{"id":87,"date":"2019-12-07T11:36:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-07T11:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/coreqenglish1\/chapter\/critical-analysis\/"},"modified":"2025-02-10T18:15:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T18:15:52","slug":"critical-analysis","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/critical-analysis\/","title":{"raw":"Critical Analysis","rendered":"Critical Analysis"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe techniques for critical analysis<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn many college courses, you\u2019ll be asked to go beyond summarizing or explaining a work and instead critically analyze its deeper meaning. Let's take a look at what critical analysis means.\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaway: Critical analysis<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Critical analysis<\/strong> is a deeper way of examining a text, film, or other artifact to understand its meaning, structure, and impact. If you\u2019ve ever written an essay about a poem, a short story, a movie, or even an advertisement, you\u2019ve likely engaged in some form of critical analysis.\r\n\r\nAt its core, critical analysis involves breaking down a work into its key parts and interpreting how those parts contribute to its overall message or effect. This process, often called a reading or critique, requires more than just summarizing the content\u2014it involves looking at how different elements, such as language, imagery, structure, or themes, work together to create meaning.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nInstead of simply stating whether you liked or disliked a work, critical analysis focuses on asking why and how\u2014why does the author or creator make certain choices? How do those choices shape the audience\u2019s understanding? This approach allows you to engage with a text thoughtfully and develop a well-supported interpretation.\r\n\r\nFor this section, we\u2019ll use an analysis of ads for our examples. However, you can apply critical analysis to any artifact.\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>Example: critical analysis of an AD<\/h3>\r\nTake a look at the old cigarette ad below. How would you start to analyze it?\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_613\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-613\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2097\/2017\/08\/02211611\/Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg\" alt=\"Lucky Strike cigarette ad featuring a picture of a doctor holding a pack of cigarettes. It reads, &quot;20,679 physicians say 'Luckies are less irritating.' 'It's toasted.' Your throat protection against irritation against cough&quot;. \" width=\"500\" height=\"337\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. What are some important components of a critical analysis? Use them to analyze this cigarette ad.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\r\nThere are three possible structures you might use for a critical analysis paper.\r\n<div>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Description followed by analysis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Thematic<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Part by Part<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Introduction with thesis addressing composer\u2019s choices and motivations (how and why)Description of artifact\r\n\r\nAnalysis of artifact\r\n\r\nConclusion examining larger significance (so what)<\/td>\r\n<td>Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)Identify a theme or pattern\r\n\r\nProvide examples\r\n\r\n(Continue this as needed)\r\n\r\nConclude with larger significance (so what)<\/td>\r\n<td>Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)\r\n\r\nAnalyze the first section of the artifact\r\n\r\nAnalyze the next section of the artifact\r\n\r\n(Continue this as needed)\r\n\r\nConclude with larger significance (so what)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAnalytical 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.\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>explore the hotspots<\/h3>\r\nIn this example, 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.\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/133512\" width=\"688\" height=\"359\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"226191\"]View Accessible Version[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[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.\r\n\r\n[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, is in service to this claim.\r\n\r\n[2] The description of the physician in the ad and the explanation of his depiction are the central evidence for the claim.\r\n\r\n[3] The rest of the paragraph provides support and further explanation of the central evidence in the claim. The analysis of the language choices complements the evidence about the physician. [\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nSo what does a typical critical analysis assignment look like? Consider the example, below:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">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, an analysis of how the ad works to appeal to an audience, and then any conclusions you reach about the advertising strategies, including context.<\/p>\r\nAnswer the following questions to help you develop a plan for responding to this critical analysis assignment.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/123d6d01-c165-4fb0-914b-8b552b76f005\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>GLOSSARY<\/h3>\r\n<strong>critical analysis<\/strong>: a type of analysis that requires breaking down a work into its key parts and interpreting how those parts contribute to its overall message, meaning, or effect\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe techniques for critical analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>In many college courses, you\u2019ll be asked to go beyond summarizing or explaining a work and instead critically analyze its deeper meaning. Let&#8217;s take a look at what critical analysis means.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3>Key Takeaway: Critical analysis<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Critical analysis<\/strong> is a deeper way of examining a text, film, or other artifact to understand its meaning, structure, and impact. If you\u2019ve ever written an essay about a poem, a short story, a movie, or even an advertisement, you\u2019ve likely engaged in some form of critical analysis.