{"id":246,"date":"2025-04-17T16:35:22","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/what-is-analysis\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T21:46:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T21:46:11","slug":"what-is-analysis","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/what-is-analysis\/","title":{"raw":"What is Analysis: Learn It 1","rendered":"What is Analysis: Learn It 1"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Explain what analysis is<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Recognize barriers that make analysis more challenging<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Describe why suspending judgment is important for analysis<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2 class=\"mceTemp\">What is Analysis?<\/h2>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\" aria-label=\"Key Takeaway\">\r\n<h3>analysis<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Analysis<\/strong> is the process of breaking something down to better understand it. It also involves connecting pieces of information to form explanations or generalizations.\r\n\r\nIn college, analytical assignments often combine analysis with interpretation and evaluation. While each academic discipline characterizes the analytic process to suit its needs, the essential skills of analysis are the following:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Uncovering relationships among those parts<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\r\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"79832198-c670-4365-8c2b-767b3948f219\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o\">\r\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\r\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\">\r\n\r\nAnalysis goes beyond just content\u2014it can also examine form, function, and context. For example, in an art appreciation class, you might analyze a painting\u2019s subject and symbolism (content), its use of shape, space, and color (form), the artist\u2019s purpose (function), and the cultural or historical background in which it was created (context).\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>The Language of Analytical Assignments<\/h2>\r\nAlthough analysis is ubiquitous in college, students sometimes fail to recognize when they are being asked to apply analysis. Often that confusion stems from differences in vocabulary across different disciplines.\r\n\r\nFor example, each of the verbs in the following list may indicate or denote some type of analysis:\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Analyze<\/td>\r\n<td>Deduce<\/td>\r\n<td>Examine<\/td>\r\n<td>Outline<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Break down<\/td>\r\n<td>Derive<\/td>\r\n<td>Experiment<\/td>\r\n<td>Point out<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Calculate<\/td>\r\n<td>Diagram<\/td>\r\n<td>Identify<\/td>\r\n<td>Probe<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Categorize<\/td>\r\n<td>Differentiate<\/td>\r\n<td>Induce<\/td>\r\n<td>Question<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Classify<\/td>\r\n<td>Discriminate<\/td>\r\n<td>Inspect<\/td>\r\n<td>Separate<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Compare<\/td>\r\n<td>Dissect<\/td>\r\n<td>Infer<\/td>\r\n<td>Simplify<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Contrast<\/td>\r\n<td>Distill<\/td>\r\n<td>Investigate<\/td>\r\n<td>Test<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nAlthough this list is a good start, these aren\u2019t the only verbs that signal something is happening with analysis.\r\n\r\nAnother way to tell whether an assignment is asking for analysis is this: If the assignment asks you to <strong>determine how the parts of something relate to the whole, how something works, what something means, or why it\u2019s important<\/strong>, the assignment is asking you to analyze. Below is a list of sample analytic assignments that meet these criteria.\r\n\r\n<section class=\"textbox example\" aria-label=\"Example\"><strong>How the parts relate to the whole:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Classify problems to identify the appropriate algorithms.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Determine how well a feminist interpretation is supported by evidence contained in a work.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>How something works:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Recognize flaws, inconsistencies, and logical fallacies in an opinion editorial.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Distinguish between facts and assumptions in a scientific report.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>What something means:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Interpret quantitative relationships in a graph.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Analyze data\/situations to identify root problems.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Why something is important:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Assess alternative solutions to the health care crisis.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Separate relevant from irrelevant information in testimony.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section><section class=\"textbox tryIt\" aria-label=\"Try It\">[ohm2_question]34402[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\" aria-label=\"Learning Goals\">\n<ul>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Explain what analysis is<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Recognize barriers that make analysis more challenging<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Describe why suspending judgment is important for analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"mceTemp\">What is Analysis?<\/h2>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\" aria-label=\"Key Takeaway\">\n<h3>analysis<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Analysis<\/strong> is the process of breaking something down to better understand it. It also involves connecting pieces of information to form explanations or generalizations.<\/p>\n<p>In college, analytical assignments often combine analysis with interpretation and evaluation. While each academic discipline characterizes the analytic process to suit its needs, the essential skills of analysis are the following:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Breaking down information or artifacts into component parts<\/li>\n<li>Uncovering relationships among those parts<\/li>\n<li>Determining motives, causes, and underlying assumptions<\/li>\n<li>Making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"79832198-c670-4365-8c2b-767b3948f219\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\">\n<p>Analysis goes beyond just content\u2014it can also examine form, function, and context. For example, in an art appreciation class, you might analyze a painting\u2019s subject and symbolism (content), its use of shape, space, and color (form), the artist\u2019s purpose (function), and the cultural or historical background in which it was created (context).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The Language of Analytical Assignments<\/h2>\n<p>Although analysis is ubiquitous in college, students sometimes fail to recognize when they are being asked to apply analysis. Often that confusion stems from differences in vocabulary across different disciplines.<\/p>\n<p>For example, each of the verbs in the following list may indicate or denote some type of analysis:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Analyze<\/td>\n<td>Deduce<\/td>\n<td>Examine<\/td>\n<td>Outline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Break down<\/td>\n<td>Derive<\/td>\n<td>Experiment<\/td>\n<td>Point out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Calculate<\/td>\n<td>Diagram<\/td>\n<td>Identify<\/td>\n<td>Probe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Categorize<\/td>\n<td>Differentiate<\/td>\n<td>Induce<\/td>\n<td>Question<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Classify<\/td>\n<td>Discriminate<\/td>\n<td>Inspect<\/td>\n<td>Separate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Compare<\/td>\n<td>Dissect<\/td>\n<td>Infer<\/td>\n<td>Simplify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Contrast<\/td>\n<td>Distill<\/td>\n<td>Investigate<\/td>\n<td>Test<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Although this list is a good start, these aren\u2019t the only verbs that signal something is happening with analysis.<\/p>\n<p>Another way to tell whether an assignment is asking for analysis is this: If the assignment asks you to <strong>determine how the parts of something relate to the whole, how something works, what something means, or why it\u2019s important<\/strong>, the assignment is asking you to analyze. Below is a list of sample analytic assignments that meet these criteria.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox example\" aria-label=\"Example\"><strong>How the parts relate to the whole:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Classify problems to identify the appropriate algorithms.<\/li>\n<li>Determine how well a feminist interpretation is supported by evidence contained in a work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How something works:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize flaws, inconsistencies, and logical fallacies in an opinion editorial.<\/li>\n<li>Distinguish between facts and assumptions in a scientific report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What something means:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Interpret quantitative relationships in a graph.<\/li>\n<li>Analyze data\/situations to identify root problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why something is important:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Assess alternative solutions to the health care crisis.<\/li>\n<li>Separate relevant from irrelevant information in testimony.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\" aria-label=\"Try It\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm34402\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=34402&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm34402&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"What Is Analysis? and The Language of Analytic Assignments\",\"author\":\"Karen Forgette\",\"organization\":\"University of Mississippi\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":243,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"original","description":"What Is Analysis? and The Language of Analytic Assignments","author":"Karen Forgette","organization":"University of Mississippi","url":"","project":"","license":"cc-by-sa","license_terms":""}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/246"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2821,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/246\/revisions\/2821"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/243"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/246\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=246"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=246"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}