How to do a letter analysis. How to do text analysis: plan and steps

Writing is one of the informative elements in the study of personality. By writing, you can determine the level of education of the writer, emotional state, impaired speech and psyche, some character traits.

Typically, analysis requires graphic material. Its optimal value is half the standard sheet. Characterological signs are most clearly manifested in samples executed arbitrarily, in personal notes, diaries, letters, etc. An important characteristic of writing is the elaboration of handwriting. Each person has his own level of development defined and characteristic only for him, which develops gradually and is determined by education and written practice. Writing, like a mirror, reflects many features and qualities of a person. For example, people with mental disorders are characterized by poor organization of handwriting, the presence of jewelry, fragmentary, different sizes of letters, etc.

Systematization and evaluation of personality data. The basis of the systematization of data on the personality of interest to a lawyer should be based on:

1) the principle of the study of personality in activity;

2) the principle of integrity of personality

3) the principle of a concrete historical approach.

The principle of the study of personality in activity It aims us to analyze the activities of the person under study and to compare this activity with his statements, as well as to study the forms of activity.

Principle of integrity in the study and evaluation of personality requires taking into account the totality of traits, reactions, qualities, properties and relationships. N.G. Chernyshevsky believed that it was necessary "... to consider each side of a person’s activity as the activity of his whole organism from head to toe inclusively."

Such a system of actions for obtaining the necessary information is laid down in the “Personality Study Scheme”.

The principle of a concrete historical approach to assess the person of interest involves the study of the life history of the person being evaluated, his growth and development, as well as the conditions in which he was socialized.

Thus, when assessing a person in a communication process, a lawyer must understand the reactions of the person, body, hands, voice and speech of the interlocutor. At the same time, using available psychological knowledge and skills, he should be aimed at studying the expressive reactions of the face, eye movements, physique, postures, gait, gestures, voice and speech, with the help of which he can draw conclusions as a type of personality, psychological state of his the interlocutor, and about the psychological processes taking place inside him. The correct and skillful application of psychological knowledge will help a lawyer in the process of communication to obtain, on the one hand, maximum information about a person of operational interest, correctly predict his behavior, and, on the other hand, remain “unsolved” for his interlocutor.

The PROGRAM analyzes the mood and emotional state of a person based on the text of his email message!

The principle of analysis is quite simple - each letter of the Russian language has a certain frequency of occurrence, and each sound of human speech has a certain subconscious meaning. For the first time, these values \u200b\u200bwere set by an American Charles Osgood using a survey of a large audience. For the Russian language, these values \u200b\u200bwere determined at one time by a Soviet scientist, Doctor of Philology A. Zhuravlev. As a result of his doctoral dissertation, the phonosemantic significance of each sound of Russian speech was established. Using a survey of thousands of people, he determined the qualitative characteristics of each sound of Russian speech, namely what it is on the following 25 scales:

good bad,
   beautiful - repulsive,
   joyful - sad
   light dark,
   light heavy,
   safe is scary
   kind angry,
   simple - complex
   smooth - rough
   rounded - angular,
   big small,
   rough - tender
   courageous - feminine,
   strong - weak
   cold - hot
   majestic - vile
   loud - quiet
   mighty - frail
   funny - sad
   bright - dull
   mobile - slow
   fast - slow
   active - passive.

All sounds of the Russian language are rated on these scales. In turn, high-quality phonosemantic scales make it possible to assess the effect of sounds on a person’s emotional state and vice versa, to determine how the mood of a person finds expression in certain sounds - more precisely, the letters of the text of the letter. Each letter of the Russian language has a certain frequency of occurrence. Accordingly, if a person in a letter uses certain sounds (letters) more often or less than their average frequency of occurrence, then these sounds have a certain subconscious significance for this person. In turn, this characterizes the mood of a person ...

Now you can check For example, you can copy and analyze this article.

To analyze letters, it must be remembered that the shorter the analyzed letter and the less material for analysis - the less accurate the results. It is desirable that the length of the letter is at least 1000 characters. It is also very important that the analyzed text or letter contain a minimum of special terms. This analysis will be inaccurate on specialized texts, it is designed specifically for letters of a personal nature.

