Analysis writing: insights from a workshop led by Tom Whipple

Picture credit: Vlada Karpovich/Pexel

Putting the news in context, analysis features help readers not merely gain knowledge, but understand too. Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times, gave an expert workshop on how to write such pieces to a rapt audience at the Dana Research Center and Library in London. 

The value, Whipple said, was in giving readers the tools to see the roots of a story — and where it is going. "Analysis lies somewhere between a news article and a comment article, and if you get it right it can be more valuable than both," he said. It explains the news, takes the background context and expands it into a single piece, and answers questions. 

Where to start?

Whipple’s first advice was to start with a clear question you’re trying to answer. This can also make for a good headline. People read analysis articles because they want to learn more about the topic, he said. Finding the question(s) you want answered will help determine what learning will go onto the page. 

Answer one question and give it room to breathe. It may be tempting to want to answer multiple questions about a certain event, topic or news piece, and sometimes it makes sense to answer more than one in an analysis article. However, sticking to one question will give your piece more focus. Too many questions and it may not get enough depth, leaving the reader with shallow answers to many questions, instead of the in-depth analysis of one aspect that readers were expecting.

Second, explain, rather than tell your reader what to think. Don’t overcomplicate things and stay unbiased. It’s not an opinion piece, Whipple emphasised, so make sure to stick to the facts and stay unbiased (though it can be hard to come across as unbiased in an analysis piece). Write it in a way that makes the reader feel clever like they’ve learnt something, not patronised and not come away feeling like they’ve been told what to think.

Third, humanise the science. He pointed to one of his articles on falling Covid cases, published in the summer of 2021. That piece contained a lot of maths about the incidence of COVID-19 — but also related the figures to the human experience of living with Covid restrictions. The maths makes sense by understanding the human side.

Fourth, give examples.  These can help turn the abstract into something concrete and memorable. Whipple said examples provide evidence of the ideas, facts and figures presented, and help the reader remember and relate to the information they are reading.

Other tips included not writing too much, and avoiding dense paragraphs. Consider, he said, bullet points — which can sometimes help to simplify and structure the text.

Above all, try to make it entertaining. All media, including science analysis articles, are competing with all other parts of the entertainment industry. Make it so people want to read your article. Make it colourful, make it interesting, make it easy to read.