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Text analysis checklist
PATTANS —the broader language features (two at least in the introduction)
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P: purpose
A: attitude
T: Tone or mood (negative, neutral, and negative)
T: target audience (3 appeals to readers: ethos, pathos, logos)
A: atmosphere/context
N: narrative voice
S: structure and form
Typical text Conventions
Analyze the
Form
Genre: interview, culinary
characteristic and
journalism, autobiography/
uncharacteristic
memoir, diary, letter, article,
features of the
traveling writing, blog,
form and the
advertisement, etc
effects (purpose
and audience)
Article
- Heading (hook), sub-head/
Struct
ure
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- Formatting:
strap-lines (summary),
subheadings (list of topic)
- Text structure:
- Opening and ending paragraph
- Concession and refutation
- Contrast and comparison
- Paragraphing:
- short and long paragraphs
- Transition:
- progress of an argument (flow
of ideas)
- Patterns in tone
Analyze the
- chronologically, non- Sequence:
features and the
chronologically, forwards in
specific and
time, backwards in time,
overall effects
flashback.
- shift
- on focus/time/space/perspective
- Syntax: sentence type/form,
sentence variety, sentence
Lang
uage
structure, including punctuation
- Diction: vocabulary (part of
speech, jargon, colloquialism)
- Figurative language: figure of
speech, imagery
Summary of key points for an effective analysis
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1) Get the overview of the given text
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What overall view or sense of the text do you get from reading it?
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Is there a speci c message or core theme/ motif?
2) Identify the distinctive features of form, structure and language
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What do you notice about the language used (e.g. voice and lexis)?
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What do you notice about the form, structure, patterns and chronology?
3) Focus on effects
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What speci c effects do these choices of form, structure and language have?
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Why have these speci c words, phrases or structures been chosen?
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Are they positive, negative, or neutral in their effect?
4) Explain, explore and evaluate
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What is the reader told explicitly?
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What is revealed or what can be inferred? (What do we have to guess about?)
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What valid interpretations can be made?
5) Check for changes or contrasts
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Is the text consistent in its message, or in the mood or tone conveyed?
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Are there shifts in tone or focus?
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If it does change, where does it happen structurally?
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Are there elements in the text that are ambiguous, or that contrast or
contradict each other?
Tips of writing structure:
- 5 or 6 paragraphs commentary, including the introduction and conclusion
- 10 to 12 annotations (broad coverage of the whole contexts ), 2 or 3 in each paragraphs
- Use accurate terminology: annotations into syntax, diction, figurative languages，
audience appeals (ethos, pathos, logos)
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Introduce effect-statements, effects on meaning, style, purpose, and readers.
2 or 3 comments on characteristic and uncharacteristic features of form
2 or 3 comments on overall structure
PEEEE (Point, evidence about form, structure and language, explanation of denotation,
exploration of connotation/implication and evaluation its specific and overall effects).
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