Analytical article is a text that contains an analysis of facts and conclusions regarding a specific topic. You could even say that this is a small study. If the informational article gives a general understanding about some event, thing, then the analytical one reveals those facts that were not previously known, makes a deeper analysis.
Key Features
A quality article of a journalistic genre will be considered if it meets the following characteristics.
- The topic described is relevant for a certain moment.
- The thesis is well formulated and the question addressed in the article is clearly posed.
- The material necessary for the disclosure of the topic was chosen very thoroughly.
- The analysis of the material is deep, logically perfect, competent.
- The presentation of the material is consistent, subheadings are highlighted.
- No unreasonable repetitions.
- The presence of logicalconclusions.
- No stylistic, grammatical or logical errors.
- Achieving the goal - the article answers the question posed.
- Presence of a fresh way of thinking in the analysis.
- The format of the presentation is well chosen, it is readable for the target audience.
First stage of work: study of the topic
In order to get an interesting and useful analytical article, the analysis of the material must be carried out very carefully. The most important thing is that you yourself understand the topic and can convey it to the target audience. It is necessary to find as many sources of information as possible, to approach the solution of the issue from different angles. This approach will give the material more depth and interest.
If you are writing a serious journalistic text, then this stage may take you several days. If you feel that you are imbued with interest in the material and non-standard ideas on the issue overwhelm your head, then you can already proceed to the next stage.
Second stage of work: systematization of the received material
So, you have a huge amount of information in front of you, but it's too early to start writing the paper. Everything that is now needs to be clearly structured. Re-read all the information received again, distribute everything on the shelves in order of importance. Each piece of material has its own value and place in the overall structure.
Information and analytical article should reveal the topic well, the text should flow smoothly from one subheading toanother. Otherwise, it will turn out to be just porridge, which will be very difficult for the target audience to master.
Third stage of work: defining the structure
When all the available information is systematized, you can begin to determine the structure of the future article. It depends on many factors. Including the amount of evidence for the thesis, the topic itself, and much more. To make it clear how an analytical article should look like, an example of the "skeleton" of its structure is presented below.
Exemplary text construction structure:
- Introductory part in which you must explain why your topic is relevant today. In addition, it is here that it is important to formulate the question addressed in your article.
- The main part. In this chapter, all analytical material should be collected. Several points of view on the topic should be considered, your personal opinion is expressed.
- The final part should be both informative and concise. This is not easy to achieve. But, the most important thing is to convey all the conclusions drawn on the topic in this chapter. It is also necessary to evaluate the result of your research and tell what you have achieved, whether it was possible to reveal the topic.
After the structure is drawn up, it is already possible to start writing the text itself. Clearly follow the plan - then the work will be easily perceived by the target audience. It is possible that in the process of writing you may have some more interesting ideas. It's not scary - you cancomplement your work with them.
Types of analytical article
This type of journalistic genre can be divided into several main categories.
General research paper;
This group includes all publications in the text of which an analysis of broad generally significant issues is carried out. For example, here you can talk about morality and economics, about church and state, about international relations. Analytical articles about politics also fall into this category. This type of publication is distinguished by the author's global thinking. The main goal of the work is not just to reveal the topic, but to study the patterns, prospects and trends in the development of society.
Practical-analytical article;
This includes revealing the issue of industry problems. It can be anything: culture, science, agriculture, business and finance. In such articles, attention is paid to the analysis of a specific event, situation in a particular field of activity. The main task of the author when writing this type of text is to identify the reasons why the problem arose, to evaluate effective solutions using the example of practical problems.
Polemical article;
Published when a dispute arises in society on a particular issue. The reason for writing may be, for example, the speech of political opponents. The aim of the work is twofold. The author expresses his own opinion on the issue under consideration and offers the most effectiveview of the solution. The facts given in the work can only concern the point of view of the author himself. He cannot afford to give an example that would contradict the thesis.
Writing style
Analytical articles are made quite simply, if you decide on the style of writing. For example, if you have to write a paper that will later be published in a popular science journal, then a light syllable will do. Most importantly, rely on the target audience.
Newspapers and magazines just scream that they need bright, interesting headlines. The use of highly specialized terms is possible, but be sure to decipher what you mean later. Otherwise, the reader will simply put your work aside and find another article that is more understandable to him.
If analytical articles are done for a scientific journal, then this is more serious work. Such texts are read only by specialists in their field. If you do not understand the subject, then do not even take on such work. The text should be well-written, contain terms of specialization and useful information. As for the title for this type of text, then you should not make it "screaming" here. The person who picks up a scientific journal wants facts. Therefore, the title should clearly reflect the essence of the article, and the text should reveal the problem.
Text size
Another important question is which analytical articleshould be in scope. There are no specific recommendations for this. First write the work and do not count the words and letters. Make detailed, interesting text.
Then the author needs to take the place of the reader. Ask yourself the question - would you read your article to the end? The text can be long but exciting. In the event that you notice some fragments in the work from which interest is weakening, then you need to replace them, or remove them altogether.
The amount of written text is, in fact, not as important as the information it carries. Arrange your work with subheadings and lists so that the information is easier for the reader to perceive.
And do not forget about your own opinion - the journalistic genre implies arguments and reflections on the topic of the issue.
Helpful tips
- If you decide to take on writing an article in a journalistic genre, then take only the topic that you understand, on which you have something to say. The personal opinion of the author is a mandatory part of the text.
- Make text structured and enjoyable to read. The work should attract attention visually. For this, subheadings, lists are used.
- Depending on where the article will be published, work with the title. For the target audience of a scientific journal - only facts, for newspapers - intrigue.
- It is desirable that articles are accompanied by thematic illustrations. So the person will be much more pleasant to read it.
- Review your work several times before postingher yourself, determine if she is of interest to you. Redo bad parts, if any.
- Use in your work as many facts as possible from different sources on the chosen topic. The more information you take into account when writing, the more interesting the article will turn out.
Summing up
An analytical article will be easy for you to write if you choose a topic that is close to you. And do not forget about the main rule - the chosen topic should be relevant, only then it will arouse interest among the target audience.
