How To Write An Analytical Essay With Examples And Topics

Analysis essays are defined as a piece of writing that aims to prove a point using data. You have to be good with research and have the right analytical skills to interpret a topic and prove a point.

Being one of the most common types of essays, you need to be well-versed with the techniques and learn how to use data to prove your views. If you are new to this type of essay, then you are in the right place to learn all about it.

This blog will help you learn the meaning of analysis essays, understand the structure and introduce you to some trending topics.

What is an Analytical Essay?

Analytical essays, one of the common types of essays for students, aim to do the same. You will be asked to examine a topic minutely, find the ground on which the arguments are based and prove them. Generally, analytical paper topics are based on creative works like:

• Art
• Literature
• Film
• Music, etc.

However, don't expect all topics to be based on these; you might also be asked to write on issues on:

• Science
• Politics
• Society

It is crucial to understand the topic before you share your views on them. The following few sections will help you learn analytical paper writing and the various aspects of this types of essay.

What is the Purpose of an Analytical Essay?

From an academic perspective, analytical essays aim to help students grow as writers and thinkers. If you look at the meaning of analysis essays, you will know how these essays dig deep into a topic. It allows students to think, find, and prove their views to the readers.

Let's say you have subscribed to a famous newspaper online. You come across a headline, ‘Amazon leads the online retail market and is the most reliable e-commerce website.’ If you are more inclined towards e-Bay, you might not want to believe it. Also, you would not want to ignore the news article.

Now, once you read the article and find strong evidence in support of the statement, there’s a high chance that your opinion will change. That is exactly what analysis essays aim to do.

Remember that the reason for analysis writing is to prove your arguments based on strong data. You need not persuade your readers to believe you. So, it is better not to use words like 'believe me' or 'I feel' in your essays.

On that note, let’s explore the outline of analytical essays.

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Understanding the Analytical Essay Outline

Before you move on to write the essay, you need to know what an analytical essay outline of these essays looks like. All of you know the basics and understand that essays are three-paragraph write-ups. It must have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. While it follow the same structure, you need to add some more paragraphs to it.

An analysis essay format must have:

• An introduction
• Three body paragraphs
• A conclusion

These essays must have at least three main arguments present in both the thesis and body paragraphs.

The analysis essay structure has forced many students to ask how it is different from descriptive essays. In the following section, you will learn how analysis essays are completely different from descriptive essays.

Analytical Essay vs. Descriptive Essay

The writing styles of analytical and descriptive essays are entirely different. However, both aim to present reports. So, how would you differentiate one from the other?

Now here we will learn different between analytical essay and descriptive essay. 

 

Analytical Essay	Descriptive Essay
Aims to evaluate, analyze and prove the author’s point of view	Aims to educate readers with facts and information
Answers why, what, and what next questions	Answers what, when, and where questions
Content is more structured and follows a logical flow	Uses rich language to present facts
Argues a case based on evidence	Instructs how to do something
Shows the relevance of links in the data	States link between items

 

After knowing how descriptive essays are different from analysis essays. Now you must move with the analytical writing process.

So, where do you start? Let’s first help you select a good topic to start the process.

How to Choose an Analytical Essay Topic?

There are a few things to consider while choosing an analysis essay topic. You will come across many topics when you search for one on the internet. Here’s what you need to do:

• Choose the one that interests you
• Consider your hobbies
• Consult with your classmates or hobbies
• Check online resources
• Analyze issues around you
• Refer to historical events
• Consider scientific studies or findings
• Look for trending topics in your field
• Make sure there are enough resources online

If you feel the topic is easy for you, go ahead and start writing the essay. The following section will help you learn some simple steps to write an analysis essay.

How to Write an Analysis Essay - Simple Steps

Analytical writing is nothing different from writing other essays. All you have to do is follow the steps correctly, and present your points properly to craft a flawless essay. Here'sYou can get the answeres of "how to start analytical essay?"-

Choose a Topic

Topic selection plays a major role in the entire essay writing process. But you might not always get the chance to choose a topic. Your professors might assign a topic and ask you to write an essay. However, if you get the chance to choose a topic, make sure you select one you are comfortable with.

Research Well

Analytical essays depend on the data you provide. Hence, ensure you research the topic well before moving forward with the essay. Look for valid sources of information, find the right data and make notes to ensure you have a strong point.

