Major Essay #3: Critical Analysis of a Play
Length: 3 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font
Other Requirements: At least THREE parenthetical citations, ONE source,
and a WORKS CITED PAGE
Your third major essay assignment is to use critical analysis to examine ONE of the plays we discussed in the drama unit.
You can choose whichever play that you wishjust make sure that its a play that you are able to write at LEAST three
pages over.
Your task, then, is to use critical analysis to write an essay which tells the reader three specific things about a play that we
have read and discussed in this class. The type of things that you will tell me about a play are completely up to your
imagination and critical interpretation skill. Like your previous essay, your critical analysis essay needs 3 points of
analysis, or 3 different things about the play that you would like to inform the reader of your essay about.
Example topics:
Tape is a cautionary play because it has religious imagery, it is easy to put yourself into the shoes of the main character, and it warns of the risks of punishment for a sinful life.
The play Beauty discusses the benefits of being beautiful, the benefits of being intelligent, and says that jealousy will, more often than not, lead to even more problems.
What is Critical Analysis?
The purpose of critical analysis is to use critical thinking to evaluate a work of art (in this case, drama). The reason a
writer evaluates a work of art is to help people understand the piece of art in question. A critical analysis is subjective
because it expresses the authors opinion or evaluation of a text. To write a critical analysis essay, the author must break
down and study the different parts of the play the author chooses to write about. A critical essay will be very weak unless
the author fully understands what the author is trying to say. Reading to find meaning in a text is called Critical Reading.
Critical reading:
1. Identify the author’s thesis and purpose 2. Analyze the structure of the passage by identifying all main ideas 3. Consult a dictionary or encyclopedia to understand material that is unfamiliar to you 4. Make an outline of the work or write a description of it 5. Write a summary of the work 6. Determine the purpose which could be
o To inform with factual material
o To persuade with appeal to reason or emotions
o To entertain (to affect people’s emotions)
7. Evaluate the means by which the author has accomplished his purpose
If the purpose is to inform, has the material been presented clearly, accurately, with order and coherence?
If the purpose is to persuade, look for evidence, logical reasoning, contrary evidence
If the purpose was to entertain, determine how emotions are affected: does it make you laugh, cry, angry? Why
did it affect you?
Remember:
Avoid introducing your ideas by stating “I think” or “in my opinion.” Keep the focus on the subject of your analysis, not
on yourself. Identifying your opinions weakens them.
Always introduce the work. Do not assume that because your reader knows what you are writing about, you do not need
to mention the work’s title.
Other questions to consider: Is there a controversy surrounding either the passage or the subject which it concerns?
What about the subject matter is of current interest?
What is the overall value of the passage?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Support your thesis with detailed evidence from the text examined. Do not forget to document quotes and paraphrases.
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