How to Write Better Essays (Part 4: Analysis)

In this video, Tim Squirrell (University of Edinburgh) covers the basics of analysis, looking at the main questions you need to ask yourself when trying to make an argument in a university essay.  It is fourth in a series of videos providing some basic tips on how to write better essays  Aimed at undergraduate students, it is applicable to essays more broadly construed.

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Analysis

Summary: why is it true? Why is it important? Structure: claim, counter-claim, rebut counter-claim. Don’t be mean to your opponents.
This is the stuff that actually makes up your argument. If you perform poorly at this, you might as well pack up and go home. Luckily, it’s really not that hard.
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1. Why is it true? If you’re making a claim, you need to tell me why that claim is correct. Think of a potential response to your argument, perhaps from an author you’re arguing against. Write out that response, then tell me why it doesn’t defeat your argument, or at least why it only mitigates it.
2. Why is it important? In the context of the question you’re answering, and the frame you’ve provided for your argument, why should I care about the point you’re making at this point in the essay? Once you’ve proven (using PEE) that your argument stands, I want to know the significance of it.
3. Structuring arguments: to create a really decent paragraph, you ideally want to follow one of two structures. Remember that at each step within each structure you need to use PEE.
   1. Claim -> Counter-claim -> Rebuild Claim.
   2. Foil (the claim you’re arguing against) -> Refutation (your reasoning as to why they’re mistaken) -> Rebuttal (their plausible response to your argument) -> Re-refutation (finally putting their argument to bed).
4. Finally, make sure you formulate every claim in the strongest possible terms. Don’t make your opponent look like they have no arguments, or take the weakest version of their argument. Think about the strongest possible response to the claim you’ve put forward, then beat that. It will make your argument stronger. If you can’t beat it, find another argument.

​Please follow the links below to the relevant videos and transcripts:
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• How to Write Better Essays (Part 1: Reading)
• ​How to Write Better Essays (Part 2: How to Answer Questions)
• ​How to Write Better Essays (Part 3: Structure)
• ​How to Write Better Essays (Part 4: Analysis)
• ​How to Write Better Essays (Part 5: Using Evidence)