Instruction
A strong analysis requires thinking critically about the subject at hand. The authors in one of the books I have read state that, “in order to analyze you need to think critically, which means that you examine your interpretations, assumptions, opinions, and judgments in order to understand and question them.” So not only does an analysis require you to investigate the text, but it also requires you to be critical of your OWN subject-position- your ideologies, assumptions, cultural values, etc.
Analysis requires that you break down the text and look at the relationship between the parts and the whole. Furthermore, it does not only look for the meaning of a text, but it also seeks to answer how and why? For instance, you might ask yourself the following questions: How is the meaning being conveyed? How does the text work? Why is the author saying what she or he says? Why does the author choose the subject? What are the ethics behind the text and how does the text reveal the ethical dilemmas? These questions are merely suggestive and certainly not exhaustive- you should try to work on your own series of questions that might help you better understand and interpret the text.
The Assignment:
The textual analysis essay is a way for you to demonstrate your ability to develop a clear interpretation of a text based on evidence from the text itself and on the method of analysis used. For this assignment you will analyze the Ted Talks we have watched. In your essay, take a critical and well-informed position, and argue a particular interpretation of the text reached by your analysis. Make sure you provide enough context and evidence for your arguments and claims.
Ted Talks Links https://youtu.be/2CwS60ykM8s https://youtu.be/h7mzj0cVL0Q https://youtu.be/oD5Ox5XNEpg
The essay is relatively short; therefore, you will need to focus your paper. A more focused papers makes for a stronger paper. Try to figure out how best to confine your paper within such a limited amount of space. To narrow down your paper, you might consider basing your paper on something that may have you sparked your interest, a theme that you see running throughout the two text, or a concept and/or argument that you want to wrestle with. Remember, that an analysis is not based just on the text, but also seeks to analyze discover, and interrogate the writers own values, beliefs, ideologies, assumptions, and prejudices.
Make sure you have read the handouts I have given you on “Close Reading”, “Analysis”, and Written Textual Analysis”. DO NOT USE “I”, “YOU”, OR “MY”. DO NOT START A SENTENCE WITH “AND” OR “IT”