Analytical WritingAnalytical Writing

What is Analytical Writing?What is Analytical Writing? Analytical writing:Analytical writing:

Evaluates dataEvaluates data Distinguishes the important from the less Distinguishes the important from the less

importantimportant Relates one idea and its details to anotherRelates one idea and its details to another

An Analytical Writer Should…An Analytical Writer Should…

Organize material in a proper mannerOrganize material in a proper manner Reveal that organization in the documentReveal that organization in the document Help the reader recognize the logical Help the reader recognize the logical

development of the writing and see how development of the writing and see how the bits and pieces fit togetherthe bits and pieces fit together

Types of Analyses in Analytical Types of Analyses in Analytical WritingWriting

Rhetorical analysisRhetorical analysis Process analysisProcess analysis Casual analysisCasual analysis

Why Analytical Writing?Why Analytical Writing?

It teaches students how to devise analysis It teaches students how to devise analysis methods to study a situation or issue.methods to study a situation or issue.

It requires research because the facts to be It requires research because the facts to be documented are never provided up front.documented are never provided up front.

It requires the writer to have a rich It requires the writer to have a rich understanding of the audience.understanding of the audience.

It requires the students to work with an It requires the students to work with an indeterminate, evolving rhetorical situation, indeterminate, evolving rhetorical situation, which is essentially unpredictable.which is essentially unpredictable.

Four Levels of KnowledgeFour Levels of Knowledge

1.1. Know what you knowKnow what you know

2.2. Know what you don’t knowKnow what you don’t know

3.3. Don’t know what you knowDon’t know what you know

4.4. Don’t know what you don’t knowDon’t know what you don’t know

Basic Principles of All WritingBasic Principles of All Writing

ClarityClarity ConcisenessConciseness CorrectnessCorrectness

PrecisionPrecision Mechanical correctnessMechanical correctness

Other Important Considerations Other Important Considerations in Writingin Writing

AppropriatenessAppropriateness CompleteComplete CoherentCoherent

Keys to Good WritingKeys to Good Writing

Keep the title to four or five wordsKeep the title to four or five words Keep information organizedKeep information organized Make each word countMake each word count Make sure writing is well thought out in advanceMake sure writing is well thought out in advance Use active voice sentences vs. passive voice Use active voice sentences vs. passive voice

sentencessentences Self-edit your workSelf-edit your work Understand the “art forms” of your workplaceUnderstand the “art forms” of your workplace

Important Writing TipsImportant Writing Tips

Emphasize use of simple and complex Emphasize use of simple and complex sentencessentences

Great variety of word order of the sentencesGreat variety of word order of the sentences Tie ideas together and discriminate among Tie ideas together and discriminate among

detailsdetails Emphasize use of one and two syllable wordsEmphasize use of one and two syllable words Minimize use of internal punctuationMinimize use of internal punctuation Thoughtful use of dependent clauses and no Thoughtful use of dependent clauses and no

prepositional phrasesprepositional phrases Sentences should not normally begin with a Sentences should not normally begin with a

dependent word, phrase or clausedependent word, phrase or clause

ReferencesReferences Major, James S. “The Basic Tools of Writing with Intelligence”Major, James S. “The Basic Tools of Writing with Intelligence” Coney, Mary B. “Analytical Writing Revisited: An Old Cure for a Coney, Mary B. “Analytical Writing Revisited: An Old Cure for a

Worsening Problem”Worsening Problem” Johnson, Thomas P. Johnson, Thomas P. Analytical Writing: A Handbook for Business Analytical Writing: A Handbook for Business

and Technical Writers.and Technical Writers. Harper and Row, Publishers, New York. Harper and Row, Publishers, New York. 1966.1966.

Jamieson, C. Sandra. “Writing Analyses.” Jamieson, C. Sandra. “Writing Analyses.” http://www.users.drew.edu/sjamieso/Analysis.htmlhttp://www.users.drew.edu/sjamieso/Analysis.html. 1999. 3 July . 1999. 3 July 2008.2008.

Sheehan, Richard Johnson and Andrew Flood. “Genre, Rhetorical Sheehan, Richard Johnson and Andrew Flood. “Genre, Rhetorical Interpretation, and the Open Case: Teaching the Analytical Report.” Interpretation, and the Open Case: Teaching the Analytical Report.” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, Vol. 42, No.1.IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, Vol. 42, No.1. March 1999.March 1999.