Writing an analysis of a text :

Writing an analysis of a text:

• Read the text carefully.• Take notes.• Look for similarities, patterns,

or groups of ideas.• Rearrange the notes into

groups.• Look for a tentative main idea.• Write a tentative thesis.• List claims to support that

thesis.• Follow each claim with

evidence:*from the text*from outside the text

• Explain how each piece of evidence supports the claim.

• Write paragraphs.• Put the paragraphs in a logical

order.• Use “signposts” or “signals” to

connect paragraphs.• Write intro & conclusion

paragraphs.• Put it all together.• Revise and edit as needed.• Turn it in on time.

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Evidence of bias

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Evidence of bias

Explanation

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Evidence of bias

ExplanationMore evidence

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Evidence of bias

ExplanationMore evidence

Explanation

Although Harris claims to be neutral, he subtly insults people who disagree with him. At first, he claims to “stand on both sides of this debate,” and he even says, “Most of my friends do not own guns and never will.” Thus, he seems to be a reasonable person who doesn’t see people on either side of the debate as enemies or even as wrong-headed. He shows a different side, however, when he refers to his non-gun-owning friends as “otherwise intelligent people” who apparently aren’t that bright when it comes to guns. In other words, he labels these people as stupid. Later, he refers to a “problem with liberal dreams of ‘gun control,’” when the word “liberal” serves no purpose in the sentence other than to label people who favor gun control with a word that is clearly negative to the pro-gun lobby. Why use a negative label if not to put down the group he labels? Hence, his apparent neutrality turns out not to be neutral after all.

Topic sentence

Evidence of neutrality

Explanation

Evidence of bias

ExplanationMore evidence

Explanation

Summary

Introductory and concluding paragraphs don’t use the same structure of claim – evidence – explanation.

Gun control. Gun violence. Whatever we call it, it’s a hot topic of discussion in the wake of the most recent mass shooting of school children. Too often, proponents of one view cast proponents of any different view as “stupid,” “out of touch,” or just plain “crazy.” In an article originally posted on his website, Sam Harris tries to present himself – and his views – as fair and balanced. A careful analysis of his language and his arguments, however, shows him to be far more biased that he is willing to admit.

Gun control. Gun violence. Whatever we call it, it’s a hot topic of discussion in the wake of the most recent mass shooting of school children. Too often, proponents of one view cast proponents of any different view as “stupid,” “out of touch,” or just plain “crazy.” In an article originally posted on his website, Sam Harris tries to present himself – and his views – as fair and balanced. A careful analysis of his language and his arguments, however, shows him to be far more biased that he is willing to admit.

Hook

Gun control. Gun violence. Whatever we call it, it’s a hot topic of discussion in the wake of the most recent mass shooting of school children. Too often, proponents of one view cast proponents of any different view as “stupid,” “out of touch,” or just plain “crazy.” In an article originally posted on his website, Sam Harris tries to present himself – and his views – as fair and balanced. A careful analysis of his language and his arguments, however, shows him to be far more biased that he is willing to admit.

HookReason to write about this topic

Gun control. Gun violence. Whatever we call it, it’s a hot topic of discussion in the wake of the most recent mass shooting of school children. Too often, proponents of one view cast proponents of any different view as “stupid,” “out of touch,” or just plain “crazy.” In an article originally posted on his website, Sam Harris tries to present himself – and his views – as fair and balanced. A careful analysis of his language and his arguments, however, shows him to be far more biased that he is willing to admit.

HookReason to write about this topic

Context

Gun control. Gun violence. Whatever we call it, it’s a hot topic of discussion in the wake of the most recent mass shooting of school children. Too often, proponents of one view cast proponents of any different view as “stupid,” “out of touch,” or just plain “crazy.” In an article originally posted on his website, Sam Harris tries to present himself – and his views – as fair and balanced. A careful analysis of his language and his arguments, however, shows him to be far more biased that he is willing to admit.

HookReason to write about this topic

Context

Thesis

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