Unraveling the Art of Article Analysis: A Comprehensive VCE Guide to Analytical Response

In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to analyse written articles is more important than ever. For students navigating VCE English, mastering article analysis not only aids in academic success but also fosters critical thinking skills necessary for life. This guide will lead you through the essential elements of creating insightful and impactful article analyses.

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Understanding Article Analysis

Article analysis goes beyond summarising a text. It requires examining the structure, content, style, and meaning behind an article. Effective analysis involves understanding the author's intentions and evaluating how well they support their contention through the use of argument and language to persuade their target audience.

Many students put the focus on persuasive language techniques, and having that ability to identify them, but the focus is rather on the argument being presented and how the author utilises language and techniques to explain and support the argument.

The Structure of an Analytical Response

A solid analytical response starts with a clear structure. While variations exist, a typical analysis includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Setting the Stage for Your Analysis

The introduction is critical. It should introduce the article by stating the title, author, and publication date. You should also express the article’s main argument or thesis and hint at your stance regarding its effectiveness. We call this the ITAARSC structure.

Issue	When analysing a persuasive text, it is important to identify what issue, or topic, the writer is expressing a view on. You must also consider the context, which is the set of events that have given rise to the issue and prompted the writer to enter the debate. For example: An issue may be concussion protocol in the AFL. The context may be that a prominent player has recently retired due to long-term concussion issues, sparking discussion around the need to protect other players.
Title/Text Type	As simple as it is, what is the title of the piece? Has the author incorporated any puns/imagery or any other literary device in the title? What text type has the author followed? Why has the author chosen this particular text type?
Author	Who is the author of this piece?
Audience	Who is the intended target audience? Who is she writing this towards? There are almost always two audiences, one overall audience and one specific (or 'target') audience. It is important to recognise both in this section as it allows for examiner's to recognise your depth of understanding. For example: If an article on 'Juggling work with Newborn Babies' was published on a Women's Daily website, the main audience would be female subscribers of the Women's Daily or regular visitors to the website. The 'target' audience here would specifically be working mothers with newborns as they are more likely to relate to the topics being explored in the article.
Relationship	What relationship does the author have with the topics uncovered in his/her piece? Is there any potential bias? Is she an expert in her chosen discipline - what proves that?
Stance	What stance has the author taken on the issue? Has she come up with a proposed solution? Is she aggressively against the issue? What makes you say this?
Contention	The contention will commonly be found in the early stages of a piece, often within the first two paragraphs, and may even be stated outright in the title. The writer may also reiterate their contention in the conclusion of their text. The contention might not be stated explicitly. Instead, the writer’s supporting points, selection of evidence, and tone might work together to imply the contention.

Body of Your Analysis

The body of your analytical response is where you explore various aspects of the article in detail. Each paragraph should focus on a specific idea or element. Consider the following points for in-depth analysis:

• Theme Exploration: Identify key themes in the article. For instance, if the article discusses social inequality, you might analyse how the author connects this theme to broader societal issues, such as poverty statistics showing that over 12% of the population lives below the poverty line.

  
  

• Author’s Writing Style and Tone: Examine the author's stylistic choices. Is the tone formal, casual, or urgent? For example, a persuasive tone can be demonstrated through the use of strong language, making the reader more likely to feel compelled by the argument.

  
  

• Evidence Utilisation: Analyse the evidence. Are claims backed with reliable data? For example, if the author cites that 67% of scientists agree on climate change, investigate the credibility of that claim and how it strengthens the argument. Do not just select this as it shows a 'statistic', but what is the point the author is trying to make about this statistic, and why has the author used this statistic to prove her argument? How is the audience able to trust her?

  
  

• Addressing Counterarguments: Consider whether the author acknowledges opposing views. Acknowledging counterarguments can enhance an author’s credibility. For example, if they present climate change skeptics' views but effectively counter them with research findings, discuss how this adds depth to their argument.

  
  

• Conclude Each Paragraph: Finish each body paragraph with a summary that reflects how the points made support your overall argument.

  
  

Summarising Your Insights

The conclusion is where you tie everything together. Restate your key arguments and summarize how your analysis has interpreted the article. This section is also an opportunity to reflect on the article’s relevance to current issues. For example, you might note how the article’s discussion on climate policy is increasingly pertinent as various governments pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

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