Each student asks a question: how to do text analysis when it comes time to complete such a task. The first thing to start with is to make a plan. And then, following the steps, analyze the proposed text. In fact, nothing complicated.

What is text analysis?

So, more details. Analysis is a short description method (short retelling) to better understand the meaning. You can analyze anything you like: a poem, a text, an act, spoken words, and so on. The main thing is to follow some rules. As for the analysis of the text on school subjects (literature or the Russian language), this lesson helps to not only read books, but to read meaningfully. So that after reading it was easy to retell the work and catch the author’s thought. Of course, in the first stages, the student will ask himself the question of how to analyze the text. But later it will become easier for him to understand the works when they become more complex. This method of work also helps to tune in to creative work and reveals personal perception.

Comprehensive text analysis

This assignment includes many parameters that make it easier to understand a passage from a work. But a clear instruction or scheme does not exist, although it is necessary to adhere to some plan in order to draw up the text of the analysis, where the conclusion will follow from certain facts supported by the arguments given.

It is worth starting with the fact that after reading, you must head the text. So for yourself you can determine the topic and theme and already at first answer the question: "what did the author want to say with this passage?"

It is worth remembering that the topic is a matter of reasoning. And the topic is a collection of topics that may be in the proposed passage.

To help with the analysis, communication tools that are divided into lexical and morphological ones can be used. Those. it is necessary to determine whether synonyms, repetitions, conjunctions, verbs and participles are used.

It is necessary to mention the style of the text, which can be artistic, official-business, scientific or conversational. It should also be clarified what type of speech is used: narration, reasoning or description.

Knowing all the moments will undoubtedly help in the analysis, and the student will no longer ask the question: how to analyze the text. He immediately, according to a certain plan, will begin to study the proposed work, and in the end he can easily draw a conclusion with the arguments given.

In Russian language and literature

And finally. Analysis of texts in the Russian language and literature may differ slightly from each other. If it is taken from any work, it is necessary to use several identical steps. In order:

- legend, poem, parable, memory, essay
Theme of the text - any work has its own theme
What are the techniques used to build the text - repetitions, contrasts, amplification, dynamism, contemplation
Use of visual aids
The overall impression of the read - if you carefully read the text, then a certain impression will definitely remain, and you should tell about it at the very end of the analysis

Example

How to analyze the text of the submitted passage? The following is an example:

It should be disassembled in steps to see the underlying meaning.

The author’s thought is to show and tell about the participants of the hunt, and on the other hand to demonstrate the greatness of nature.
Type and style - this is a work of art, or rather a narrative with elements of description.
Communication and artistic means - unions (and, but), adverbs (long, hard, away). The main technique is antithesis, i.e. when there is a contrast - verbs (jump out, rush and besiege, freezes), adjectives (desperate, mad and dead). There are also epithets, metaphors, gradations.
Syntactic features - simple sentences are used, which are also part of complex, common definitions and circumstances.
Spelling features - unstressed vowels in the root (hooves, valley), alternating vowels in the root (freeze, pop out).

Nowadays, it is generally true that a political text is a bad text ... Insincerity is the main enemy of a clear and clear language. Where there is a gap between real and declared goals, a person instinctively turns to long sentences and exhausting idioms, like a cuttlefish, releasing an ink trail ... - George Orwell, Politics and English

This guide is designed to help students learn professional writing skills. The following general considerations should be followed:

decision makers appreciate good text;
analysts who cannot write good texts lose their jobs;
work on the text is painful, but it goes away over time;
a tutorial on professional political writing can help students overcome the stressful situation of working on a text.

The fundamental premise that we followed when starting work on this tutorial is the understanding that political analysis is the art of using facts for persuasion. This guide addresses analysis and argumentation, the process and the final product. It should not be used as a template or tracing paper, but as a reference tool to help the analyst realize the fact that the analysis process and the process of writing the text are a single effort.

1. Why do I need to read this manual?

You should read this guide because it will help you become a more successful political analyst. The most important skill with which you can come to this job is the ability to express your thoughts clearly and convincingly in writing.

