Text Analysis
Learn
Text analysis takes your compare and contrast skills to the next level. Instead of just listing similarities and differences, you will learn to analyze why those comparisons matter and what they tell us about the texts.
What is Text Analysis?
Text analysis means looking closely at texts to understand:
- Author's Purpose: Why did the author write this? To inform, persuade, or entertain?
- Text Structure: How is the information organized?
- Key Ideas: What are the main points the author wants you to understand?
- Supporting Details: What evidence does the author use?
Analyzing Comparisons
When you compare texts through analysis, ask yourself:
- Do the authors have the same purpose or different purposes?
- How do the texts present information differently?
- What can I learn by reading both texts together that I could not learn from just one?
- Do the authors agree or disagree on key points?
Examples
Analyzing Two Texts About Recycling
Text A: "Why Recycling Matters" (Informational Article)
Recycling helps protect our planet in many important ways. When we recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metal, these materials can be made into new products instead of going to landfills. Landfills take up space and can harm the environment. Recycling also saves energy. For example, making new aluminum cans from recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than making them from raw materials. Many communities have recycling programs that make it easy for families to participate.
Text B: "Join Our School Recycling Drive!" (Persuasive Flyer)
Calling all students! Our school is having a recycling drive next week, and we need YOUR help! Bring in your empty plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and old newspapers. Every item you bring makes a difference. Last year, we collected over 500 pounds of recyclables! This year, let's beat that record. When you recycle, you're being a superhero for the Earth. Sign up at the office to join the Green Team and earn community service hours!
Sample Text Analysis
| Element | Text A | Text B |
|---|---|---|
| Author's Purpose | To inform readers about why recycling is important | To persuade students to participate in the recycling drive |
| Tone | Serious, educational | Exciting, encouraging |
| Evidence Used | Facts and statistics (95% less energy) | School data and emotional appeal ("superhero for Earth") |
| Call to Action | General (implies readers should recycle) | Specific (bring items next week, sign up for Green Team) |
What We Learn from Both: Both texts agree that recycling is important and beneficial. However, Text A gives us the "why" (facts about environmental impact), while Text B gives us the "how" (specific ways to take action). Reading both together gives us a more complete understanding of recycling.
Practice
Read the following two texts and analyze them using the questions below.
Text A: "The Life of a Butterfly" (Encyclopedia Entry)
Butterflies go through a process called metamorphosis. They begin life as eggs laid on plant leaves. When the eggs hatch, caterpillars emerge and spend their time eating leaves to grow larger. After reaching full size, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis around itself. Inside the chrysalis, an amazing transformation takes place. After about two weeks, an adult butterfly emerges with colorful wings. Adult butterflies drink nectar from flowers and help pollinate plants.
Text B: "My Butterfly Garden" (Personal Narrative)
Last spring, my grandmother helped me plant a butterfly garden in our backyard. We chose flowers that butterflies love, like milkweed and coneflowers. I was so excited when I spotted my first caterpillar munching on the milkweed leaves! I watched it every day, and one morning it had disappeared into a green chrysalis. Waiting for the butterfly to come out was the hardest part. When it finally emerged with beautiful orange and black wings, I knew it was a monarch butterfly. Watching that transformation was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
Analysis Questions:
- What is the author's purpose in each text?
- How is the information organized differently in each text?
- Which text includes more scientific facts? Which includes more personal experience?
- What can you learn from reading both texts together?
Check Your Understanding
Answer these 10 questions about text analysis and compare/contrast.
1. What does "author's purpose" mean?
Show Answer
Author's purpose is the reason why the author wrote the text. Common purposes include: to inform (give information), to persuade (convince the reader), or to entertain (tell a story for enjoyment).
2. In the recycling texts, what is the main purpose of Text A?
A) To entertain readers with a story
B) To inform readers about recycling benefits
C) To persuade readers to join a club
D) To describe a recycling center
Show Answer
B) To inform readers about recycling benefits. Text A presents facts and statistics to educate readers about why recycling matters.
3. What is the main purpose of Text B (the recycling flyer)?
A) To inform readers about landfills
B) To entertain with a funny story
C) To persuade students to participate in the recycling drive
D) To explain how recycling works
Show Answer
C) To persuade students to participate in the recycling drive. The flyer uses exciting language and calls to action to convince students to bring recyclables.
4. How does analyzing two texts together help readers?
Show Answer
Analyzing two texts together helps readers get a more complete understanding of a topic. Each text may provide different perspectives, types of information, or details that the other text does not include.
5. What type of evidence does Text A (recycling article) use?
Show Answer
Text A uses facts and statistics, such as "making new aluminum cans from recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than making them from raw materials."
6. In the butterfly texts, which text is written as a personal narrative?
A) Text A - "The Life of a Butterfly"
B) Text B - "My Butterfly Garden"
C) Both texts
D) Neither text
Show Answer
B) Text B - "My Butterfly Garden." This text uses first-person words like "I" and "my" and tells about the author's personal experience.
7. What is "tone" in a text?
Show Answer
Tone is the feeling or attitude the author expresses in their writing. It can be serious, funny, excited, sad, formal, casual, and many other feelings.
8. Compare the tone of the two recycling texts. How are they different?
Show Answer
Text A has a serious, educational tone. It presents facts in a straightforward way. Text B has an exciting, encouraging tone. It uses exclamation points and energetic language to motivate students.
9. Both butterfly texts describe metamorphosis. What information does Text A provide that Text B does not?
Show Answer
Text A provides scientific details like the stages of metamorphosis, the time it takes (about two weeks in the chrysalis), and the butterfly's role in pollination. Text B focuses on personal observation rather than scientific facts.
10. Why might an author choose to write a personal narrative instead of an encyclopedia entry about the same topic?
Show Answer
An author might choose a personal narrative to share their emotional experience, connect with readers on a personal level, make the topic feel more relatable, or show how the topic affected them personally. An encyclopedia entry is better for presenting facts without personal opinions.
Next Steps
- Practice identifying author's purpose in everything you read
- When you read two texts about the same topic, ask yourself what each one teaches you
- Move on to Writing Application to learn how to write your own compare and contrast essays