What does ‘analysis’ mean? A critical analysis means analysing or breaking down the parts of the literature and grouping these into themes, patterns or trends. In an analysis you need to: 1. Identify and separate out the parts of the topic by grouping the various key theories, main concepts, the main arguments or ideas, and the key research results and conclusions on the topic into themes, patterns or trends of agreement, dispute and omission. 2. Discuss each of these parts by explaining: i. the areas of agreement/consensus, or similarity ii. the issues or controversies: in dispute or debate, areas of difference ii. the omissions, gaps, or areas that are under-researched 3. Discuss the relationship between these parts 4. Examine how each contributes to the whole topic 5. Make conclusions about their significance or importance in the topic