Bad writing is verbose, pointless or unproven, overloaded with technical jargon or unpronounceable constructions. Good writing is convincing, decisive, and concise. Anyone who writes well and sincerely deserves a reputation as a person who knows the art of “telling the truth of power”. Your awards will be professional authority, interesting projects and the ability to influence public policy.

In this guide, we will talk about how to develop analytical materials that are solution-oriented and addressed to a specific audience. The criterion for the success of the analyst is the extent to which his audience acts on the basis of his advice and recommendations. Research, analysis and work on the text is a single creative effort in the presentation of judgment, supported by facts and evidence.

2. What is a professional writing?

Writing professionally means being involved in problem solving. This means identifying the problem, developing alternative ways to improve the situation, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each significant action option. Good professional writing is relevant, customer-oriented, action-oriented and analytical. It is most directly related to your ability to formulate a situation, collect and analyze information, and structure useful advice.

Customer focus

Do not write for the Lord God; write for your client. It is impossible to foresee all possible consequences for all parties involved, all significant values, or all possible alternatives. Build your analysis, focusing on the specific jurisdiction of the client, the institutional and political limitations of his position. Measure the costs and consequences of specific political alternatives based on your client’s specific values. In this way, you define a benchmark in relation to which other clients and interested parties can measure their own value positions.

Act

Do not tell customers what you know; tell them what they need to know. A simple understanding is not the goal of your work. Analytical material should talk about how such an understanding can be realized in action. Even if you cannot give specific recommendations, you must clearly indicate the values, the trade-offs between them, or the risks that the client must take into account in his decision. Tell your customers what their next steps should be, even if the next step is taking responsibility for a difficult choice.

Your role

Position yourself based not on what you know, but on the basis of what you can find out. Information is always doubtful, volatile and situational. Your self-determination should not depend on what you know about this issue at a given time. You write good analytical materials not because of what you know at the start, but because you are able to learn to the finish line.

3. From this place, please, in more detail: how should I get involved in the process of solving problems ...

Political and managerial problems are bad because the “reasons” are usually not obvious and not universally recognized, political interests interfere and influence the process, and the future is risky and unpredictable. In this context, the most significant professional skill is not the ability to "sell", but the ability to design, identify hidden opportunities and prospects. The expected costs and consequences of each action option, including the status quo, should be clearly communicated to the client. Analysis and work on the text is a holistic process through which you: identify and formulate your definition of the problem; articulate the goals that are facing the client; You develop realistic solutions; you combine theory and facts to determine the possible consequences of certain actions.

Identify the problem

Find out what losses (or missed opportunities) in this situation may be of interest to the client. Many “problems” appear in the wrapper of “political rhetoric”: one of the simple ways to clear the problem is to identify parties whose interests may be infringed on in this situation.

Do not lose sight of the boundaries of jurisdiction. Do not formulate the problem so broadly that the proposed “options” are beyond the capabilities of the client. Do not anticipate the decision. A definition of a problem that is itself a solution should not be given. (For example, a problem defined as “school classes are too crowded” can only be solved by reducing the number of students in classes, ignoring alternatives such as improving the curriculum and improving the quality of teaching. The wording “students do not receive quality education” opens up scope for research other alternative solutions)

Clearly articulate goals and objectives

Indicate openly the values \u200b\u200btaken into account in your analysis. Assessing the possible consequences using a clear criterion, you can more fully identify the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative. A good system of criteria makes it easier to understand the trade-offs between various significant values, and allows interested parties to overestimate your calculations from their value positions.

Evaluate your client’s position on the following fundamental points: what criteria distinguish a good decision from a bad one? Costs? Benefits? Efficiency? Justice? What is the best way to measure these criteria: in cost? In the output? In the results?

You do not have to share the value preferences of your client, but you must clearly show how these values \u200b\u200bwill be affected by the proposed alternatives. This does not mean that your own value preferences do not matter. They have. But offering your own solution, you should not hide it behind ambiguous phrases and omissions. In a situation of significant value disagreements with the client, one should act on the basis of the conscious possibilities of protest (involving the client in a dispute), withdrawal (resignation) or disloyalty.

