Essay Analysis Test Answers Flashcards
- Identify the TOPIC and who the author’s intended AUDIENCE is. You need to be able to identify two specific (“anyone” or “adults” would be vague and unacceptable) attributes of who the author would want to read their message.
The topic of the essay is anxiety and the author’s personal struggles with it, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author’s intended audience could be people who do not fully understand anxiety and are interested in gaining insight into the experience because perhaps people around them suffer from it.
- a) In one or two sentences, identify the essay’s THESIS (whether it is explicit or implicit).
The thesis is implicit and implies that as a result of COVID-19, mental health has declined, specifically anxiety and depression have become more prevalent, due to the increased fear of dying.
b) Identify the ESSAY PURPOSE and justify with TWO characteristics of this purpose
are evident in this essay. Explain how the purpose and thesis connect.
The essay’s purpose is personal/reflective and this can be showcased through a first-person point of view and personal experiences. The first-person point of view is evident through the use of personal pronouns such as I, my, and me. The personal experiences can be seen when the author discusses his anxiety attack in the coffee shop drive-through and his lack of going out due to COVID-19. The purpose and thesis connect because the purpose showcases how the author has had a personal experience with declining mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Identify ONE method of development that is utilized for one argument (usually in a par or two, though may cover more), by applying THREE specific characteristics of the MOD with examples from the essay. Be sure to include what the argument is and how this argument supports the thesis.
`One method of development that is utilized, is within the argument that the author has personally experienced the effects of COVID-19 on his mental health through anxiety.
This method of development is descriptive and occurs within the paragraph that states, “The world began to close in on me. My chest felt tighter. I couldn’t back my car out, I couldn’t go forward. I tried to distract myself by changing radio stations, checking Twitter, and sanitizing my hands. I fumbled in my pocket for a Clonazepam and leaned back in the seat, trying to slow my breathing.” This argument supports the thesis because it provides a firsthand experience of an anxiety attack that was more likely to happen due to COVID-19’s negative effect on mental health, specifically within the author’s life. Three specific characteristics of the descriptive method of development that are shown here are: 1) the spatial/directional pattern - the author describes the area around them from where they are looking first to last, 2) appeals to the 5 senses - the author describes how anxiety, looks, feels, sounds, tastes, and smells like, 3) it answers the question “what [anxiety] is like?” - by describing it through descriptive language.
- Identify a SECOND method of development in one of the arguments (usually in a par or two) using three different characteristics of the MOD with examples from the essay. Be sure to include how this argument supports the thesis.
Another method of development that is utilized, is within the argument that the author has personally experienced the effects of COVID-19 on his mental health through depression. This method of development is Cause-and-Effect and occurs in the paragraph that states, “Not only have my anxiety levels increased during this time but it has led to increased depression, the first cousin of anxiety. I’ve dealt with various bouts over my life and for the most part, I have been able to stave off anything serious. I’m not suicidal. Yet, realistically, who pictures themselves being dropped off at Emergency for the last time with their final playlist in hand, and can say there’s not some depression at work there?” This argument supports the thesis because it provides a firsthand experience of depressing thoughts that were more likely to happen due to COVID-19’s effect on mental health, specifically within the author’s life. Three specific characteristics of the Cause-and-Effect method of development that are shown here are: 1) the use of transitional words such as “led to”, 2) that it answers the question “What are the results of COVID-19” because the time the author is referring to is the time of the pandemic, and 3)it makes use of the Cause-and-Effect pattern that one cause has multiple effects because both anxiety and depression are a result of covid.
Quotation: “I measure my anxiety levels on a Spinal Tap scale that goes to 11. If No. 11 is a full-blown, “get outta here” anxiety attack, and No. 2 is my prepandemic baseline, then the fear of COVID-19 and the steady drumbeat of mostly negative news has me ticking along at 5 or 6 as my new normal. It’s not a big leap to go to 11.”
Identify and define the device.
Explain how the device was used to develop the thesis.
Allusion: A reference to something from history, pop culture, literature, etc.
This allusion refers to the movie “This Is Spinal Tap,” where the amp goes to 11 to indicate extreme intensity. This connects to the thesis because in order to explain just how negatively COVID-19 has impacted the author’s mental health, the scale is now normally always at a 5 or a 6 out of 11, which is still high and not far from the extreme 11.
Quotation: “I equate it [anxiety] to an app on my phone that’s running in the background, slowly draining the battery.”
Identify and define the device.
Explain how the device was used to develop the thesis.
Metaphor: A figurative comparison without using like or as.
This metaphor compares the anxiety in the author’s life to an app on his phone that’s running in the background and slowly draining his energy. This device is used to develop the thesis because it gives a firsthand perspective of how the author’s mental health has declined since COVID-19.
Quotation: “I’ve had more anxiety attacks than usual during these pandemic times. Acute anxiety is a condition I have been dealing with for much of my adult life. I’ve been treated for it and keep it mostly in check. But it lurks, and lately, it’s been at a higher baseline.”
Identify and define the device.
Explain how the device was used to develop the thesis.
Personification: Figure of speech using human characteristics towards an inanimate object.
This personification gives the human characteristic of “lurking” to anxiety to explain how it is always present in the author’s life. This builds the thesis because lately, the anxiety has been “lurking” more due to how COVID-19 has negatively impacted the author’s mental health.
“Anxiety is like an open app, running in the background and draining my battery”
Simile
“Hello darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.”
Personification & Allusion to the song “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel.
“Sometimes anxiety washes over me when I’m listening to music or watching TV.”
Personification
“My chest felt tighter. I couldn’t back my car out, I couldn’t go forward. I tried to distract myself by changing radio stations, checking Twitter, sanitizing my hands. I fumbled in my pocket for a Clonazepam and leaned back in the seat, trying to slow my breathing. The guy behind me honked at me for leaving too much of a gap between cars.”
Imagery
“I couldn’t back my car out, I couldn’t go forward”
Anaphora
“Anxiety can be fattening.”
Metaphor
“I’ve had more anxiety attacks than usual during these pandemic times. Acute anxiety is a condition I have been dealing with for much of my adult life. I’ve been treated for it and keep it mostly in check. But it lurks, and lately, it’s been at a higher baseline.”
Personification
