Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Different Ways of Analyzing Text
Analyzing involves digging deeper into the meaning of the text. It goes beyond memorizing facts, dates, and names. It requires more than main ideas and details. Analyzing means forming an educated opinion about what you have read.
One way to analyze is to form questions about the text. These might include the five "W" questions: who, what, where, when, and why. For example, you might ask why a character said or did something specific in the story. Then you might ask, "How did that contribute to the storyline?" Put yourself in the author's place, and then try to figure out answers to your questions.
This type of analysis can also be used with non-fiction texts. The answers to your questions will be factual at first. But then you can try to find deeper meaning and form an opinion about what you have read. For example, when reading a history article, you may ask, "Who were the key figures in this battle?" Your answer will be a list of names. But then dig deeper by asking, "How did their actions contribute to the win (or loss) of the battle?" By doing this you are trying to analyze their leadership skills to form an opinion in your own mind. Would you have wanted to go into battle with this leader?
