Final answer:
To analyze an essay, identify the main and implied main ideas by looking at the thesis and topic sentences, examine how each paragraph uses evidence and literary devices to support the central argument, and compare how the conclusion wraps up the essay compared to the introduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying the main idea, the implied main idea, and the supporting details in an essay involves analyzing its structure and contents. The essay's thesis statement typically sums up the main argument or point of the essay. To determine if a statement is the thesis, you should look for a sentence that is broad enough to cover the entire argument of the essay but specific enough to be provable with evidence presented in the body paragraphs.
Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement. This sentence suggests what the paragraph will discuss, often providing a transition from previous content. Within the paragraph, claims are then made that derive from the thesis, and textual evidence is used to support these claims. When analyzing textual evidence in each paragraph, it's important to look for quotes or paraphrases from credible sources that support the paragraph's main idea as well as the overarching thesis.
Furthermore, the essays may discuss various literary devices or structures, such as metaphors, imagery, or dialogue, which are used to support the main ideas. The conclusion of an essay often restates the thesis in some form and may summarize the main points, showing how they support the thesis. It typically differs from the introduction by concluding the essay's argument, as opposed to setting up what will be discussed.