Text Analysis: Step-by-Step Guide for Advanced Students

Whether it's non-fiction analysis, poetry analysis, or drama analysis — the basic structure is always similar. Master this framework and you'll be prepared for any exam.

The Structure: Introduction – Main Body – Conclusion

1. Introduction (TATS Formula)

The introduction should contain: Text type, Author, Title, Topic, and Source/year. Example: "The article '[Title]' by [Author], published [Year] in [Source], addresses the topic of [Theme]."

2. Main Body: Content and Analysis

Divide the text into sections of meaning. Summarise each section briefly. Then analyse the literary devices: metaphors, similes, alliteration, rhetorical questions, irony. Important: ALWAYS support with line references!

3. Literary Devices — The Top 10

Metaphor (figurative expression), Personification, Alliteration (repeated initial sounds), Anaphora (repetition at sentence beginning), Rhetorical question, Hyperbole (exaggeration), Irony, Antithesis (contrast), Climax (escalation), Ellipsis (omission).

4. Conclusion: Effect and Evaluation

Summarise your findings. What effect does the text have on the reader? What is the author's intention? Is the text convincing?

Common Mistake

Many students only describe the content instead of analysing it. "The author writes about..." is summary. "The author uses... to illustrate..." is analysis. The latter scores the points!