From time to time, students are asked to write an analytical essay in different subjects, especially at the end of semester. However, most of students think that this writing task is very difficult and one cannot get the desired grades without proper writing skills and deep knowledge of the subject. Even if you are a good student and go hand-in-hand with professors’ expectations, it does not mean that you will cope with analytical writing. If you want to learn more about this piece of writing, please have a look at the definition and explanation of what constitutes good analytical essays.
If you do not know how to write an analytical essay, you should get acquainted with its definition. Analytical essay is a kind of academic writing that focuses not only on the presentation of facts and ideas but on their interpretation as well. Writer is supposed to discuss those facts and appeal to logical reasoning in his/her analysis.
Sometimes freshmen cannot properly understand an analytical essay definition without explanation of what academic writing presumes. Academic writing is a formal way of presenting ideas on paper. Students are asked to get rid of all unsupported and unfinished ideas, adhere to all grammar and formatting rules, and follow modern writing standards in terms of paper structure. In addition, academic papers can be based on credible and newly published sources only. Students must follow anti-plagiarism rules and reflect a requested referencing system while paraphrasing outside ideas or presenting them in direct quotes. Improper referencing means plagiarism, and students can fail the paper or the whole course if the paper lacks adequate in-text citations.
Writing an analytical essay can be successful only if you follow academic writing rules. You goal is not only to restate information that you have found in the outside sources but to carefully analyze its content and relation to the given topic. The worst scenario ever is to present a summary of ideas without proper analysis. Remember that professors know the content of research literature and they expect to see if you are able to systematize ideas and interpret them in a logical and clear way.
Analytical essays must be based on the following principles if you desire to get a good grade for your paper:
- Since you do not only have to summarize ideas but analyze them, subjectivity must be seen. You have to present your personal standpoint.
- The key goal of any academic paper is to present clear and logical ideas that will be easily comprehensible by any reader. Imagine that your paper will be read not only by a professor but your classmate too.
- Do not include ideas that you can barely explain or that are far-fetched from reality. All your claims must be based on the research.
- Straightforward expression. Do not go around the bush and do not use informal phrases that will mislead the reader. Use proper academic language to explain your ideas.
- If your professor asked you to write a 900-1000 word essay, do not think that extra words will favorably influence your grade.