How to Write a Critical Analysis: Format and Free Examples

Posted: September 9th, 2021

Writing a critical analysis is an art. It’s not as cliche as it sounds, as writing such an essay involves much more than just using standard grammar and formatting rules. You could say that about any type of paper or assignment, but with a critical analysis paper, you have to be especially creative.

The first step in knowing how to write a critical analysis is deciding what it will be about. A lot of the time, you might be assigned a particular topic or given an excerpt to analyze. However, if you are allowed to choose your own topic, try to choose something you feel passionate about and that has some sort of significance or meaning to it.

Once you have a topic in mind, you’re going to need a thesis. A thesis is basically your main idea for why the essay is important and what it’s about. This should be a short sentence or statement that will play out in the body of your critical analysis paper. Just make sure you get right to the point!

In the body of your analysis, there are several things you’ll need to include. First, you have to identify the main topic of the essay or excerpt. Next, you have to introduce your thesis and explain why this particular topic matters. After that, you should use textual examples to back up your thesis and prove it is correct. Finally, summarize all of your supporting ideas into one final point that reaffirms your thesis.

When writing a critical analysis, it’s also very important to have solid reasoning skills. You have to come up with logical arguments that will convince the reader of the significance of your topic and how it relates to your thesis. If you can’t present your ideas in a way that makes sense, you won’t be able to convince your reader and will end up with a weaker argument.

What Is a Critical Analysis Essay?

A critical analysis essay is a type of writing assignment used in classroom settings, as well as professional research and development. The purpose of the essay is to look at something critically (hence, “critical analysis”) and present findings or ideas based on one’s research about that topic.

Critical Analysis:

On its simplest level, a critical analysis is a type of essay that involves breaking down and evaluating elements that are part of a bigger whole. As an example, let’s take an advertisement for jeans. The critical analysis would look specifically at the design of the jeans, the presentation in the ad, how materials were used to create it, etc. It breaks down all components to determine what was done well and what might be improved.

Critical Essay:

A critical essay is typically one that takes a subjective position on an issue or event, not just objectively reporting facts or observations. A writer’s personal opinions about the meaning of events, ideas, works of art, etc., are central to most critical essays. The intent of this type of writing is to persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s ideas.

The purpose of a critical analysis essay is not merely to share what you have learned, but rather, to give your reader deeper insight into an issue or subject through your unique perspective. In order to accomplish this task effectively, there are some steps that should be followed:

1. Decide on your topic and choose the criteria by which it will be judged:

2. Select your evidence:

3. Use an effective organizational pattern:

4. Include a clear, complete thesis statement:

5. Revise and edit:

Essay Example #1 – The Three Most Important Events in U.S. History

The three most important events in U.S. history were the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr.. In order to determine which events were truly the most significant, I looked at a number of factors: impact on American society and politics, ongoing relevance today, degree of opposition, and death toll of both U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries.

The American Revolution had a significant impact on future citizens’ rights and freedoms, as well as the development of our democracy. While it was met with much resistance at the time, it laid down principles that are still very relevant in today’s society. It also had a relatively low death toll.

The Civil War was highly impactful on future rights and freedoms of citizens as well as the development of our democracy. It was, however, met with much more resistance than the American Revolution and had a very high death toll (600,000 Americans alone).

Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement had a significant impact on future civil liberties and rights of all citizens, as well as how our country is viewed throughout the world. It was also met with much resistance – though not as much as the Civil War – and had a relatively low death toll (30-40 Americans).

Understanding these three events from an objective point of view reveals that the U.S. civil rights movement was truly the most important event in our country’s history, with the American Revolution and the Civil War following closely behind.

 

25 Critical Analysis Essay Topics

The Critical Analysis essay, also known as a literary analysis essay, requires that you write about how an author uses a specific theme or character trait throughout the literary work.

How many times have you had to read Shakespeare? Or Hemingway? Up until college you probably didn’t realize that there was any deeper meaning in literature than just being entertained. However, in college you will have to read a variety of texts and then write an essay that analyzes the text’s use of theme or character traits in order to prove that you understood what was going on.

For example, in a critical analysis essay, your professor may ask you to analyze how an author uses foreshadowing in a particular part of Romeo and Juliet. In order to answer this question, you will need to analyze the text and prove that you understand what Shakespeare was trying to convey.

Because it’s such an important assignment, many students start thinking about which essay topics they want to write about before even picking up the book for their analysis. By knowing what your professor is looking for, you can help create a better essay overall.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 25 literary analysis essay topics. After reading through them, you’ll be equipped to pick the right topic and write an awesome paper!

Ready to get started? Use one (or more!) of the following 25 literary analysis essay topics in your paper.

ACACIA TREES

What do acacia trees mean within the context of the novel? How does this affect individuals’ understanding of what is happening throughout The Kite Runner ?

