When you write an analysis essay, you examine a text’s assumptions, assess its evidence, and weigh its conclusions. You say to readers: “Here’s my reading and judgment of the text. This is what the text means and why it matters.” Your goal is to offer your judgment of the text and to persuade readers to see it through your analytical perspective.

An effective thesis statement for an analysis essay responds to a question about a text or presents a resolution to a problem in the text.

As you write in courses in different disciplines, you’ll be asked to analyze a wide range of written texts (books, articles, reports, or case studies) and visual or multimodal texts (photographs, charts, maps, videos, or Web sites).

Key features of analysis essays

Exploring ideas for your analysis essay

Drafting your analysis essay

Revising your analysis essay

Presenting your analysis essay

Sample student writing: Analysis essays

Additional resources for writing, reviewing, and revising an analysis essay