Plan the implementation phase

Develop alternatives that are legal in nature, politically passable, and have a chance of practical implementation in this life. Do not contrast the deeply discredited status quo with an ideal alternative that works only in theory. Have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe behavioral and organizational assumptions suggested by your recommendations. Do not hope that you can think about implementation after the political decision has been worked out, analyzed and adopted. If you first decide what to do, leaving for later thoughts on how this should be done, you are on the right track to failure. For example, if you find that an advertising campaign will reduce your drug use, think about what types of media are best suited for this, what sources of funding can be, and which organizations can help and participate in the campaign. A successful political project always involves negotiations on a new relationship structure, and focusing attention on implementation makes it possible to identify such new relationships.

Start with the status quo

Political analysis is the art of possible improvements. Always consider the status quo as the basis against which other alternatives are evaluated. Remember that not making a decision is also a decision.

Be critical of theories and facts.

It is necessary to cultivate an understanding that theories can be wrong, and factual data be deceiving. Do not reject counterarguments, treat information sources with some skepticism, be aware of the possible weaknesses in the assumptions made in your analysis.

4. How can I still find the right answer?

Remember the compromises

Don't rely on finding the “best” solution. Use the resources available to you (time, information and analytical skills) to find out as much as possible about the likely consequences, rather than putting yourself in the hands of pure speculation. Do not be like a pocket calculator, which displays the only answer on the display, hiding the entire chain of intermediate calculations under a plastic case. Support your recommendations with a clear and meaningful statement of the possible consequences and risk factors, as well as value priorities that are significant in weighing and evaluating alternatives. Help the client understand what he can sacrifice in order to get the desired result.

Evaluate alternatives using a single criteria system

The consequences of all significant alternatives should be compared on the basis of a single system of criteria. Do not selectively apply criteria, trying to single out one alternative at the expense of others.

A useful tool that summarizes the argument about this is the matrix of alternatives and criteria. Do not get carried away with assigning ratings and grades, such as “high / medium / low” or “better / no change / worse”. They do not carry enough information to support meaningful judgment and decision.

Compare the effects

Conflicting and hard-to-measure goals often make it difficult to compare alternatives. Help the client understand the range of benefits and costs by highlighting alternatives with extreme metrics. Draw the client's attention to alternatives that dominate the others by all criteria, or are inferior to them. Highlight the “required” criteria, helping the client filter out alternatives that do not meet these criteria. Legality, political cross-country and practical feasibility should be considered as mandatory criteria.

5. So the first step in the analysis is data collection, right?

Wrong. Research, analysis and compilation of the text are not sequential, separate steps. Begin to ponder and write the text before you start collecting data, and continue to consistently improve your product. Discuss your work with colleagues, insist on constructive criticism of the draft options. From the very beginning, plan the deadlines for delivering the material. A speedy deadline necessarily limits the depth and scope of your analysis.

Work in reverse order

Many make a typical mistake: they delve deeper into collecting material and taking notes of sources, take numerous notes, and then try to organize them into a single text. And only at the end they think about what they want to say with all this, what is the main idea. On the contrary, before delving into the collection and analysis of information, make a rough sketch: outline the preliminary formulation of the problem, a list of evaluation criteria, and a possible range of solutions. In the beginning, rely on your “everyday view", common sense, and well-known facts. Find out what information you need to find, and discuss the initial draft with a client or colleagues before spending time and effort on an in-depth study.

Make the first draft report as early as possible, and discuss it with the client whenever possible. As you research and analyze information, make changes and fill in the missing text elements.

Keep track of time

You will never have enough time to do the perfect analysis. Even a minor problem could take an unlimited amount of time if you had it; even a very large problem may require an almost immediate solution. Sometimes your only chance to improve the quality of your decision will be a “quick and dirty” analysis. You must be aware of the time frame of your client, and do the work in accordance with this framework. A late analysis is worse than a lack of analysis (because you can’t influence the decision you made, and at the same time you spend the allocated resources on nothing). In turn, a timely but imperfect analysis that improves a decision is almost always better than a lack of analysis. If you are strictly limited in time, identify white spots and questions that could be filled in, have more time.

Use a variety of sources

Don't let yourself get bogged down in a research quagmire. Use a variety of sources of information. Learn to move freely from government publications to interviews, from political reports to academic research.

