Writers share their interpretations of subjects through a strikingly large array of genres. Soldiers and aid workers in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, have interpreted the events in which they are involved through books, blogs, and social-networking sites. Commentators analyze the political landscape through columns, editorials, and data analyses. Scholars examine subjects as diverse as Shakespeare’s sonnets, the possibility of life on Mars, and the potential for electoral college reform through journal articles and conference presentations. And students are frequently asked to share their interpretations through essays, reports, and presentations.

Regardless of the genre a writer decides to use, most analytical writing begins with an attempt to understand how other writers have approached the challenges of analyzing a particular subject. Examining analytical documents can spark ideas about how to focus an analysis, offer insights into the kinds of interpretive frameworks that have been used to direct past analyses, and provide an understanding of the conclusions other writers have drawn. In the following sections, you’ll find examples and discussions of magazine articles, rhetorical analyses, and analytical blog posts. In this chapter, you’ll find discussions and examples of news analyses, documentary films, and analytical essays.