Identify, Explain, AnalyzeHow do I know which one I am doing in my essays?

IdentifyingDictionary.com definition:Identify –verb (used with object) to recognize or establish as being a particular person or thing; verify the identity of: to identify handwriting; to identify the bearer of a check.

Identifying is when you just relate to the reader of your answer what is going on- there is no judgment involved; it is just a statement of fact.

ExampleMontag’s wife attempts to kill herself by taking a lot of sleeping pills. Montag figures out what she is doing and gets medical assistance they use a machine that separates the good and bad things in her and saves her life. (from student literature circle entry for Fahrenheit 451.)

ExplainingDictionary.com definition:Explain –verb (used with object) 1. to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible: to explain an obscure point. 2. to make known in detail: to explain how to do something. 3. to assign a meaning to; interpret: How can you explain such a silly remark? 4. to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I cannot explain his strange behavior.

Explaining is when you take a part of the text and interpret it, either by examples or inferences.

ExampleDuring the 1950s, television became the main source of media and entertainment for people.  Although television was invented in the 20s, it became very popular during the 50s.  It allowed people to know what was going on in the world around them-- they were now able to broadcast stories live, which made people feel more connected with events that were happening.  This relates to Fahrenheit 451 because in the novel, Bradbury talks about TV walls, which seem similar to the flat-screens we have today except they take up the whole wall.  (from student literature circle entry for Fahrenheit 451.)

AnalyzingDictionary.com definition:Analyze –verb (used with object), -lyzed, -lyz·ing. 1. to separate (a material or abstract entity) into constituent parts or elements; determine the elements or essential features of ( opposed to synthesize): to analyze an argument. 2. to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of: to analyze a poem. 3. to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible results, etc.

Analyzing is when you take the facts/ideas that you have learned/inferred and use them to make an assertion or formulate a theory. There is judgment involved; you have to apply what you know in order to critically examine the text.

ExampleThe second half of Part I was much more interesting compared to the first half of Part I.  Montag and the reader are informed of the history of the firefighters profession by Beatty, and with the disappearance of Clarisse, Montag begins to question how “bad” books really are for society.  An issue, which I thought to be interesting, was happiness.  Montag feels sick knowing the elderly woman committed suicide for her books and beliefs.  When Beatty visits the house, he explains to Montag that the firefighters goal is to make people happy by taking away the ideas and objects that would cause unhappiness.  It was a viewpoint which I had not yet thought of and based on Beatty’s description of the “Happiness Boys” who “stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought” it became almost distracting for me to read the rest.  I deemed the idea that the firefighters created happiness through burning and destroying others ideas and books as ironic. (from student literature circle entry for Fahrenheit 451.)