6. How do I earn credibility?

Avoid the dummy

Do not formulate alternatives, "dummies." If the alternative is not worthy of attention, it should not be in your analysis. The exception is the status quo option: even if you consider the current state of affairs unacceptable, its analysis makes it possible to demonstrate the costs and consequences of maintaining it.

Avoid surprises

Do not try to “sell” the alternative, showing only its positive aspects. As you identify all the pros and cons, clearly show in your analysis the weaknesses of the recommended alternative. Also clearly show the virtues of the status quo. By doing so, you will successfully pass the test for the absence of surprises for your client. You should not rely on what will blow this time, and your recommendations, as usual, will be ignored :-)) Putting your client in a position where he learns about the weaknesses of your recommended actions from his political opponents is not the best career strategy for political analyst.

Good payer is one who pays ahead

Do not put off contact with the opposition to those alternatives that you recommend. Opponents are always the best teachers, because they have enough motivation to find weaknesses in your position. Whenever possible, try to engage opponents in collegial working relationships by inviting them to exchange draft materials that clarify various points of view and alternatives. If you cannot choose whether to “pay” or “not pay” to overcome the opposition, at least do it earlier. Paying in advance usually involves accounts with lower amounts and with more reasonable payment periods.

Build support

Do not expect that you can build political support after you have finished formulating the decision. Take care of support as you develop possible alternatives and design their implementation. One of the arguments in favor of an iterative analytical process (i.e. familiarizing others with different draft options and their consistent improvement in the process) is that you can pose the following questions to key stakeholders:

do these proposals contribute to our goals and objectives?
is the right alternative recommended, and how well is it formulated?
do you see ways and means to improve it?
can you count on your support?
for your part, are you ready to take the actions laid down in the implementation project?

7. Listen, I can never bring it all together!

Build a pyramid

Your argument should be structured like a pyramid, where the main idea forms the top, and the details supporting it are completed to the base. The material should begin with a section containing a summary of the issue and the essence of the proposed recommendations. It should be designed in such a way that the reader understands the meaning of the recommendations after a 30-second session. At the end of the text sets out the specific steps and actions that the client must take.

The key must match the lock

Do not think that the finished analytical material is a set of separately taken elements, such as formulating a problem, comparing several alternatives and choosing one of them, as well as an action plan to put it into practice. All these elements must be fitted to each other as a key to the lock. The wording of the problem, for example, raises questions for which the recommended alternative is the answer. The implementation plan clarifies what exactly should be done by whom and when to make this recommendation a reality.

Such a “key and lock” test can help you to see the original problem differently after you finish the analysis. Having drawn up the final implementation plan, review the text again to make sure that the plan gives a clear shape the recommended alternative, which in turn provides an answer to the original problem that you have formulated, etc.

Be selective about details

Select the collected data and the attached documentation so that they are presented concisely, clearly, helping the reader, and not bothering him. Use charts and diagrams to illustrate or draw attention to the most important points. Take the technical details to the applications.

Avoid overwhelming information. Excess information requires extra effort from the reader. Refrain from the desire to include in the text everything that you managed to find out on this problem.

Don't let contextual details blur the essence of your message. A verbose exposition of context can simply slow down the reader. Try to intelligently intersperse contextual details in the description of the problem or in the formulation of alternative solutions. Be smart about composing applications. Include only information that significantly enhances your understanding of your recommendations. Be selective.

Do not forget about visibility

Do not leave the client face to face with charts, diagrams, and applications: help him navigate them. Provide text for the application that relates the reader to the part of the analysis that this proposal is intended to reinforce. Make sure that the meaning of each graph or table is obvious at a glance, and their name reflects this meaning (for example: “Graph 1: The budget deficit will be reduced by 15% in three years”). The titles of sections and paragraphs should also contain the basic idea (for example: “Problem statement: second-hand smoke increases the risk of cancer”).

Be more simple

Your text should be easily perceived by the reader, unfamiliar or indifferent to your organization and its problems. Use a simple language, avoid bureaucratic jargon, hide technical details in footnotes and applications.

Respect the format

Each organization has preferred documentation formats that should be respected and respected. This contributes to the implementation of communication and perception of information. If necessary, ask your colleagues how to arrange your material in accordance with organizational preferences.