<\/p>\n<p>At its core, critical analysis involves breaking down a work into its key parts and interpreting how those parts contribute to its overall message or effect. This process, often called a reading or critique, requires more than just summarizing the content\u2014it involves looking at how different elements, such as language, imagery, structure, or themes, work together to create meaning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Instead of simply stating whether you liked or disliked a work, critical analysis focuses on asking why and how\u2014why does the author or creator make certain choices? How do those choices shape the audience\u2019s understanding? This approach allows you to engage with a text thoughtfully and develop a well-supported interpretation.<\/p>\n<p>For this section, we\u2019ll use an analysis of ads for our examples. However, you can apply critical analysis to any artifact.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>Example: critical analysis of an AD<\/h3>\n<p>Take a look at the old cigarette ad below. How would you start to analyze it?<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_613\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-613\" class=\"wp-image-613\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2097\/2017\/08\/02211611\/Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg\" alt=\"Lucky Strike cigarette ad featuring a picture of a doctor holding a pack of cigarettes. It reads, &quot;20,679 physicians say 'Luckies are less irritating.' 'It's toasted.' Your throat protection against irritation against cough&quot;.\" width=\"500\" height=\"337\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-613\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. What are some important components of a critical analysis? Use them to analyze this cigarette ad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<p>There are three possible structures you might use for a critical analysis paper.<\/p>\n<div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Description followed by analysis<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Thematic<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Part by Part<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Introduction with thesis addressing composer\u2019s choices and motivations (how and why)Description of artifact<\/p>\n<p>Analysis of artifact<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion examining larger significance (so what)<\/td>\n<td>Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)Identify a theme or pattern<\/p>\n<p>Provide examples<\/p>\n<p>(Continue this as needed)<\/p>\n<p>Conclude with larger significance (so what)<\/td>\n<td>Introduction with summary description and thesis (how and why)<\/p>\n<p>Analyze the first section of the artifact<\/p>\n<p>Analyze the next section of the artifact<\/p>\n<p>(Continue this as needed)<\/p>\n<p>Conclude with larger significance (so what)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>explore the hotspots<\/h3>\n<p>In this example, 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.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/133512\" width=\"688\" height=\"359\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"qa-wrapper\" style=\"display: block\"><span class=\"show-answer collapsed\" style=\"cursor: pointer\" data-target=\"q226191\">View Accessible Version<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"q226191\" class=\"hidden-answer\" style=\"display: none\">[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 &#8220;less&#8221; 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 &#8220;it&#8217;s toasted,&#8221; all of the adjectives describe the brand in relation to other brands.<\/p>\n<p>[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, is in service to this claim.<\/p>\n<p>[2] The description of the physician in the ad and the explanation of his depiction are the central evidence for the claim.<\/p>\n<p>[3] The rest of the paragraph provides support and further explanation of the central evidence in the claim. The analysis of the language choices complements the evidence about the physician. <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>So what does a typical critical analysis assignment look like? Consider the example, below:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">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, an analysis of how the ad works to appeal to an audience, and then any conclusions you reach about the advertising strategies, including context.<\/p>\n<p>Answer the following questions to help you develop a plan for responding to this critical analysis assignment.<\/p>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_123d6d01-c165-4fb0-914b-8b552b76f005\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/123d6d01-c165-4fb0-914b-8b552b76f005?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_123d6d01-c165-4fb0-914b-8b552b76f005\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>GLOSSARY<\/h3>\n<p><strong>critical analysis<\/strong>: a type of analysis that requires breaking down a work into its key parts and interpreting how those parts contribute to its overall message, meaning, or effect<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-87\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Silberio77. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Ad Analysis . <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Andrew Davis, Karen Forgette, Guy Krueger. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: APLU-PLC. <strong>Project<\/strong>: APLU-PLC EC Grant . <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":29,"menu_order":12,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad\",\"author\":\"Silberio77\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lucky-Strike-Doctor-Cigarette-Ad.jpg\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Ad Analysis \",\"author\":\"Andrew Davis, Karen Forgette, Guy Krueger\",\"organization\":\"APLU-PLC\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"APLU-PLC EC Grant \",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"e0621267-1047-4110-b697-e45311abda74, b65c76a0-54cf-4fdf-8147-0edd0ba0b4ca","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-87","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":74,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/87","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/87\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6207,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/87\/revisions\/6207"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/74"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/87\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=87"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=87"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=87"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}