Writing Analytically

by David Rosenwasser, Jill Stephen

Learning to write well requires learning to use writing as a tool to think well--and this book shows you how. WRITING ANALYTICALLY leads you through the process of analysis and synthesis and helps you to generate original, well-developed ideas. Whether you're already a confident writer or someone who feels stranded amidst your notes and sources--waiting for the light bulb of inspiration to rescue you--this book will help you improve your skills. It's built on a series of tools for thinking that proceed step-by-step. Applying the tools will enable you to see more and arrive at better ideas about whatever you're analyzing. You'll learn to determine which details are important in your subject, how to go about figuring out why they are important, and most important, how to talk and write about what they mean.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, School, Teaching, Education, Textbooks

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Patrick Faller]

There are so many engaging writing tools in this book, and so many tools that are less formulaic and more generative than those found in TS/IS, that I plan to continue teaching this text as long as I continue to teach. (And I plan to continue teaching as long as KSU, or any university, continues offering me classes.) I've found several of the tools useful in my own writing; I have not found a better explication of what it means to paraphrase, nor have I encountered a more useful adaptation of focused freewriting; the authors outline six steps for focusing a freewriting session by continually returning to one key passage in a text, then sketching that passage's context, paraphrasing key words and interpreting the language that seems most crucial to the passage's meaning, and, finally, working out ways the passage connects to other sections in the text or to other passages from other texts. The authors also present a "Method" for locating strands of repetition and contrast in visual and print texts that takes a little work to get down but really proves useful in locating, rather than a "main idea" or gist, sections wherein the writer pitches ideas agaisnt each other. It's a useful way of reading and of shaping texts; I'd even consider using the Method in a fiction workshop.

I've had some diffiiculty helping students acclimate to the drastically different way this text's authors approach writing. They use the word "analytically" quite literally; thus, analytical writing proceeds from uncertainty and involves a great deal of evidence gathering and interpretation. Students used to summarizing and reading for a main idea with find this approach troubling. At least, a great number of my own students have had such trouble. I've found that it's necessary to have chosen a set of readings centered on, or at least loosely tethered to, a set of shared ideas; I have students then spend a week on each reading, using one of the analytical tools to try and break open a part of those readings. They work on assignments at home, using the explanatory passages from Writing Analytically as their guide, to make sense of difficult passages, locate points of tension and/or significant ideas, and to think through any problems they encounter as they read, or while they work to apply the tools to their readings. It's been a difficult time, but I'm receiving some fairly solid work from all my classes, and I'm convinced their writing will only get better as the semester progresses. And by "better," I mean more inquisitive, descriptive, deeper, and more developed.

[Xeni]

Another read for my FYS. This is a basic writing book with tips and tricks to rethink the traditional “high school” way of writing for more sophisticated college papers. I really appreciated all the unique techniques, and some have changed how I approach writing prompts. It’s nothing ground breaking but a good basic introduction to academic writing!

[Annisa]

A good book if you wanna learn elementary academic writing... I learned a lot from this book

[gay wrongs]

This textbook provides activities that guide students to a more analytical frame of mind, encouraging deeper thinking and stronger ideas, as well as presenting strong organizational and practical strategies for presenting those ideas.

[Aaron Hannah]

I was not sure of this book at first. The reader gets a better grasp on writing in small steps that we build on with each new chapter. If you enjoy writing, want to become better or just desire an extra dimension to your writing, give this book a try.

[Tristan]

Nice book! Nothing groundbreaking, but it definitely helped improve my writing! 👍

[Goo]

P344作者是开黑了一把The Elements of Style吗哈哈哈哈哈【看完，笔记待整理

[Victoria]

Never in my life do I want to see this book again. Great analysis methods are mentioned but the authors do not have solid pointers on how to execute them effectively in writing!!!!!!!

[Piper Maxwell]

read for acp comp.

[Jenny]

I haven't quite finished this book yet, but it has some valuable information in it. Like many of my fellows, I tested out of the intro-level writing classes, and this is probably one of the more unfortunate things that can happen to us, as many of us then only pick up by bits and pieces some of the elements that make good analytical writing and good rhetoric. While the tone is friendly and encouraging, the prose is nevertheless fairly dense and fairly dry, which makes for slow reading. Still, I wish I'd had to read this book when I was a freshman in college. Better yet, when I was in high school.

[Kawa Svaha]

It took me so long to finish. At first glance, the organisation of this textbook seems loose: the reader may not know how to apply the various techniques introduced in the first half of the book. However, the analysis of the sample papers makes everything clear and illuminating.

[Kerry]

I found this book beneficial. Much of it seemed obvious and I skipped over many of the exercises but it got me thinking more directly about how to read and write. A good refresher for anyone.

[Jessica]

I found this to be more than moderately helpful in writing instruction - but I wouldn't use it as my bible or anything.

[Bradley Farless]

The instruction in this book is very clear and easy to understand, with plenty of examples. It's a great book to keep on hand for future reference.

[Jennifer]

More useful for instructors than for students. A good number of in-class activities to consider, and writing assignments to give to students.

[NWA Writing Project]

Loaned to Jennifer 10/9/13

[Sam]

EN COMP I text. Thoughtful and interesting philosphies on writing.

[Jade Ashli Soisson-Thayer]

Hands down one of the best reference books I've read so far.