Articles
informative or argumentative texts from newspapers, magazines or websites
Your next step: analysing non-fiction texts
Now that you know the basic difference between fiction and non-fiction, it is time to focus on factual texts in more detail.
Articles, speeches, essays, blog posts and opinion pieces all try to communicate ideas about the real world. In a non-fiction analysis, your task is to examine how these ideas are presented, structured and supported.
In the following pages, you will learn step by step how to identify arguments, analyse language and explain what the author ultimately wants to achieve.
What kinds of texts belong here?
Non-fiction analysis applies to many kinds of factual or argumentative texts. Some of the most common examples include:
Speeches
spoken texts designed to inform, inspire or persuade an audience
Opinion pieces
texts that present a clear viewpoint supported by arguments
Essays
structured reflections on ideas, problems or public issues
Blog posts
more informal texts that still communicate real-world ideas
Interviews
question-and-answer formats revealing perspectives or expertise
The Three Core Questions
A strong non-fiction analysis is built around three simple guiding questions.
What?
What does the author say? Focus on the main ideas, claims and the line of argument.
How?
How does the author say it? Look at language, structure, tone and rhetorical devices.
Why?
Why has the text been written in this way? Think about intention, audience and effect.
The core idea
A non-fiction analysis explains how content, language and rhetorical choices work together to shape meaning and influence the reader.
Start Here
These pages guide you through the most important parts of non-fiction analysis.
What Is Non-Fiction Analysis?
Start with the fundamentals and build a clear understanding of what non-fiction analysis actually involves.
Open this page →How Do We Structure a Non-Fiction Analysis?
Learn how to organise your introduction, analytical paragraphs and conclusion in a clear and convincing way.
Open this page →In one sentence
A non-fiction analysis explains what a text says, how the author presents these ideas, and why these choices influence the reader.