Analysis 

Purpose: 

Footnotes are used by authors to help the reader understand what was earlier written, give more detailed information, and it could also be used to tell a different story than before. Footnotes may allow the reader to come to a more complete understanding of the book. It could also help tie together an idea from the book on the previous page. Authors use footnotes because it permits them to add information without messing up the flow of the sentence or paragraph. Endnotes, on the other hand, have basically the same purpose except it appears at the end of the text. Endnotes are mostly used so the page is easier to read and less cluttered overall. Endnotes also allow for more understanding, as the reader can unpack the sentence before without becoming distracted. Footnotes and endnotes both have multiple uses in texts: possibly providing a counterargument or further information.

Steps for analysis:

1. Identify the footnote or endnote 

   1. They are both found at the bottom of the page. They can be identified with a number next to them or an astrix. 

   2. Sometimes when there is an astrix the footnote/endnote will apply to a word in the text. To find this word look for a word with an astrix next to it. 

2. See if the footnote or endnote is even needed. 

   1. Is it adding meaningful information?

   2. Why would the author not put the footnote/endnote in the text instead?

3. Explain what the footnote/endnote is trying to relay to the reader. 

Example:

• Freakonomics By Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt

  • ‘“school choice in Chicago: This material is drawn from Julie Berry Cullen, Brian Jacob, and Steven D. Levitt, “The Impact of School Choice on Student Outcomes: An Analysis of the Chicago Public Schools,” Journal of Public Economics, forthcoming; and Julie Berry Cullen, Brian Jacob, and Steven D. Levitt, “The Effect of School Choice on Student Outcomes: Evidence from Randomized Lotteries,” National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, 2003. ”’

• This is an endnote put at the end of the text in the Notes section. The endnote allows the reader to look into further information to back up the author's claim. It talks about CPS and how it came to schools in Chicago. First to know that this is a footnote/endnote the reader should look for a number or astrix. Next once this is found the reader should think, is it needed? This footnote gave extra information and cited the source the author used for that paragraph. Next, the reader should think about the meaning of the footnote/endnote. This endnote in particular was not meant to contradict anything. Instead, it gave the reader meaningful information and cited the source used.