How to Write an Analytical Essay: From Observation to Claim

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This video provides a comprehensive guide to high school analytical writing, breaking down the complex cognitive process of analysis into three manageable steps: observing, reflecting, and making a claim. Through a clever opening skit featuring "Dr. Rorschach," the narrator distinguishes between simple observation (what you see) and psychological interpretation (what it means), setting the stage for how students should approach texts and images in the classroom. The content explores key themes such as the difference between summary and analysis, the importance of creating specific and arguable thesis statements, and the fallacy of trying to guess "authorial intent." It uses Vincent van Gogh's famous painting "The Starry Night" as a central case study, modeling exactly how to move from listing visual details (colors, shapes, scale) to formulating a sophisticated argument about the insignificance of humanity compared to the power of nature. For educators, this video serves as an excellent foundational lesson for any unit on essay writing, literary analysis, or document-based historical inquiry. It offers a clear, repeatable framework that helps students overcome "blank page syndrome" by giving them concrete tasks—starting with simple observation—before asking them to generate complex arguments. The video is structured to function as a standalone workshop with built-in pause points for student practice.