Can't find flow

[shooterblitz]

So I've had this goal of writing one language analysis piece a day since Saturday. I managed to finish one over the weekend, and everyday this week till today, I've managed to write a strong introduction, begin my first argument and just lose my flow.

I can't seem to find a particular direction if that makes any sense. I read the article once, and am able to identify the contention + sub-contention's, but by the time I approach the first paragraph, I just get so confused with the whole article, that I find it difficult to put pen to paper.

I start feeling intimidated by the amount of information I need to analyse, as well as the quoting business. I have 3 language analysis pieces with only an introduction and half a first argument, sitting on my desk.

Any advice?

[meganrobyn]

Find the person or thing the author feels most negatively about. Try to find a word or phrase that expresses how they feel. For example, in the LA from the exam last year you might decide that the author feels *most* negatively about ebooks; you might then decide that her major negative opinion is kind of more like doubt and scepticism. Bang - that's your first BP. Go through and just hit "doubt and scepticism" hard, focusing only on that. What is every bit of the piece that gives you doubt and scepticism about ebooks, and how does it?

Then you find the person or thing the author feels most positively about. Try to find a word or phrase that expresses how they feel. For example, in the same piece you might decide she feels most warmly towards reading as an activity; you might then decide that her major positive opinion is delight and awe. Bang - that's your last BP. Go through and find everything that communicates "delight and awe", and explain how.

Then you just need one or two other things she has an opinion about (opinion = tone). They go in the middle. For last year's, you might decide that BP2 is concern for children, for instance. Go hard on 'concern' for the whole para.

I find that most often people lose steam when they're too general and descriptive - after an intro and one paragraph, you've kind of described all there is to describe! Focus on the contention for your intro; for your BPs, worry more about people and things the author has an opinion or feeling about. Then just prove that ONE feeling the whole paragraph.

[shooterblitz]

Thanks heaps for your help! I ended up writing a language analysis piece today with more confidence, and not losing track!

[meganrobyn]

That's great!