Textual analysis is divided into four approaches: rhetorical critique, content analysis, interaction analysis, and performance studies. Rhetorical criticism looks at the language used in a text to determine its tone and purpose. This method can help you understand what kind of document it is (e.g., an argumentative essay) and who the audience is (e.g., teachers). Content analysis focuses on what type of information is included within a text. It is useful when you want to know how much information is given or whether there is a pattern in terms of what topics are being discussed. Interaction analysis examines how characters in a text relate to each other through dialogue or action. It can help you identify similarities and differences between individuals and groups, as well as how they influence one another. Performance studies look at how actors/actresses read from scripts or perform directly before an audience to interpret their intentions while speaking words on paper. This method can help you understand how performers choose to convey messages through body language and improvisational skills. These are just some examples of how textual analysis can be applied to texts. As you can see, there are many ways to apply this tool to analyze documents of any length, from short stories to novels.