Create an Outline

It is crucial to distribute all your points properly in all sections of the essay. An outline eases the entire essay writing process and helps you complete the task faster. There are a lot of things to take into account while writing this essay. Hence, it is important to create a roadmap before you start working on the essay.

Write the Rough Draft

Do not take a leap of faith just after you are done creating an outline. Analysis essays delve deeper into a topic, and you have to be extra cautious while writing one. So, before you craft the final paper, consider working on a rough draft. It will help you with the process.

Revise the Draft

Go through the draft you wrote, and make the necessary changes to make it better. You can add more finesse to your write-up to grab readers’ attention. It will help you make the write-up stand out from the crowd. Analytical essay writing is not only about presenting facts; it is also about making an impact. Hence, to do so, revise your draft and add elements to keep your readers glued to the write-up.

Proofread and Edit Your Paper

You cannot let go of the proofreading and editing process. You have to ensure that the paper is perfect and there are no grammatical, spelling or structural errors in the paper. In case you are not confident with grammar and spelling, consider using automated tools.

Analytical essays make you think, and it is interesting to explore different aspects to prove your point. The tips above will help you know how to start the analytical paper or essay and the ways to move forward with it.

Now, where would you go looking for topics? Don't worry; the blog has it all. The next section will introduce you to some trending analytical essay topics.

Also read - A Comprehensive Guide to Process Essay Writing

Trending Analytical Essay Topics

Here are a few good analytical essay topics to choose from:

Analytical Essay Topics for Art and History

• Exploring the dangers of perfection with reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Birth Mark’
• An insight into the history of printmaking and its techniques
• The ‘philosophy of art’: A detailed insight into the concept
• Understanding when photography became art and how
• Exploring the primeval musical instruments
• Understanding the concept of symbolism in ancient Egypt
• An Insight into Women's Role in Prehistoric Britain
• Analyzing Near Eastern Civilizations
• Understanding Julius Caesar’s way of inspiring loyalty among soldiers
• An insight into the continent of Asia during the middle ages

 Analytical Essay Topics for College

• Understanding the correct process of choosing a college
• An insight into the ways to improve college experience
• A look into the scientific reasons behind insomnia
• Finding the best ways to prevent animal testing side effects
• A look into the psychological effects of horror movies on humans
• How do TV shows and social media affect teenagers?
• Exploring the reasons students drop out of colleges
• Examining the reasons behind rebellious behavior among children
• Understanding the harmful effects of alcohol on teenagers
• Finding the reasons for the increase in depression rates in the USA

 Topics for an Analytical Essay about Movies

• Analyzing how the movie ‘Crash’ sheds light on the African Americans
• Critically evaluating and comparing the movies ‘Madagascar’ and ‘Dark Knight’
• Analyzing father-son relationship with respect to movies
• A critical evaluation of film scripts
• An insight into the juvenile justice system as portrayed in ‘Sleepers’
• Analyzing the various aspects of ‘The Truman Show movie
• Analyzing the movie 'Sophie's Choice' and the various terms used in it
• A critical evaluation of the film Syriana
• Understanding the various film techniques used in ‘Vertigo’
• A critical analysis of the social and ethnic diversity in movies

 Good English Analytical Essay Topics

• A critical evaluation of a writer’s inspiration and hidden meanings
• Understanding if a writer’s background impacts their art
• Finding reasons Hamlet is one of the most famous protagonists in all literature
• A critical evaluation of the lead character of your favorite story
• A proper analysis of a book’s historical context
• An insight into the impact of Romeo and Juliet on literature
• Identifying the common literary devices used by authors
• A critical evaluation of a story’s mood and the impact on emotional state
• A critical analysis of Hamlet’s death
• A look into a writer’s main idea

 Analytical Essay Topics for Nursing

• An insight into the use of technology in nursing practice
• Understanding the concepts of communication and clinical interview concerning nursing
• An Analysis of the Aspect of nursing leadership and management
• Understanding the application of nursing interventions to treat all
• An analysis of the Development of family nursing care plan
• An insight into the various causes, consequences and solutions of nursing shortage
• A look into nursing as evidence-based practice
• An insight into the cultural competence in nursing practice
• Examining the impact of various barriers on clinical nursing
• Understanding the various moral, legal and ethical dilemmas in nursing

It is highly recommended that you pick a topic that you are comfortable with. These are some of the good topics for analytical essays, and you can find an audience for all these topics.