THE CRUCIBLE

Although the play takes place in 17th-century Salem, The Crucible has become an allegory for many different situations that have occurred throughout history. How does this play compare to other works that are set in the past but clearly influenced by events that are happening presently?

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

What does A Raisin in the Sun convey about relationships between people of color and White people in the United States?

HUCK FINN

What is Twain trying to say about society’s conceptions of childhood and adulthood throughout Huckleberry Finn ? How does this contribute to the novel’s overall message?

THE GREAT GATSBY

Why are the eyes on the billboard significant within The Great Gatsby ? How do these eyes serve to connect Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom?

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

What are the significance of the title ” Fiddler on the Roof ” in reference to Tevye? To what extent does it affect the plot of the show? Can one argue that this is the most important aspect of the show?

1984

What are some examples where the opening line of 1984 is fulfilled? How does this affect one’s impression of utopia or dystopia throughout the entire book?

THE CALL OF THE WILD

What do readers learn about London’s writing style within the first few chapters of The Call of the Wild ? How do these techniques contribute to the rest of the story?

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

What seems to be Holden’s overall goal in The Catcher in the Rye ? To what extent does he achieve this goal? Why did Salinger choose to end his novel with an epilogue, rather than a climax?

A HANDMAID’S TALE

What might be the significance of Offred’s name within A Handmaid’s Tale ? Why does Atwood give readers such sparse details about Gilead throughout the book?

DELIVERANCE

How do events that happen early on in Deliverance affect the rest of the story? What is significant about this novel that Anderson chooses to open with a group of men going on a canoe trip before readers learn more about what happens during this trip?

MIDDLEMARCH

How does Eliot use her writing style to make Dorothea sympathetic in Middlemarch ? To what extent does this help readers understand why Lydgate married Dorothea, despite her less-than-desirable qualities?

UNDER THE NET

What are some of the most significant changes in Kate Croy’s character throughout Under the Net ? How is she different by novel’s end?

INVISIBLE MAN

What is significant about the title Invisible Man ? How do events throughout the novel contribute to this idea?

THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH

What is significant about the title The Narrow Road to the Deep North ? Why does Richard Flanagan choose to use this for his work, rather than focusing on a more direct interpretation of the title?

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

What is significant about the ending of A Tale of Two Cities ? How does this ending compare to typical endings of other stories within a similar context?

BLACK BEAUTY

What does Black Beauty reveal about the treatment of horses in 19th-century England, and how did the author’s intended audience affect his writing?

MOLL FLANDERS

What is significant about the final chapter of Moll Flanders ? How does this ending compare to other endings from stories that were written around a similar time?

THE GREAT GATSBY

To what extent does The Great Gatsby explore the American dream? How does this affect one’s interpretation of the novel as a whole?

SOPHIE’S WORLD

What is significant about the opening of Sophie’s World ? Why does Gaarder choose to begin with Sophie, rather than using more traditional methods (such as beginning at the end)?

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

What are some examples of internal conflict in Crime and Punishment ? How does this affect one’s interpretation of the book?

THE CALL OF THE WILD

How did London’s personal experiences contribute to this story? What is significant about using a dog as an unreliable narrator?

ROMEO AND JULIET

What is significant about the opening monologue in Romeo and Juliet ?” Why does Shakespeare choose to begin with an explanatory prologue?

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

To what extent does Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland explore subversion? How do these subversions contribute to the story as a whole?

LITTLE WOMEN

What are some examples of the influence of Christianity in Little Women ? To what extent does this affect one’s interpretation of the novel as a whole?

THE WINGS OF THE DOVE

How do Merton and Kate’s relationship dynamics change throughout The Wings of the Dove ? What is significant about Merton’s role as a lover throughout the novel?

CANTERBURY TALES

How does Chaucer use his writing style to convey meaning within The Canterbury Tales ? What is significant about using a pilgrimage as an overarching structure for a collection of stories?

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

 

How does A Clockwork Orange explore the nature vs. nurture argument? What is significant about Alex’s final punishment from the state?

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

In what ways did Potter intend the story of Peter Rabbit to be a political statement? To what extent do modern audiences read this work differently than audiences from the time of its original publication?

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE

What are some examples of ambiguity in The Red Badge of Courage ? How does this affect one’s interpretation of the work as a whole?

HOWARD’S END

To what extent is Howard’s End about British class systems? To what extent does the author use character dialogue to convey meaning in this work?

THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN FARM

How do Blixen’s experiences living in Kenya contribute to this novel? What are some examples of conflict within the plot, and how are they resolved?

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

What is significant about the ending of A Tale of Two Cities ? How does this ending compare to typical endings of other stories within a similar context?

THE GREAT GATSBY

To what extent does The Great Gatsby explore the American dream? How does this affect one’s interpretation of the novel as a whole?

ROMEO AND JULIET

What is significant about the opening monologue in Romeo and Juliet ? Why does Shakespeare choose to begin with an explanatory prologue?

LITTLE WOMEN

What are some examples of the influence of Christianity in Little Women ? To what extent does this affect one’s interpretation of the novel as a whole?

