5.13: Critical Analysis
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- 189154
- Describe techniques for critical analysis
Critical analysis is probably what you think of first when you hear the word analysis. You probably wrote analyses of poems or stories in high school, or you may have even analyzed films or advertisements. Analysis of a specific artifact is called critical analysis or critique. This is typically a process of developing a line of interpretation, or a “reading,” and of identifying the interrelated parts of the text that are meaningful.
For this section, we’ll use analysis of ads for our examples. However, you can apply critical analysis to any artifact.
Take a look at the old cigarette ad below. How would you start to analyze it?
There are three possible structures you might use for a critical analysis paper.
| Description followed by analysis | Thematic | Part by Part |
| Introduction with thesis addressing composer’s choices and motivations (how and why)Description of artifact
Analysis of artifact Conclusion examining larger significance (so what) |
Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)Identify a theme or pattern
Provide examples (Continue this as needed) Conclude with larger significance (so what) |
Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)Analyze first section of artifact
Analyze next section of artifact (Continue this as needed) Conclude with larger significance (so what) |
Analytical paragraphs generally follow the claim, evidence, explanation model. A writer establishes a claim, then supports that claim with evidence, and then explains how the evidence supports the claim. In a critical analysis, the details of the artifact serve as the evidence supporting the claim.
In the example below, explore the hotspots to learn about how the writer of this analysis of the Lucky Strike ad uses a claim, evidence, and support of evidence in a paragraph.
[reveal-answer q=”226191″]View Accessible Version[/reveal-answer]
[hidden-answer a=”226191″][1] The Lucky Strikes ad uses the perceived authority of a respectable physician to sell (what we now know as) unhealthy products. [2] The physician depicted is somewhat anachronistic, even for the time period of the ad (with the glasses especially). [3] The appearance of the physician evokes associations with wisdom and respect. The design of this ad works to reassure the consumer that the Lucky Strikes brand of cigarettes is “less” irritating than other brands. Thus, the ad uses language to imply that other brands of cigarettes may be damaging to the throat, but Lucky Strikes are the exception. All of the language in this ad strikes a negative tone about other brands: in fact, other than “it’s toasted,” all of the adjectives describe the brand in relation to other brands.
[1] The claim of this analysis paragraph is that the image of the physician is being used to sell unhealthy products. The rest of the analysis, including the supporting evidence about the language choices, are in service to this claim.
[2] The description of the physician in the ad and the explanation of his depiction is the central evidence for the claim.
[3] The rest of the paragraph provides support and further explanation of the central evidence in the claim. The analysis of the language choices complement the evidence about the physician. [/hidden-answer]
So what does a typical critical analysis assignment look like? Consider the example, below:
For this essay, you will identify and work with an advertisement. The ad you choose may be print or online, but it must be static (i.e., no television or radio commercials). Your purpose is to analyze how and why the ad goes about reaching an audience and to construct and support an original thesis that guides your essay. You should be moving your thinking beyond the obvious, not necessarily to conclusions no one else has ever considered, but at least to conclusions that many people do not consider upon first glance of the ad. Your final product should include brief summary of the ad you have chosen, analysis of how the ad works to appeal to an audience, and then any conclusions you reach about the advertising strategies, including context.
Answer the following questions to help you develop a plan for responding to this critical analysis assignment.
critical analysis: an analysis of a particular artifact that develops a line of interpretation and identifies interrelated parts of the text that are meaningful
Contributors and Attributions
- Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad. Authored by: Silberio77. Located at: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Ad Analysis . Authored by: Andrew Davis, Karen Forgette, Guy Krueger. Provided by: APLU-PLC. Project: APLU-PLC EC Grant . License: CC BY: Attribution