1.5: Writing to Analyze
Analytic writing examines, probes, dissects, and picks things apart. This thinking examines issues, events, ideas, statements, and propositions in-depth and determines whether the content is explicit or assumed. Analytic writing systematically breaks things down into parts and examines the logical connections and cause-effect relationships.
Analytical writers use their reason, experience, history, social norms, and a sense of morals and ethics to examine questionable statements.
Medical experts, journalists, business analysts, political pundits, and book or film critics are high-profile examples of analytical thinkers and writers. However, most of us use these critical thinking strategies in our everyday lives as we question our assumptions and those of others.
Here are some situations when an analytic writing approach may be useful.
- You want your reader to reflect on a subject.
- You want your reader to critique their preconceptions and assumptions.
- You want to make a systematic, logical case for or against something.
Read this chapter for a detailed discussion of analytical writing. When do you use analytical writing in your current professional context?
Read this article on critical thinking, an approach that underpins analytical writing. The author offers a strategy for analyzing or critiquing a subject.