An 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 little research. If an informational article gives a general understanding of an event, thing, then an analytical one reveals facts that were not previously known, and makes a deeper analysis.
Main characteristics
A quality article of a journalistic genre will be considered if it meets the following characteristics.
- This topic is relevant at a certain point.
- The thesis is correctly formulated and the question is clearly posed, which is considered in the article.
- The material necessary for the disclosure of the topic is selected very thoroughly.
- The analysis of the material is deep, logically perfect, competent.
- Submission of material is consistent, subheadings are highlighted.
- The lack of unreasonable repetitions.
- The presence of logical conclusions.
- Lack of stylistic, grammatical and logical errors.
- Achieving the goal - the article provides an answer to the question.
- The presence in the analysis of a fresh way of thinking.
- The presentation form is chosen correctly, it is readable for the target audience.
The first stage of work: studying 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 arouse interest.
If you started writing a serious text of a journalistic genre, then this stage may take several days. If you feel that you are filled with interest in the material and non-standard ideas on the issue overwhelm your head, then you can already proceed to the next stage.
The second stage of work: systematization of the material
So, you have a huge amount of information, but it's too early to start writing a work. All that is now needs to be clearly structured. Reread again all the information received, arrange everything on the shelves according to degree of importance. Each piece of material has its own value and place in the overall structure.
An information-analytical article should disclose the topic well, the text should flow smoothly from one subtitle to another. In the opposite case, it will turn out just a mess, which will be very difficult for the target audience to master.
The third stage of work: we determine the structure
When all available information is systematized, you can begin to determine the structure of a 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 what the analytical article should look like, an example of the "skeleton" of its structure is presented below.
Sample text structure:
- An 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 issue addressed in your article.
- Main part. All analytical material should be collected in this chapter. 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 so easy to achieve. But, the most important thing is to convey all the conclusions made on the topic in this chapter. It is also necessary to evaluate the result of your research and tell what you managed to achieve, whether it turned out to reveal the topic.
After the structure is drawn up, you can already start writing the text itself. Follow the plan clearly - then the work will be easily perceived by the target audience. It is possible that during the writing process you may have some more interesting ideas. This is fearless - you can complement your work with them.
Types of analytical article
This type of journalistic genre can be divided into several main categories.
- General research article;
This group includes all publications in the text of which an analysis of broad issues of general relevance is carried out. For example, here you can talk about morality and economics, about the church and the state, about international relations. Policy analytic articles also fall into this category. This type of publication is distinguished by the global thinking of the author. The main goal of the work is not just to open the topic, but to study the patterns, prospects and trends in the development of society.
- Practical and analytical article;
This includes disclosing the issue of industry issues. It can be anything: culture, science, agriculture, business and finance. Such articles pay attention to the analysis of a specific event, the situation in a particular field of activity. The main task of the author when writing a text of this type is to identify the reasons why the problem arose, to evaluate effective solutions using practical problems as an example.
It is published if a dispute arises in a society on a specific problem. The reason for writing can serve, for example, the speech of political opponents. The purpose of the work is twofold. The author expresses his own opinion on the issue under consideration and offers the most effective solutions in his opinion. The facts cited in the work may concern only the point of view of the author himself. He cannot allow himself to give an example that would contradict his thesis.
Writing style
Analytical articles are made quite simply, if you decide on the writing style. For example, if you have to write a work that will be further published in a popular science magazine, then an easy syllable will do. Most importantly, rely on your 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 then decipher what you mean. 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 experts in their field. If you do not understand the topic, then do not even tackle such work. The text should be composed correctly, contain terms on specialization and useful information. As for the title for this type of text, then you should not do it “screaming”. The man 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 volume
Another important question is what kind of analytical article should be in scope. There are no special recommendations in this regard. First write a work and do not count words and letters. Make a detailed, interesting text.
Then the author needs to take the place of the reader. Ask yourself - 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 volume of the written text, in fact, is not as important as the information that it carries. Use subheadings and lists to make the information easier for the reader to understand.
And do not forget about your own opinion - the journalistic genre implies arguments and thoughts on the subject matter.
Useful Tips
- If you decide to take an article in a journalistic genre for writing, then take only the topic that you understand, on which you have something to say. The personal opinion of the author is an obligatory part of the text.
- Make text structured and enjoyable to read. Work should attract attention visually. For this, subtitles and lists are used.
- Depending on where the article will be published, work with a headline. For the target audience of a scientific journal - only facts, for newspapers - intrigue.
- It is advisable that articles be accompanied by thematic illustrations. So a person will be much more pleasant to read it.
- Before you publish a work, review it yourself several times, determine if it is interesting to you. Redo unsuccessful fragments, if any.
- Use in your work as many facts as possible from various sources on the chosen topic. The more information you consider when writing, the more interesting the article will be.
To summarize
An analytical article will be easy for you to write if you select topics that are close to you. And do not forget about the main rule - the chosen topic should be relevant, only then it will cause interest among the target audience.