Analysis Protocol
The goal of Analysis Protocol is to provide a strategy for you, the reader, to critically
read and analyze texts – both fiction and non-fiction. Through interactive reading, you
are able to more fully comprehend the reading selection and gain insights into the text
you might not otherwise have had. As with any skill, practice makes perfect.
Follow these steps to complete Analysis Protocol.
Steps:
1. Close Reading: Read the selected passage, writing your comments in the margins
with pen or pencil. These comments include ways in which you agree or disagree
with the text, your inferences and insights about the text, and/or any connections to
the text (T2S – text to self, T2T – text to text, T2W – text to world). The commentary
in the margins should not be a summary or the text; commentary should be an
analysis of the text and could easily be turned into an essay on the topic.
Additionally, you might circle or underline any words that are new or unusual, any
facts that seem relevant, and/or any quotes that support your comments.
2. Commentary: When you have finished the “Close Reading,” highlight your notes in
the margins with YELLOW (These notes are your analysis of the text - your
commentary – what you could easily turn into an essay.)
3. Textual Support: Now highlight in PINK the lines from the text that support your
commentary. It is important to connect the textual support to your commentary.
4. Topics and Main Ideas: Finally, highlight “big idea” words in GREEN. These are
generally nouns (sacrifice, loyalty, prejudice, literacy, heroism, etc.) that reflect the
key concepts, topics, or ideas in the text. These are “value-driven” words and highly
connotative. This means that their definition is based on an individual’s values, and
they can have many interpretations based on what the reader brings to the text and
what the author is attempting to address. It might be helpful to use SOAPSTone to
determine this information, along with the main idea. (See SOAPSTone below)
5. Written Response / Thesis Statement: The final step is to create a thesis statement
that will provide a focus for a written response to the text. Consider the main idea of
the text and your opinion about that main idea. Incorporating “green words” you
have selected, create an arguable thesis statement. For example, if you read an article
about the use of chemical warfare in Syria, you might find green words like
“warfare,” “stability,” or “responsibility.” A thesis statement might be, “As a result
of the government’s use of chemicals in warfare against its own people, Syria has
undermined the stability of the country and must be held responsible for its
indefensible actions.”
S
O
A
P
S
Tone
Speaker (Who is the writer and what do you know about the writer?)
Occasion (What prompted the author to write this text?)
Audience (Who is the intended audience?)
Purpose (What does the author hope to achieve with this text?)
Subject (What is the topic of this article?)
(What is the author’s attitude toward the topic?)
Special thanks to Marcie Bowman, AP Conference / Tucson, for the concept of Analysis
Protocol.
Green Word
Abundance
Accomplishment
Adaptability
Adoration
Adroitness
Affluence
Agility
Arrogance
Altruism
Ambition
Amusement
Audacity
Awe
Beauty
Bravery
Brilliance
Buoyancy
Camaraderie
Candor
Celebrity
Charity
Charm
Cleverness
Commitment
Community
Compassion
Confidence
Conformity
Contribution
Conviction
Conviviality
Cordiality
Courage
Courtesy
Cunning
Daring
Decisiveness
Decorum
Deference
Devotion
Devoutness
Dignity
Diligence
Discipline
Dominance
Ecstasy
Efficiency
Elation
Elegance
Empathy
Endurance
Excitement
Exhilaration
Expedience
Expertise
Exploration
Exuberance
Faith
Fame
Ferocity
Fidelity
Fortitude
Freedom
Friendliness
Frugality
Generosity
Gentility
Gratitude
Harmony
Healthy
Heart
Helpfulness
Heroism
Holiness
Honesty
Honor
Hope
Humility
Imagination
Independence
Industry
Inquisitiveness
Inspiration
Integrity
intrepidness
Inventiveness
Judiciousness
Justice
Liberty
Loyalty
Majesty
Maturity
Meekness
Meticulousness
Motivation
Obedience
Optimism
Originality
Outlandishness
Outrageousness
Passion
Perfection
Perseverance
Persistence
Piety
Potency
Power
Pragmatism
Prosperity
Prudence
Purity
Reasonableness
Recognition
Religiousness
Resilience
Resolve
Resourcefulness
Respect
Responsibility
Restraint
Resurrection
Reverence
Sacredness
Sacrifice
Sagacity
Saintliness
Security
Self-reliance
Shrewdness
Simplicity
Sincerity
Skillfulness
Solidarity
Solitude
Soundness
Spontaneity
Spunk
Stability
Supremacy
Surprise
Temperance
Thrift
Timeliness
Tradition
Trust
Trustworthiness
Unity
Valor
Victory
Vigor
Vitality
Vivacity
Wealth
Wisdom
Wonder
Zeal
Special thanks to Marcie Bowman, AP Conference / Tucson, for the concept of Analysis
Protocol.