Learning Goal: Students will know the difference between analysis and critical thinking as well as strategies to help them get better at analyzing.
What does it mean to Analyze?
Before we can learn how to be better analyzers, we need to first understand what it means to analyze something. Below is the definition from Dictionary.com
Analyze - to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of.
In order to better understand what Analytical means and how to get better at analyzing, we will read the article below.
For the remainder of class, we will practice some of our analysis skills. Remember that the goal of analyzing something is to be observant of all of the different parts so we have a better understanding of the whole.
Step 1: Identify the Parts
After watching this video, lets determine what the key parts of the story are. Essentially we are breaking down the story into parts.
Step 2: Ask Questions
Once we watch the video, I would like you to ask as many questions as you possibly can. Think about the characters, the setting, the story, etc.
Step 3: Understand how the parts fit together
As you watch this video, please analyze the parts, ask questions, and then (probably after) please tell me whether the parts of this story fit together or if they do not.
Homework: Analyze Something in Your Life
For your homework, I would like you to practice analyzing something. You can go for a walk and analyze the details around you; sit still in a room and listen to all of the sounds you can hear; or even read part of a book and recognize the details and characteristics that help you better understand the story. Please follow the steps that we have learned about today (Identifying parts, asking questions, and determining how all the parts work together) in order to complete this task. When you are done, write a reflection (about a few sentences to a paragraph) about what you did and how you used these steps for analysis.