How to Write your Annual Paper with Critical Analysis

At the end of every academic year, college students are required to write a lengthy thesis paper or essay. Unlike generic essays, academic essays require a lot of time and research. A lot of focus is required from the very beginning of choosing a topic to write the bibliography.

College is a lot different from high school, your style of writing and choice of verbiage is required to be professional and outstanding. The ability to analyze and critique a particular text or series of texts with adequate insight is what professors are trying to enable students to do.

However, regardless of the amount of training one receives, putting pen to paper can be significantly more complicated. In this article, we will learn how to write an annual paper using critical analysis.

Writing an Annual Paper

1. Critical Reading
   

• Reading for an academic paper is very different from reading as a hobby.
• There should be a minimum of three readings done of the text.
• The first reading of the text is to help identify the subject of the text.
• If it is a novel or poem, familiarize yourself with characters, recurrent themes, etc.
• If it is a literary text based on philosophies, theories or other related topics, understand what is being spoken about.
• The second reading of the text is to recount anything that you missed the first time and also to understand the text with a greater depth of perception.
• The third reading is required from a critical point of view.
• Study the text from a literary angle. Identify tones, themes, subjects, the relevance of the topic to its time, who it was written by, why and how. All of these are questions that need to be answeredin relation to your topic.
• Identify the appeals used. That is pathos, logos or ethos.
• Pathosis conseidered as the appeal to emotion; logos are the appeal to logic and ethos is the appeal to credibility.
• For example, if you’re writing a critical analysis of feminism in 18^th-century gothic fiction, the text you’re reading must be analyzed from a feministic point of view.
• You must be able to do so considering the society in those days, laws, the patriarchy, current theories, etc.
• Take down various points of interest, points that you would like to research further, and mark out references that you’re likely to use in the essay.
• Taking down notes while you’re reading will ensure that nothing is forgotten when you sit to write your essay.
• Initially, your basic goal will be to identify the author’s What point is he trying to make and why.
• Ensure that all your examples from the text itself are properly noted. They will be required as an avenue of support for all the statements made by you.

2. Research Work
   

• Once you’re done with the primary text, the next set of information will need to be from secondary and tertiary texts.
• In this case, a fair amount of research must be done, especially if it is an unfamiliar topic.
• Look up other analysts and papers written on the subject. Read what established authors, writers and critics have had to say on that particular subject.
• When making an argument of your own on the subject, quoting other established critics makes your premise seem academic.
• It is not wise to make statements in the air without proper anecdotes and facts to back them up.
• Your vocabulary must be extensive in order to publish or submit a well-written
• Use the internet to your advantage, Google meanings, synonyms and antonyms wherever required.
• There are many sources of information available online.
• Check college and local libraries for anything that cannot be found
• The main objective of an annual essay is to test an individual’s research acumen. This is extremely important for someone who wants to pursue a PhD or further degrees.
• Store all your research in both hard and soft copies ensuring that there is a backup in case anything gets lost or damaged.

3. Writing the Paper
   

• Each student has a different method when it comes to writing school papers and essay. It is absolutely crucial to have a method.
• If you don’t have one, try to develop a method before it’s too late.
• Set out a specific amount of time every day to write your paper till the due date.
• Ensure that you have enough time for writing and revision.
• Divide your essay into different sections.
• Organize material for each section before getting started.
• Learn how to write relevant information and remove unnecessary words and sentences that only take up space without adding any value to the essay.
• Do not keep trying to revise while writing, leave that for later. Any additions or subtractions can be made once you’ve written the first draft.
• Ensure that all the material you require is ready before you begin. This includes reading and writing material, snacks, stationery, etc.
• Try and stick to your goal each day.
• Do not allow yourself to get distracted.
• If there is a particular portion you have trouble understanding or writing, get back to it at another but refrain from multitasking.
• Support your evaluation of the text with references from both primary and secondary material.
• Remember that critical analysis is not just a summary. Your focus should be on the examination of the text rather than the story itself.
• The introduction should be followed by the body and conclusion.
• All points should be relevant to the points placed before and after them. Do not write anything randomly or place them in different parts of your essay; this can be quite confusing.
• Stick to the word count, number of pages, format, font, style, etc., as per the professor’s instructions.
• Keep in mind your tone of writing, active and passive voices, syntax, grammar, etc.

4. Revision
   

• This is the most important part that students tend to forget about because they’re running short on time or do not deem it necessary.
• Revise every draft that is written.
• Correct the grammar, syntax and any spelling errors.
• Add or remove necessary information.
• Ensure that the flow of the essay is neat before submitting it.
• Do not edit the essay too much.
• Make your voice clear. There is not point writing an essay with only the views of other critics and academics.
• The point of the essay is to see how much you have learned and grasped from all the classes.

These are the four basic steps to writing any academic paper or essay with critical analysis. Writing your first paper maybe difficult but after that, you will be able to understand the ins and outs of writing these essays and what your teacher expects from you. It’s a talent that is developed with practice and hard work.

Here are a few more points to make the writing process a little less stressful:

• If the option is available, choose a topic that you’re interested in currently or would like to pursue in the future.
• Follow a strict timetable; this will require you to make some compromises when it comes to socializing and hobbies but it is only for a short while and it will yield good results.
• Find a mentor. This is usually a teacher who can help guide you in the writing process and help in acquiring material or getting over a hurdle like a writer’s block.
• Ask classmates or professors to read through your essay before submitting it. They can point out any mistakes that can be corrected.
• Read other annual papers to have a general idea of how they’re written and the kind of information and detailing that goes into writing a paper.
• Sleep well, stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet. This will keep your mind fresh and active while writing the paper so that you do not tire easily.

Write your next annual paper with ease by following these simple tips to success!