Text Analysis
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will:
- Analyze professional writing for style techniques
- Identify effective sentence structures in published work
- Evaluate how word choice affects tone and clarity
- Recognize patterns in skilled writing
Practice Quiz
Analyze style elements in these excerpts. Click each to see the analysis.
Question 1: "The old man sat alone." vs "The elderly gentleman found himself in a state of solitude." Which is more effective and why?
Answer: The first is more effective for most contexts.
Analysis: The first uses concrete, simple words that create a clear image. The second is unnecessarily wordy and formal ("found himself in a state of solitude").
Question 2: Analyze the sentence variety: "She ran. She jumped. She fell. She got up. She continued."
Answer: Lacks variety - all short, simple sentences with the same structure.
Improvement: "She ran and jumped, fell hard on the pavement, then got up and continued despite the pain."
Question 3: What makes this sentence effective? "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Answer: Parallel structure and brevity create power and rhythm.
Analysis: Three short clauses with identical structure (subject + past tense verb) create memorable, emphatic statement. This is called tricolon.
Question 4: Compare: "The scientist made the discovery" vs "The discovery was made by the scientist." Which voice is stronger?
Answer: Active voice ("The scientist made the discovery") is generally stronger.
Analysis: Active voice is more direct, clearer about who did what, and usually more concise. Passive voice has uses (when actor is unknown or less important), but defaulting to active improves most writing.
Question 5: Analyze: "The meal was good. The service was good. The atmosphere was good." What's the problem?
Answer: Repetitive word choice ("good") and structure.
Improvement: "The flavorful meal, attentive service, and cozy atmosphere made for an excellent evening." Uses specific adjectives and combines ideas.
Question 6: Why might a writer choose: "Darkness fell" over "It became dark outside as the sun went down"?
Answer: "Darkness fell" is more concise and evocative.
Analysis: The personification of darkness "falling" creates imagery in two words. The longer version states the obvious and uses weak construction ("It became").
Question 7: Analyze: "The extremely tired, very exhausted marathon runner slowly and painfully crossed the finish line."
Answer: Over-modified and redundant.
Analysis: "Extremely tired" and "very exhausted" are redundant. "Slowly and painfully" could be combined. Better: "The exhausted marathon runner limped across the finish line."
Question 8: What effect does this sentence structure create? "She walked in. Silence. Everyone stared."
Answer: Creates tension and drama through fragmented, punchy sentences.
Analysis: Short sentences slow pacing and create suspense. The one-word sentence "Silence" acts as a dramatic pause. This technique is effective for impactful moments.
Question 9: Compare: "utilize" vs "use" - When would you choose one over the other?
Answer: "Use" is almost always better.
Analysis: "Utilize" is often chosen to sound impressive but adds no meaning. Prefer simple words unless a complex word adds precision. Strong writers choose clarity over appearing sophisticated.
Question 10: Analyze the rhythm: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
Answer: Parallel structure with building intensity creates memorable impact.
Analysis: Each clause follows the same pattern (verb + me + and + I + verb). The ideas build from passive to active to engaged learning. This structure makes the message memorable and quotable.
Next Steps
- Analyze sentences from your favorite authors
- Notice sentence variety in articles and books
- Move on to writing application when ready