Research and Analysis

Research and Analysis Types

The type of research people conduct depends on what they are interested in learning about. When writing analytical essays about literature, authors typically consult primary sources, secondary sources, or both. Then they craft an analytical argument in which they make a claim about the sources supported with direct evidence.

Analyzing Primary Sources

Writers who write about literature often have to analyze primary sources.

For instance, plays, novels, poems, letters, and journal entries are all examples of primary sources. Researchers can find primary sources in libraries, archives, and online. To analyze primary sources, researchers should follow the following steps:

1. Observe the Source

Take a look at the source at hand and preview it. How is it structured? How long is it? What is the title? Who is the author? What are some defining details about it?

For example, imagine a student is faced with the following prompt:

To address this prompt, the researcher might analyze a letter their chosen poet sent to a friend. When observing the letter, they might note that the writing is neat cursive and includes salutations such as "faithfully yours." Without even reading the letter, the researcher can already tell that this is a formal letter and infer that the writer is trying to come across as respectful.

2. Read the Source

Next, researchers should read the entire primary source. Developing the skill of active reading (discussed later in this article) will help readers engage with a primary source. While reading, readers should take notes about the most important details in the text and what they suggest about the research topic.

For instance, the researcher analyzing the historical letter should note what the main purpose of the letter is. Why was it written? Is the writer asking for anything? Does the writer recount any important stories or pieces of information that are central to the text?

3. Reflect on the Source

When analyzing a primary source, readers should reflect on what it shows about the research topic. Questions for analysis include:

• What is the main idea of this text?

• What is the purpose of the text?

• What is the historical, social, or political context of this text?

• How might the context shape the meaning of the text?

• Who is the intended audience of the text?

• What does this text reveal about the research topic?

The precise questions a reader should ask when analyzing a primary source depend on the research topic. For example, when analyzing the letter from the poet, the student should compare the main ideas in the letter to the main ideas in some of the writer's poems. This will help them develop an argument about how elements of the poet's personal life shaped the themes of their poetry.

Analyzing Secondary Sources

When researchers consult a source that is not original, they are consulting a secondary source. For example, scholarly journal articles, newspaper articles, and textbook chapters are all secondary sources.

Secondary sources can help researchers understand primary sources. Authors of secondary sources analyze primary sources. The elements they analyze might be elements other readers of the primary source might not have noticed. Using secondary sources also makes for credible analytical writing because writers can show their audience that other credible scholars support their points of view.

To analyze secondary sources, researchers should follow the same steps as analyzing primary sources. However, they should ask slightly different analytical questions, such as the following:

• Where was this source published?

• What sources does the author use? Are they credible?

• Who is the intended audience?

• Is it possible that this interpretation is biased?

• What is the author's claim?

• Is the author's argument convincing?

• How does the author use their sources to support their claim?

• What does this source suggest about the research topic?

For example, a writer analyzing the themes of a particular poet's body of work should search for secondary sources in which other writers interpret the poet's work. Reading other scholars' interpretations can help writers better understand the poetry and develop their own perspectives.

Research and Analysis Writing

After conducting research, writers must then craft a cohesive argument using relevant analysis. They can use primary and secondary sources to support an analytical argument by making use of the following strategies:

Summarize Each Source

Researchers should reflect on all of the sources they consulted during the research process. Creating a short summary of each source for themselves can help them identify patterns and make connections between ideas. This will then ensure they craft a strong claim about the research topic.

Develop an Argument

After making connections between sources, researchers should craft a claim about the argument that addresses the prompt. This claim is called a thesis statement, a defensible statement that the writer can support with evidence from the research process.

Synthesize the Sources

Once writers have fine-tuned the essay's thesis, they should synthesize the sources and decide how to use information from multiple sources to support their claims. For instance, perhaps three of the sources help prove one supporting point, and another three support a different one. Writers must decide how each source is applicable, if at all.

Discuss Quotations and Details

Once researchers have decided what pieces of evidence to use, they should incorporate short quotes and details to prove their point. After each quote, they should explain how that evidence supports their thesis and include a citation.

Research and Analysis Skills

To strengthen the ability to conduct research and analysis, researchers should work on the following skills:

Active Reading

Readers should actively read the texts that they research, as this will ensure they notice important elements for analysis.

In the case of research and analysis, the purpose is to investigate the research topic. Active reading involves the following steps.

1. Preview the Text

First, readers should skim the text and understand how the author structured it. This will help readers know what to expect when they dive in.

2. Read and Annotate the Text

Readers should read the text attentively, with a pencil or pen in hand, ready to note important elements and jot down thoughts or questions. While reading, they should also ask questions, make predictions and connections, and check for clarification by summarizing important points.

3. Recall and Review the Text

To make sure they understood the text, readers should ask themselves what the main idea was and what they learned.

Critical Thinking

Researchers need to think critically in order to analyze sources. Critical thinking is the process of thinking analytically. Researchers who are critical thinkers are always ready to make connections, comparisons, evaluations, and arguments. Thinking critically allows researchers to draw conclusions from their work.

Organization

Collecting large amounts of data can be overwhelming! Creating an organized system to keep track of all of the information will streamline the research process.

Research and Analysis Example

Imagine a student is given the following prompt.

To analyze this prompt, the student should use Macbeth as well as secondary sources about the play to support an original analytical argument that addresses the prompt.

When reading Macbeth, the student should actively read, paying careful attention to instances of bloody images and what they might mean. They should also consult an academic database and search for articles about the images and themes in Macbeth. These secondary sources can provide insight into the potential meanings behind the images they are looking up.

Once the student has all of their sources, they should look them all over and consider what they suggest about the image of blood in the play. It is important that they do not repeat an argument that they found in secondary sources, and instead use those sources to come up with their own perspective on the topic. For instance, the student might state:

The student can then synthesize information from the sources in their research process and identify three supporting points for their thesis. They should carefully select short but significant quotes that prove each point and explain the implications of those points. For example, they might write something like the following:

Finally, the student should make sure that they cited their sources from the research process to avoid plagiarism and give the original authors proper credit.