Creating a Critical Analysis Essay Outline

Critical Analysis essays look to analyze a work of literature, news article or an advertisement and share their opinions on it. There are many different elements that go into writing a good Critical Analysis essay. One element is the Critical Essay Outline which gives writers a guide to follow when it comes time to write the essay. While some teachers may give specific instructions for the Critical Essay Outline, many do not. If they don’t, it is up to you to decide what format works best for you.

When writing a Critical Analysis essay, there are three different types of essays that can be written depending on the purpose and audience: Argumentative, Expository or Analytical. All three types include a Critical Essay Outline that has five parts to it. In order to get started, the writer will need to decide what type of essay they are writing and know their purpose for writing it. The five parts of the Critical Essay Outline are:

Introduction – This is where you should summarize what you plan on discussing in the essay and the sources of your information.

Argument (Body) – This is where you state your position on the material and support it with specific examples from the article, book or advertisement that you are writing about. Support can come in many forms such as statistics, anecdotes or illustrations. You should include at least three solid pieces of evidence that show why your argument is true.

Conclusion – You should restate your position at the end of the essay and summarize how you proved it in the body of the paper. If you didn’t, don’t worry about it at this point. It’s more important to present all three parts of the Critical Essay Outline briefly without repeating yourself.

Works Cited – This is where you document all the sources that you used in your essay. If you didn’t use any outside sources, then there’s no need to include this section. In general, each source should have a different heading with the author name and relevant information listed beneath it. There are several formats that can be used for documenting sources. The format you use should be the one that your teacher requires.

Reflection – This section of the Critical Essay Outline can help improve your writing by explaining what you’ve learned from writing it. You may want to include anything that you felt worked well in the paper, or things that didn’t work at all. Think about how you could make the paper better next time.

When writing a Critical Analysis essay, it is important to remember that there will always be people who disagree with you based on their own perspectives. You need to acknowledge these points of view and why someone might feel that way without getting into too much detail.

As long as you complete the five parts of the Critical Essay Outline and include at least three solid pieces of evidence to support your argument, you should be on your way to an A+ paper.

 

Critical Analysis Example

Most people have already read a book, seen a movie, watched a television show or even listened to a song that had been critically analyzed by someone who is more educated or experienced with the subject matter.

In this article you will learn what exactly critical analysis is and how it relates to different types of media. By the end of this article you should be able to understand the definition and purpose of a critical analysis as well as find some examples.

What is Critical Analysis?

Critical analysis, in its most basic form, is the act of taking something apart and examining all its components and how they relate or work together.

For example: Taking a television show like “Law and Order” and examining the characters, plot, symbolism and how it is similar or different from other shows in its genre.

People can analyze things such as video games, books, movies and television so that they may better understand the work they are analyzing.

This type of analysis is not to be confused with criticism however. Analysis deals more with breaking down the parts of something to understand how they work together.

Criticism, on the other hand, is when someone looks at another person’s work and points out what it does wrong or why they do not like it.

What are Some Examples of Critical Analysis?

Critical analysis comes in many forms depending on its purpose and the work it is analyzing.

One of the most common examples of critical analysis in the media is a book review, which gives people a general idea on what they can expect from a book. In this case, the author analyzes the plot and characters without giving too many spoilers away for those who have not yet read it themselves. Movie reviews are a similar example, as they give a general idea of what the public can expect from a movie.

Critical analysis is used in many different kinds of mediums to ensure audiences have enough information before going into something so they do not waste their time and money on something that does not meet their expectations.

Where Can I Find Some Critical Analysis Examples?

Most people are able to find some type of critical analysis in the media they watch on a daily basis.

For example, if you were watching something like “Law and Order” on television, it is possible that someone may have written about or done a Critical Analysis of that show.

This could be found through internet research or by reading online book reviews.

Since critical analysis is used in many different types of mediums, one may find examples in newspapers, movie reviews, books and even music criticism.

What are the Benefits of Critical Analysis?

Since people use media to keep up with events in the world around them it is important they have a place to find information on what they are consuming.

Critical analysis can help people make better choices about the different types of media they consume by helping them understand what makes a good show, movie or song and what does not fit their own personal interests.

It also helps people understand why some shows, movies and songs become more popular than others.

Critical analysis can help people gain a better understanding of things they may already be interested in or it can introduce them to new types of media they enjoy watching.

What are the Disadvantages of Critical Analysis?

While critical analysis can give you a better idea on what you should watch, read or listen to, it does not always give you an accurate representation of how you will feel about the work after watching, reading or listening to it.

It is possible for someone who watches a movie based on critical analysis may find out they do not enjoy it as much as they thought they would before watching it.

This can result in wasting money on something that does not work for them, which can be frustrating.

Critical analysis does not have to have an effect on whether someone enjoys something or not, but it may give them a general idea of what to expect if they choose to read, view or listen to it at a later point in time.