made notes of everything you want to say in your analytical essay. The outline is your chance to decide when to talk about each point. 

Outlines are typically broken up by paragraph. Each paragraph should explore an individual point you’re making and include your evidence or statistical data to back up that particular point. Be careful about trying to squeeze too much information into a single paragraph; if it looks excessive, try to break up the information into two or more paragraphs. 

Feel free to move around or rearrange the order of paragraphs while outlining—that’s what this step is for! It’s much easier to fix structural problems now in the outline phase than later when writing. 

4 Write your first draft

Now is the time you sit down and actually write the rough draft of your analytical essay. This step is by far the longest, so be sure to set aside ample time. 

If you wrote your outline thoroughly, all you have to do is follow it paragraph by paragraph. Be sure to include each piece of evidence and data you had planned to include. Don’t worry about details like choosing the perfect wording or fixing every grammar mistake—you can do those later in the revisions phase. For now, focus solely on getting everything down. 

Pay particular attention to how you start an essay. The introduction serves different purposes, such as telling the reader what to expect, providing background information, and above all presenting your thesis statement. Make sure your introduction checks all those boxes. 

Likewise, be extra careful with your conclusion. There are special techniques for how to write a conclusion, such as using a powerful clincher and avoiding certain cliches like “in summary.” Conclusions usually hold more weight than the other paragraphs because they’re the last thing a person reads and can leave a lasting impression on them. 

Finally, don’t forget to include transition sentences in between your body paragraphs when needed. Moving abruptly from one topic to the next can be jarring for the reader; transition sentences improve the essay’s flow and remove distractions.  

5 Revise your draft

Your first draft is never meant to be perfect. Once you have all your ideas down on paper, it’s much easier to go back and revise . Now is the perfect time to improve your phrasing and word choice and edit out any unnecessary or tangential parts.

When you revise, pay particular attention to details. Try to find areas that you can remove to make your essay more succinct or passages that aren’t clear that need more explanation. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes: Will someone with no background knowledge still understand your points? 

6 Proofread your essay

Last, it’s time to fix any grammar and spelling mistakes by proofreading . While it’s tempting to do this at the same time as your revisions, it’s best to do them separately so you don’t split your attention. This allows you to focus only on word choice, phrasing, and adding/removing content while revising and to concentrate solely on language mistakes during proofreading. 

If you’re not confident in your grammar or spelling expertise, you can always use an app like Grammarly . Our app highlights any spelling or grammar mistakes directly in your text and gives proper suggestions on how to fix them. There are even features that help you choose the perfect word or adjust your writing to fit a certain tone. You can also copy  and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.

Analytical essay outline example

If you’re having trouble, here’s an analytical essay example that shows how a proper outline or structure should look. The format here uses a five-paragraph essay structure, but for more complicated topics, you can add as many body paragraphs as you need. 

Topic: Who is the real villain: Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?

Introduction

• Briefly describe the plot of Macbeth for those who aren’t familiar with it
• Thesis statement : Lady Macbeth is the real villain of Macbeth because she manipulates her husband into committing an atrocious crime 

Body Paragraph 1 

• Murdering the king is all Lady Macbeth’s idea
• Macbeth is initially against it until Lady Macbeth convinces him

Body Paragraph 2

• Lady Macbeth has her own individual character arc where she is driven mad by her guilt
• Her guilt insinuates she knows her actions are villainous, with appropriate consequences
• Cite quotations from her “Out, damned spot!” speech

Body Paragraph 3

• Macbeth decides to listen to Lady Macbeth, so he is still guilty
• Speculate that he still would not have murdered the king if not for Lady Macbeth
• Macbeth remains the main character because most scenes revolve around him, but the person acting against him most is Lady Macbeth
• Remind reader that Macbeth didn’t want to murder the king until Lady Macbeth convinced him
• Clincher : Macbeth is still the hero albeit a tragic one. But his main antagonist is not Macduff or the king or even the prophecy itself; it’s his wife. 

Analytical essay FAQs

An analytical essay is an essay that deeply examines a single topic, often a creative work, to reveal certain conclusions or prove theories held by the essay’s author. 

How is an analytical essay structured?

Analytical essays are structured like most other essays: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. However, the body paragraphs have a stricter emphasis on facts, logic, and empirical evidence compared to other essays. 

What are the steps to writing an analytical essay? 

As with all essays, you first research and then organize all your points into a working outline. Next, you write the rough draft with all the data and evidence collected during your research. Revise the rough draft when it’s finished to improve the phrasing and add/remove certain parts. Last, proofread the essay for any grammar or spelling mistakes.

How to write a critical essay

Part of English Critical essay writing

• It is important to plan your critical essay before you start writing.
• An essay has a clear structure with an introduction, paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion.
• Evidence , in the form of quotations and examples is the foundation of an effective essay and provides proof for your points.

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Learn how to plan, structure and use evidence in your essays

It is important to plan before you start writing an essay.

The essay question or title should provide a clear focus for your plan. Exploring this will help you make decisions about what points are relevant to the essay. What are you being asked to consider?

Organise your thoughts. Researching, mind mapping and making notes will help sort and prioritise your ideas. If you are writing a critical essay, planning will help you decide which parts of the text to focus on and what points to make.

How to use the passive voice to sound more objective

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