Descriptive and Analytical

Writing
A Distinction

The Plan

What is the difference?

Guidelines for descriptive writing
Guidelines for analytical writing
Examples

What Is the Difference?

Descriptive: describe
Multi-sensory
Logical organization
More objective

Analytical: analyze
Find meaning
Find strengths and weaknesses
Contextualize
More subjective

Guidelines for Descriptive

Writing
Describe your subject
Multi-sensory
Logical organization
Introduction
Body

Chronological
Big picture detail
Spatial progression
Familiar to unfamiliar
Others

Conclusion

Objectivity
(Sometimes: Draw out a lesson or meaning)

Standard Outline
Introduction
Topic most important for a descriptive essay
Problem: practical or theoretical
Methodology
Compare; theoretical analysis; critique on the basis of Y theory

Thesis
Plan: I will analyze
Claim: X is/was/should be Z

Plan: brief outline of the paper

Body
Scientific: (Literature, gap-usually in intro) methodology,
results, analysis
Classical: Affirm and refute
Terms propositions logic
Evidence - conclusions

Conclusion: Review paper, thesis, and significance

Guidelines for Analytical

Writing
Analyze
Use a logical organization

Theory application
Facts critique
Compare/contrast
Historical/chronological development
Other

Purposes

Understand
Evaluate
Critique
Others?

Tips to Remember
Cite sources
For quotes, summaries, or paraphrases
Check citation requirements (parenthetical or notes?)

Substantiate claims
Provide examples
Provide evidence
Show logic, including presumptions and steps

Write clearly
Include topic sentences and logical transitions
Avoid redundant, wordy, or confusing sentences
Be succinct and objective
Define and clarify concepts or terms that are new to your
reader

The Paragraph
Topic sentence
Evidence/examples/explanations
Concluding/transition sentence
Paragraphs should be coherent and
unified
Coherent: logically hold together
Unified: focus on one topic or sub-topic

Example of Analytical Writing

(With Sections of Description)
Rowe, C. (1982). The mathematics of
the ideal villa. The mathematics of
the ideal villa and other essays. Mit
Press.

For Further Reading

Booth, W. C., G. G. Colomb, and J. M. Williams.
2008. The Craft of Research. 3rd ed. Chicago:
The University of Chicago Press.
Bruno, C. M., F Coelho, P Gambrill, J. Hagemann,
and J. Jebens. 2011. Commonsense
Composition. CK-12 Foundation.
http://www.ck12.org/book/Commonsense-Comp
osition/
Corbett, Edward P. J. and Robert J. Connors.
1998. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern
Student. Oxford University Press.