Some hints on how to make your analysis paper
excellent
Students are often frustrated when I mark their
papers "please give more detail." I admit the comment doesn't tell
you much about what sort of detail I would like to see (but it does
fit in the margin nicely). Here is a guide to the kinds of ways one
can add "detail" to a paper without simply repeating
yourself.
Allan Bloom has posited a "taxonomy of educational
objectives" that helps us discriminate different kinds of detail.
Underneath each of these sorts of detail, I give an explanation of it
and an example. Each single example sentence would never stand by
itself in a paper, but represents what might be the topic sentence of
a paragraph. Stuff towards the top of this list is detail that is
less impressive than stuff towards the bottom.
- Knowledge: Recognition of a concept and
ability to define it. "Conformity is the change in a person's
behavior brought about by the real or imagined presence of
others." This definition suggests knowledge that the concept
"conformity" can be described in a particular way. Giving more
than one definition does not add to knowledge, unless comparisons
are made between them. Giving a simple example can be a form of
definition too. Simple examples suggest knowledge, and some
comprehension, complex ones suggest application.
- Comprehension: Clear evidence that the
nuance of knowledge is recognized. The ability to use a concept in
a sentence toward some end is also evidence of comprehension.
"Persuasion is a kind of social influence with a slightly
different approach than that of conformity." Comprehension is more
than awareness of a simple definition, it also involves the
ability to understand the meaning of a concept and use it
appropriately.
- Application: The use of a concept to
understand a complex real-world problem. A simple example is not
an application. Application requires the use of the concept in a
careful and thoughtful manner, in a manner that takes into account
the complexity of both the concept and the situation. "Conformity
in the Challenger disaster took on various forms, depending upon
the relation of the decision maker to positions of power."
- Analysis: This
involves the ability to understand the internal structure of a
concept and to manipulate that structure to show how the concept
is put together. "Conformity can take on several different aspects
(compliance, identification, internalization) but these aspects
are not as easy to separate as the simple list suggests; they flow
into each other and even transform each other at times." Just
showing the connections or structure is the beginning, but
manipulating the structure to show its flexibility or fragility is
deeper analysis.
- Synthesis: Taking
two or more concepts and showing their similarities, differences,
contrasts, contradictions, or combinations. "Some prejudice is
really a form of conformity, or is at least motivated by a desire
to fit in." Again, showing the contrast is just the beginning; you
can also show why it matters, or how it can be resolved, or why it
is interesting (see Analysis)
- Evaluation: Is
this concept up to the task its designers' set for it? Where does
it fall short? What does it leave out? What implications does it
have for other concepts or issues? If it is useful for one
purpose, might it be useful for other, similar purposes?
"Conformity can easily be over-applied to explain almost any
social decision; perhaps this is because its definition is too
vague."
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