Analytical Essay Examples

Tobacco smoking among youth

Introduction

Smoking is a massive part of society and is seen as a normal part of social mannerism. Although it is widely well-known that smoking is injurious to health, it still does not change the fact that it remains a highly coveted part of social life. The prominence of smoking and tobacco-based products has started to become more and more prominent among youths and adolescents. The act of smoking has also become more prolific with the legalization and availability of marijuana, which has become excessively popularized among the younger generation, teenagers, and adolescents. Over the years, the total number of adolescent smokers has been on the rise (Al Omari, et. al., 2020). More and more youth and younger generations have access to different products like cigarettes, joints, blunts and vape pens, which is promoting the increase of young smokers. The aim of the paper is to present literature regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice of tobacco smoking among youth through the use and analysis of the appropriate theoretical framework and past research.

Discussion

Smoking has been a major part of society for a long time. One of the main aspects for which smoking has managed to retain its relevance despite its active health impacts is its effect on dealing with stress and anxiety. The inhalation of nicotine from tobacco provides an immediate sense of calm and relaxation, which results in smokers believing that it helps in dealing with anxiety and stress. But as mentioned, this sensation is immediate and short- lived. As the effects of nicotine fade, the overall feeling of stress and anxiety returns with greater intensity. This prompts the wanting for more tobacco- based products that can help in providing relief stress, even if it is on a temporary basis (Jawad, et. al., 2018). With the overall rise in stress levels

A key factor that needs to be considered is that adolescents are the time and age in which there is a high risk for the initiation of smoking. Antisocial deviant behaviour like aggression, rule-breaking and risk-taking are all behavioural cues that indicate the propensity of youth to initiate smoking tobacco as a deviant behaviour (Rani, Thamarangsi & Agarwal, 2017). The theory of deviance state that any behaviour that is is since society deems that behaviour to be so. In the past, the idea of smoking, especially among adolescents, teenagers and adolescents, was deviant behaviour that was struct and non-negotiable. But in more recent times, the act so the smoking tobacco has become more coercive and commonplace in society for anyone who is no longer defined as a child. Smoking as a deviant behaviour has been strongly associated with Vietnamese-Americans in a case study by Weiss et al. (2020).

The practice of smoking tobacco has become more of a means of social interaction. Youths who are initiated into smoking are usually done so through social gatherings with their friend who is smokers (Macy et. al., 2019). They want a stigma to being socially accepted within the groups, and the fear of alienation is a string motivating factor for non-smoking youths to take up a cigarette. According to the research conducted by the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, the use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco noncigarette combustible tobacco by non-smokers was associated with cigarette imitation within a span of one year (Watkins, Glantz & Chaffee, 2018). This also feeds an increase in the overall number of cases of addiction to smoking while also lowering the average age for smoking initiation (Watkins, Glantz & Chaffee, 2018). As a direct result of this, the increase in morbidity of youth. Youth who take up smoking from below the age of 15 years has a higher risk of dying early (CDC, 2022). The adverse effects of smoking from an early age result in young adults and youth and teens developing avoidable issues like shortness of breath, lowered stamina, hampered athletic performance, reduced growth of the lungs and can also result in early cardiovascular damage. Overall,

The rampant uptake and smoking initiation by youth is greatly influenced by the social environment of the young adults and the social stimulus and cues that they are exposed to (CDC). The overall industry marketing makes the act of smoking attractive through advertisements and promotions. Similarly, the representation of smoking in media like television, video games, movies and on the internet result in young adults and youths taking u smoking themselves (CDC). Through this, there is an onset of early nicotine addiction that keeps the youths fixated on smoking and which makes them continue to smoke well into adulthood. Additionally, in recent times, more and more children between the ages of 3 and 18 years are being exposed to cigarette smoke through second-hand smoke exposure (CDC). Over 400,000 babies in the United States are exposed to second-hand smoking as a result of their mothers' smoking, even though bring well into the later stages of pregnancy (CDC). In the past 50 years, over 100,000 babies have died prematurely in the United States as a direct result of second-hand smoking (CDC).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be stated that, although there has been increased awareness of the impact of smoking and tobacco inhalation, there continues to remain a distinct effect of smoking among youths and adolescents. Despite there being multiple research that exposes the harmful effects of smoking, the overall statistics of youth smoker remains on a steady rise. More and more youth and younger generations have access to different products like cigarettes, joints, blunts and vape pens, which is promoting the increase of young smokers. The influence of industry marketing also promotes the youth to take up smoking both as means of social participation and interaction as well as a form of deviant behaviour.

