This LibGuide introduces you to critical analysis, one of the most important aspects of academic study, but also one of the most difficult to understand. This guide is designed to provide a conceptual overview of critical analysis, as well as related concepts such as evaluation, and then to give more practical advice on how to introduce it. Here are the steps to follow when writing a body paragraph for a literary analysis essay: Start with a topic sentence: The topic sentence should introduce the main point or argument that you are going to make. Textual analysis is the most important method in literary studies. Almost all work in this field involves in-depth analysis of texts – in this context, usually novels, poems, stories, or plays. Because it deals with literary writing, this type of textual analysis places more emphasis on the deliberately constructed elements of a text: for example, rhyme. Critical writing requires you to apply interpretation, analysis, and evaluation of the descriptions you have provided. Critical writing often answers questions phrased as “how” or “why.” Often, critical writing will ask you to construct an argument supported by evidence. Some indicators of critical writing are: Investigation of positive aspects. A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of existing research on a particular topic. It provides an overview of the current state of knowledge, identifies gaps and highlights key findings from the literature. The purpose of a literature review is to place your own research in the context of existing research.