A critical analysis essay is self-explanatory and when compared to other types of essays, it could be quite challenging. Just like any other type, it requires some planning upfront. Assuming that you have already come up with a topic, you will need to decide on the structure and build a few ideas around it. This is the skeleton of your essay and it requires both time and attention.
For the essay to be critical, you need a decent amount of criticality. You must sound convincing or no one will take you too seriously. Being convincing is also the secret to being relevant. On another hand, do not become ridiculous by trying to convince people about things with no proof or evidence. The process must be just and efficient.
So, how do you structure this essay and what should you pay attention to?
1. A Crystal Clear Statement
Apart from some students who are supposed to do it, a reader should not believe an author’s content and critics only because the paper is academic. Students do it because they have to – they often take it for granted, unless they are supposed to contest it.
It is worth noting that academic work is not really perfect. In fact, you can find essays written by different writers on the same topic, but with completely different points of view. Some authors may even contradict each other – this is what criticism is about.
To be able to write such an essay, it is essential to understand the basis of the initial argument. You need a good dose of healthy skepticism, so you can dig whatever seems inconsistent for more research. Every idea must be clear, as well as each point of view. If there is no room for questions, your critical analysis essay will be more powerful.
2. Research, Research, and Research
No matter what kind of argument you come up with, you need to provide real facts and evidence to back you up. No matter what kind of ideas you come up with, they should be introduced to your readers in an academic style. They must be intriguing, appealing, and interesting.
Your sources must be reputable and clear. If you rely on random websites that no one has ever heard about or random unprofessional sources, you will be associated with them. Your research will lack depth. Readers can spot such issues straight away, which means your credibility will be altered.
3. Where Is Your Evidence?
Making claims? Justify them. Otherwise, your argument will be illogical. You must research, find evidence, persuade, and convince your readers. When compared to other types of essays, a critical analysis essay places a great deal of importance on credibility.
Criticism is based on evidence, yet this evidence must be presented with respect to the author’s position and points of view. You need to help your readers understand why your position is more important, but without bashing the author.
To do these, you need evidence from proven facts and well-established sources. The more validated it is, the better.
4. The Argumentative Procedure
When planning a critical analysis essay, you need to find some gray and debatable parts in the related content. You can then argue about these gaps with evidence. Some things are clear and there are no doubts about them, so do not attempt to reinvent the wheel by contesting the truth.
No matter what points of view or ideas you try to justify, they should be clear and true. Do not try to enhance your text with unnecessary explanations and filler content, but stick to descriptive and concise words.
If a concept is too difficult to understand, explain it in small words. Move on, quote, and refer to research studies if you have to. Always mention the author’s idea before expressing your point of view, as readers need to know what they are comparing.
Every single argument that you make must be justified with clear evidence. Take advantage of a good structure and keep paragraphs short and to the point. Accuracy and consistency are the main keys to a successful essay, so stick to them.
The bottom line, a critical analysis essay is not that complicated if you do it right. Its structure is quite important and planning is essential. You need a good balance. Without it, your argument will not be taken too seriously.