Read the text as many number of times as necessary to understand it thoroughly. Mark the parts that appear significant to you. Note down any observations that strike you as you read the text.
Find the main issue the text addresses and the writer's position in this regard. Identify the author's claim, how strongly he words this and the evidence he provides in its support. Check for features such as statistics from credible sources, anecdotes, illustrations and quotes from experts in the field.
Evaluate the data the writer presents for relevance to the topic and from the intended audience's point of view. Pay attention to the persuasive technique the writer uses such as appealing to the reader's sense of logic or emotion. Select three or four key points in the text for your analysis.
Prepare a draft outline of the analysis you plan to write. Include headings such as relevance of the ideas to the topic, use of credible sources, validity of statistics, clarity of presentation, ability to persuade and discrepancies or contradictions.
Introduce the text you are analyzing by stating the title of the text, its author, its purpose and give a brief description of its content. State the main points of the text your analysis covers. Write a succinct thesis statement that presents your position on the author's piece. For example, "XYZ's use of pathos and vivid imagery has the effect of creating an impression in the reader's mind that the Civil War was the saddest time in American history."
Begin the body paragraphs with the first of the main points of your analysis. Use relevant quotes from the text to establish the technique the writer uses and analyze its effectiveness in fulfilling the author's purpose. Do this with each of the main points you picked for the analysis.
Put quotation marks to show the exact quotes you draw from the text. Keep the number of such quotes to a minimum.
End the text analysis by re-stating your thesis statement, but in a different way.