If you look at the analysis essay example above, you will understand the approach of analytical essays. The topic here is ‘Tobacco smoking among youth.’ If you look at the introduction, you will see how the author talks about smoking and how the habit is on the rise. You will also see how the author uses transition sentences to take the discussion forward.

The sample has more than two body paragraphs, and the author uses various data to analyze the topic to make a point. It is crucial to understand how data plays a crucial role in the entire analytical essay writing process. You need to find relevant data to ensure your readers are in line with the topic and understand what you are saying.

The author concludes the essay by restating the main point of the essay and talks about the harmful effects of smoking. You will come across how professionals restate thesis statements in the conclusion and focus on the main points discussed in the essay.

Thesis statement example for analytical essay

Say you are working on an essay on the impact of online education.

In that case, the thesis statement must be, “Looking at the recent trends, it can be expected that online education is the future.”

Just make sure that the statement connects to the discussion.

Also read - How To Write Thematic Essay

Hook example for analytical essay

When it comes to an analytical essay, you can experiment with the following kinds of essay hooks:

o Interesting question hook

o Strong statement/Declaration hook

o Fact/Statistical hook

o Quotation hook

Here's an example of an interesting question hook for an analytical piece:

“What, according to you, is destroying the balance between family life and career?”

To end with,

Analytical essays seem way more difficult than all other essays. While most students give up on it, you must understand that the key to a good analytical essay is data. If you have the right sources of information, you will sail through the problems easily. If you are struggling to find the right information, ask your professor for advice and start working on your essay today!

FAQs

Q.1. Can analytical essays have sources?

A good analytical essay depends on a clear point of view and is supposed to be perfectly organized around the main topic. The views need to be supported with proper information from both primary and secondary sources. So, to ensure your analytical essay stands out from the crowd, it is crucial to use correct sources of information.

Q.2. What is the most important element of an analytical essay?

Analytical essays are not just about analyzing a piece of text. You need to have a proper understanding of the topic and answer common questions that might be on the readers' minds. Hence, the most important element of analytical essays is asking questions and trying to find answers to them.

Q.3. What should not be included in an analytical essay?

You cannot be biased about a topic while writing an analytical essay. Also, you are not allowed to use persuasive techniques in these essays. Analytical essays completely depend on your analysis of a topic and proper data. Arguments in an analytical essay are based on facts and figures.

Q.4. Does an analytical essay need a thesis?

This essays aim to analyze a topic. The essays need proper evidence to support an argument. All these essays need a thesis statement to help readers understand the main argument and help them relate to what you are saying.

Q.5. How do you end an analytical essay?

A conclusion for analytical essays must have:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

Q.6. Are analytical and critical essays the same?

Analytical essays are often called critical essays. You can use the two terms interchangeably. Both these essays dig deep into a topic and find the necessary information to help make constructive arguments.

Q.7. Does an analytical essay need a quote?

You know how analytical essays depend on proper data, and using them correctly in the paper is what makes the essay better. How you place the data is important. You are allowed to use quotes to justify your arguments. It makes the essay better and helps you grab the readers' attention.

Q.8. Can I use first-person in an analytical essay?

First-person writing is generally not allowed in analytical essays. You can include a first-person perspective only if the thing you are saying is relevant to the topic. Also, please remember you are not allowed to use it throughout the essay.

Q.9. What are the different types of analytical essays?

You will come across different types of analytical essays. Here are a few different types of analytical essays you will come across:

• Academic essays
• Scholarly articles
• Literature reviews
• Discussion section of reports

Q.10. How do you structure an analysis?

You can follow these steps to structure your analysis:

• Choose your argument
• Define your thesis
• Write the introduction
• Write the body paragraphs
• Add a conclusion