How to Analyze Texts like a 99.95 ATAR student?

When we read a text we don't just want to be mindlessly reading the words. We need to be reading actively. What does that mean? Well, active reading requires you to think about the message your text is making about society and HOW they are communicating this message. Let me break it down for you in this blog.

Table of Content:

• What should I be Looking out for when Analyzing Texts?
• How should I Annotate my Texts?
• Exemplar Band 6 Analysis
• English Literary Cheat Sheet
• FAQs

What should I be Looking out for when Analyzing Texts?

Whenever you study a text you need to be asking yourself;

• What is the context in which this text is made in?
  • Consider significant cultural/social/historical events during the composer's time or any experiences that would influence their purpose and motivation.
• How does this influence the attitudes, perspectives and motivations presented in the text?
• How do these attitudes, perspectives and motivations invite the audience (or you, the reader) to reflect and form a newfound opinion?
• How does the author use form, structure and stylistic devices to achieve its purpose?

How should I Annotate my Texts?

First round of Annotation

That is a lot of things to think about, which is why you ideally want to read over the text twice. The first time I read a text I annotate using the fun colour coding system below:

Second round of Annotation

Once I get a good understanding of what is going on, I then go over it again, this time focusing on just the key themes I want to explore more (basically the themes you plan to write about in your essay).

To break ideas down better I used a table to structure my thoughts.

To add on from this I would start picking out quotes that would back up my claims (refer to image below):

So, with these ideas in mind, here’s a flowchart to get you started on analyzing your novel!

Exemplar Band 6 Analysis

Hannah Kent’s The Good People (2016)

Now this all looks confronting but it with practice, it becomes second nature. Do each color one by one to ensure that every sentence you write contributes to reinforcing your topic sentences, and you have got yourself a band 6 body paragraph!

English Literary Cheat Sheet

To help make things even easier for you, I have made a little cheat sheet with all the major techniques you should be looking out for:

Conclusion

English and Literature do not have to be difficult. Hopefully these tips help you out, and if you are looking for more, check out these KIS Academics articles:

FAQs

This article was written by KIS Academics private tutor for Literature, Sophie de Jersey. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine (Chancellor's Scholars) at the University of Melbourne. You can view her profile here and request her as a tutor.

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