Summary vs Analysis

Summarizing is when you tell what the original writing contains.  Summarizing is generally needed in order to analyze the writing.  It can sometimes be easy to over summarize.  We want to look at the writing styles, information sources and other critical information within the writing during analysis.  This information is used to draw conclusions about the author and his or her motives in writing the material.  During analysis we can find symbols and hidden meanings behind the main plot of a story.  Once we’ve found some backup information for a conclusion we’ve drawn we can make an argument about the writing.  In analysis, we can determine what kind of paper it is. It could be a pursuasive paper, a commentary, or a love novel, etc.  This will affect the ways in which we analyse the writing.  If its a pursuasive paper, we can study what kind of pursuation is being used.  If it's a love story, we can find and learn from the ways the writer is able to draw us in emotionally.  At this point in my education, I will be using what I've learned about analysis in order to find what techniques and skills I lack in becoming a good writer.  Summarizing other peoples work can be useful when describing the content of the writing to another person if they aren't able to read the writing themselves.  It is also used by students in school to show instructors that they have read the assigned material.  It is very important to understand the differences between summary and analysis.  It is also important that I be practiced at both of these so that I may do better on future assignments in all of my classes that require these type of assignments.

Here is a link to a site titled "Using summary wisely".