What Is Analysis? Rebecca Jarvis, Ph.D., and Ginger, Ca.T., Eastern Arizona College
My desk at home
What s on the table Let s list everything that is on the table: two laptops, one opened and one closed; opened glasses case; Dr Pepper; lots of papers in a variety of colors; a green folder; my grandmother s small copper seal (my writing talisman); black, purple, and blue dry erase pens; a calculator; a phone handset; a cell phone; two jump drives; some binder clips; and most important, Ginger (not sure if she s yawning or laughing as she reads your papers).
My desk at home You ve read about summarizing. If you were to come up with some phrases that summarize what s on the table, you might say any of these: a teacher s desk Ginger s desk or even a messy desk.
So what is analysis? Analysis is using information that s on the table (summaries, paraphrases, and quotes--details from the table) to say something, to prove an assertion that s not on the table but that s still based on what s on the table.
Analyzing Rebecca s desk So if you were to make a statement about Rebecca based on her desk something that s not on the table but that is based on what s on the table, what could you say? You might say, Because of all the teacher s materials on the table, we know Rebecca s desk belongs to a teacher. That s something that is based on what s on the table but no where on the table does it actually say, Rebecca is a teacher. Very simply, that s what analysis does: analysis says something that s not on the table but that is based on what s on the table.
Analyzing Rebecca s desk Here s another example: Rebecca s table has too many things on it; this symbolizes how she has too many things to do. Again, this analysis says something that s not on the table but that is based on what s on the table.
Analyzing Rebecca s desk And another possibility: Rebecca s table belongs to a stereotypical English teacher: disorganized and obsessed with cats. Again, this analysis says something that s not on the table but that is based on what s on the table.
Analyzing Rebecca s desk Now, what if we were to say this: I can totally relate to Rebecca s desk. I too have a work table in the middle of my living room and let my cats help grade my students papers. Is this analysis?
Analyzing Rebecca s desk Nope. This is a personal response. Remember my definition of analysis? using information that s on the table (summaries, paraphrases, and quotes--details from the table) to say something, to prove an assertion that s not on the table but that s still based on what s on the table.
Analyzing Rebecca s desk Telling how we relate to Rebecca isn t analysis because, even though it s based on what s on the table, it s not actually about the table. It s about you. Does this difference make sense? Analysis is about what s on the table. Even though the main idea isn t actually on the table, it s supported by what s on the table. Let s try another example.
Ever After Have you seen the 1998 variation of Cinderella, Ever After? If you haven t seen Ever After, or if it s been a while, read one of these synopses: Synopsis for Ever After: A Cinderella Story Ever After: from Wikipedia and watch this trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4221894937/ (it s after the The Brothers preview)
Ever After If you were to analyze Ever After, you d use what s on the table to say something about the table that s not in the movie but is based on it. In this case, the table is the movie. So you say something about the movie that s not actually said in the movie but is based on it.
Ever After Here are some analytic things students have said about Ever After. Ever After shows that true love overcomes all differences women can be strong step-mothers are evil step-mothers love their biological daughters less than their step-daughters beautiful blondes are evil looks and money matter in choosing men: rich good-looking men are naturally acceptable for mates; the skinny peasant painter isn t even worth considering as a mate, even though he s her best friend and obviously loves her justice = people get what they deserve in the end, good always triumphs over evil marriage = happily ever after beauty = happiness for women each woman in life is either completely good or completely evil women can t be both good and evil, can t make mistakes or be human
Ever After None of these statements is actually in the movie (on the table). But they re about the movie and based on the movie (about the table and based on the table). This is what analysis is.
Ever After Analysis is using information that s on the table or in the movie or in the text or in the ad in whatever you re analyzing (summaries, paraphrases, and quotes--details from the table/movie/text/ad) to say something, to prove an assertion that s not on the table (or in the movie or in the text or in the ad) but that s still based on what s on the table/movie/text/ad.