Encourage comments

If the organizational format allows, leave enough space in the draft text for notes and comments. Typical tricks are setting a triple spacing between lines, using enlarged margins on the side that matches the client’s preferences (what if he’s left-handed?), Or a page break after each section.

Check for errors

And after checking, check again. Make sure that the data in the tables is summarized properly. Minor errors and typos can undermine the credibility of the most magnificent works.

It is not enough to convince the client that the decision is correct and necessary. It is also necessary to show how the desired goal can be achieved. What steps should be taken, by whom and when? Make sure that your plan identifies each necessary step, a specific date, as well as the person responsible for its implementation.

Remember the clients of your client

When doing analysis for specific customers, remember that each of them, in turn, is limited to others. The usefulness of your work for the client will be the higher, the greater the number of significant people for him who can share your enthusiasm. Remember the clients of your client when finishing work on the project: for example, provide the text with applications that the client could send to those whose advice he needs, deciding whether to follow the suggested recommendations.

Anticipate customer needs

Think about what the client can ask you in the development of the topic, and outline a draft plan in advance. For example, when it is supposed to send analytical material on behalf of the client to higher authorities, prepare the text of the cover letter; if you expect the client to issue a decree based on the recommendations made, attach his draft to the text.

Facilitate customer actions

Do not let your analysis end up in a folder of papers awaiting a decision. Help the client make a decision on your paper immediately. For example, attach to the text a short menu of options for actions or instructions that can be marked by the client directly after reading the material (even if it is formulated as “return the material for revision taking into account the comments made”).

Tell your customers what they need to know, not what you know.
Start writing the text before and during the study, and then rewrite and rewrite until the deadline arrives.
Do not hide the value preferences of the client and your own.
Plan your implementation.
Anticipate objections and identify trade-offs.
Build internal and external support as you analyze.
Start the text with a brief summary (conclusions and recommendations) and end it with an implementation plan.
Make text simple and interesting for the reader.
If necessary, ignore tips 1 through 8.
Tell the truth!

(translation: S.G. Turonok)

Juliet Musso, Robert Biller and Robert Myrtle. “Tradecraft: Professional Writing as Problem Solving” // Journal of Policy Analysis and Management - Vol.19, No. 4, 2000. - pp.635-646

Odessa is a city of love, hope, inspiration. It is here that A.S. Pushkin moves from Chisinau. The poet settles in the office, which was headed by Count Mikhail Vorontsov. The relationship between the count and the poet develops well: A.S. Pushkin often comes to a friend and entertains guests with his work. But the relationship between them changes dramatically not for the better after the poet meets the count's wife.

The pregnant woman looked tired and painful. Elizabeth caused pity for A.S. Pushkin. Six months have passed and the poet meets her again at a social reception. This time he was pleasantly surprised. Before him stood a beautiful lady, smart, well-read, pretty. From the first moments of communication, they experience mutual sympathy for each other. Between Vorontsova and Pushkin, an affair begins. In addition, the countess does not hide this relationship from her husband. Naturally, rumors are spreading around Odessa about the graph at the speed of light. Vorontsov did not like this, and he did everything to expel the poet from the city. Before leaving for the capital, the countess presented A.S. Pushkin with a present, a chic ring with a stone. A similar ring remained with her.

The poet was aware that it is unlikely ever in his life to meet his beloved. Vorontsova wanted to end her relationship with Pushkin, however, correspondence continued even after the poet left the city. But the countess insisted that all her letters should be burned.

Throwing another letter into the fire, Pushkin decided to write the poem "Burned Letter." The poet hesitated for a long time, did not want to burn messages, but was forced to perform these actions, since this was the desire of his beloved. The promise is above all, an instant passes, and the poet's messages smolder in flames.

At this moment, the author was sad, since the messages from Vorontsova were all that remained of his relationship. It is much harder for Pushkin to burn letters of his beloved with his own hands, then, having no chance to re-read them again.

The poetic size is a six-foot iambus. Pushkin we use male rhyme, in the last lines of rhyme is absent. The genre of the poem is a combination of message, elegy and romance.

Poem Analysis Burnt Plan Letter