Before you begin working on your analysis, make sure you have a clear understanding of what you are supposed to do. If you’re writing an analysis for a class, your instructor probably provided detailed instructions for completing the assignment. If not, don’t hesitate to ask them questions about what they expect of you. Try to find out:  If your analysis is supposed to answer a specific question or focus on a particular aspect of the document you are analyzing. If there are any length or formatting requirements for the analysis. The citation style your instructor wants you to use. On what criteria your instructor will evaluate your analysis (e.g., organization, originality, good use of references and quotations, or correct spelling and grammar). Most analysis assignments involve picking apart a single document. You could be asked to analyze a textual document, such as a book, a poem, an article, or a letter. Some analyses focus on visual or auditory sources, such as a painting, a photograph, or a film. Identify exactly what it is you will be analyzing, and gather basic information, such as:  The title of the document (if it has one). The name of the creator of the document. For example, depending on the type of document you’re working with, this could be the author, artist, director, performer, or photographer. The form and medium of the document (e.g., “Painting, oil on canvas”). When and where the document was created. The historical and cultural context of the work. Once you’ve gathered some basic information, examine the document closely. If your analysis is supposed to answer a specific question or address a particular aspect of the document, keep that in mind. Write down your thoughts and impressions. For example, if you’re analyzing an advertisement poster, you might make note of:  Who you believe the intended audience is for the advertisement. What rhetorical choices the author made to persuade the audience of their main point. What product is being advertised. How the poster uses images to make the product look appealing. Whether there is any text in the poster, and, if so, how it works together with the images to reinforce the message of the ad. What the purpose of the ad is or what its main point is. An analytical piece of writing should have a clear, narrow focus. It should also answer specific “how” or “why” questions about the document you are analyzing, rather than merely summarizing its contents. If your assignment doesn’t already ask you to focus on a specific question or aspect of the document, you’ll need to select one. For example, if you’re analyzing an advertisement poster, you might focus on the question: “How does this poster use colors to symbolize the problem that the product is intended to fix? Does it also use color to represent the beneficial results of using the product?” Once you’ve narrowed down the focus of your analysis, decide how you plan to answer the relevant question(s). Briefly note your major arguments. These will form the main body of your analysis.  For example, you might write, “This poster uses the color red to symbolize the pain of a headache. The blue elements in the design represent the relief brought by the product.” You could develop the argument further by saying, “The colors used in the text reinforce the use of colors in the graphic elements of the poster, helping the viewer make a direct connection between the words and images.” Simply presenting your arguments will not be enough. In order to convince the reader, you’ll need to provide supporting evidence. Most of this evidence should come from within the document that you’re analyzing, although you can also cite contextual information that might offer further support.   For example, if you’re arguing that the advertisement poster uses red to represent pain, you might point out that the figure of the headache sufferer is red, while everyone around them is blue. Another piece of evidence might be the use of red lettering for the words “HEADACHE” and “PAIN” in the text of the poster. You could also draw on outside evidence to support your claims. For example, you might point out that in the country where the advertisement was produced, the color red is often symbolically associated with warnings or danger.
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One-sentence summary -- Review your assignment carefully. Gather basic information about the subject of your analysis. Do a close reading of the document and take notes. Determine which question(s) you would like to answer with your analysis. Make a list of your main arguments. Gather evidence and examples to support your arguments.

Article: Check with local animal shelters and rescue centers to see if they need help with the organization of a fundraiser. If you cannot be there in person, offer your help by sharing information with friends and family about the event. Animal shelters and rescues provide services for many pets, some of which have faced abusive pasts. Volunteering will go a long way toward helping these institutions sustain their work. There are also organizations dedicated to rehabilitating abused farm animals that welcome the help of volunteers.  Get in touch with a shelter or sanctuary to see where they need help and how you might be most impactful. If you are unable to donate your time, spread the word to others or make a monetary donation. Pets at animal shelters were often abandoned or unwanted, and have potentially faced abuse. Adopting one of these pets will help give them a loving family and become a great addition to the family. Many shelters often have euthanasia policies due to receiving abandoned and unwanted pets at a high volume. Not only is adopting a pet giving it a happy and loving home, but it is also saving a life. If you are unable or not yet ready to adopt a pet, consider fostering animals. Many shelters and rescues are in need of foster parents willing to provide a temporary home to unwanted or abandoned animals. Being a foster parent to an animal provides the animal with more time to find a permanent home.  Every adoption agency or animal shelter has different requirements for potential fosters. Get in touch with a local adoption agency or shelter to discuss the application process and requirements for being a foster parent. Most agencies and shelters will have a foster care coordinator work with you throughout the process to help you determine which type of pet (puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, etc.) might be best for you. Most adoption agencies and animal shelters will have extensive histories available about the pet you are considering adopting or fostering. Ask the shelter or agency questions about the animal’s temperament, whether it has been fostered before, and what kinds of abuse it has suffered. The more information you have about your pet the better home you will be able to make for them.  If your pet has been fostered before, reach out to the previous foster parents to find out about the animal’s comfort zone and what actions, behaviors, or environments should be avoided. Many agencies and shelters also offer rehabilitation for abused animals. Reach out to your shelter or agency to see if your pet has been enrolled in rehabilitation or if there is a program you can enroll in together.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Participate in or start a fundraiser. Volunteer at your local animal shelter or find a nearby animal sanctuary. Adopt a shelter pet. Foster abandoned animals. Prepare yourself for the special needs abused pets might have.