Analytical essays offer a thorough, well-considered interpretation of a subject for readers who share the writer’s interest in the subject. Because just about anything is open to interpretation, analytical essays can address subjects as wide-ranging as political and social issues, sports, lifestyle, music and the arts, history, finance, and science, to name only a few.

Because of the breadth of the subjects they consider, writers of analytical essays address a broad range of readers. When analytical essays are written for purposes such as publication in a magazine or on the Web, writers need to consider the readers who typically subscribe to the magazine or visit the Web site. When such essays are written for academic courses, writers are quite aware that their instructors are a primary audience, but they are aware as well of the importance of considering the needs, interests, knowledge, and backgrounds of other possible readers, such as classmates, friends, family, or members of a particular profession.