--- title: "Sample Analysis Guide" description: "How to systematically analyze writing samples to extract voice DNA patterns." type: tutorial canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/tutorials/sample-analysis-guide source: "Claudary" difficulty: intermediate author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack" date: 2026-07-10T11:46:21.480Z license: CC-BY-4.0 attribution: "Sample Analysis Guide — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/tutorials/sample-analysis-guide)" --- # Sample Analysis Guide How to systematically analyze writing samples to extract voice DNA patterns. ## Overview # Sample Analysis Guide How to systematically analyze writing samples to extract voice DNA patterns. --- ## The Analysis Philosophy Sample analysis is the foundation, but not the whole building: 1. **Samples reveal patterns** — They show what the writer does, not always why. 2. **Interview confirms patterns** — Samples might be atypical; interview validates. 3. **Patterns need examples** — Always capture quotes that demonstrate patterns. 4. **Gaps must be noted** — What can't we learn from this sample? Never finalize a pattern based on samples alone without interview confirmation. --- ## Before You Begin ### Gather Context Before analyzing, know: - **What register is this?** (blog, fiction, technical, essay, email) - **Is this typical?** (or was it written for an unusual context) - **Was it edited?** (by the writer alone, or by others) - **How old is it?** (recent, or potentially outdated) - **How long is it?** (longer samples = more reliable patterns) ### Ideal Sample Characteristics **More reliable:** - Recent (last 1-2 years) - Self-edited (not heavily touched by others) - Typical of what they normally write - At least 1000+ words - Multiple samples (2-3 minimum) **Less reliable:** - Old (style may have evolved) - Heavily edited by others - Written for unusual circumstances - Very short (under 500 words) - Single sample only --- ## The Three-Pass Approach ### First Pass: Gut Check (2-3 minutes) Read the sample quickly. Note immediate impressions. **Ask yourself:** - What 3 things jump out about this writing? - What's the overall temperature? (warm, cool, neutral) - What register/mode is this? - Does anything feel distinctive or unusual? **Capture gut impressions before they fade.** First reactions often identify the most distinctive patterns. **Example gut notes:** > "Short sentences. Very direct. Almost aggressive. Lots of 'But' at sentence > starts. No hedging at all." --- ### Second Pass: Quantitative Scan (5-10 minutes) Measure objective patterns. #### Sentence Metrics | Metric | How to Measure | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | Average sentence length | Word count / sentence count | | Length range | Shortest to longest sentence | | Length distribution | How often short (<10), medium (10-20), long (20+) | #### Punctuation Count | Mark | Count per 1000 words | | ------------------- | -------------------- | | Em-dashes | | | Semicolons | | | Colons | | | Parentheses (pairs) | | | Exclamation points | | | Question marks | | #### Word Patterns | Pattern | Count/Observe | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | "I" sentences | How many start with "I"? | | "And"/"But" openers | How many sentences start with these? | | Contractions | Present? Frequent? | | Paragraph lengths | Short (1-2 sentences), medium (3-5), long (6+) | #### Quick Vocabulary Check - Any recurring words? - Latinate or Anglo-Saxon preference? - Technical terms present? - Jargon or colloquialisms? --- ### Third Pass: Qualitative Analysis (10-15 minutes) This is where you find the distinctive patterns. #### Sentence Architecture - **Internal structure:** Simple, compound, or complex sentences? - **Clause patterns:** Where do they nest clauses? - **Emphasis placement:** Front-loaded or end-weighted? - **Fragments:** Present? Intentional? **Look for:** - Unusual constructions - Signature rhythms - Consistent patterns across the sample #### Paragraph Patterns - **Construction:** How do they build paragraphs? - **Topic sentences:** First, last, implied? - **Length variation:** All similar, or strategic variety? - **Endings:** How do paragraphs conclude? #### Transitions - **Explicit markers:** "However," "Furthermore," etc. - **Implicit flow:** Ideas connect without markers - **Bridge words:** Repeated concepts that link ideas - **White space:** Strategic breaks #### Opening & Closing - **How does the piece begin?** (hook, scene, question, statement) - **How does it end?** (callback, question, definitive, trailing) - **Are these moves typical?** (compare across samples if possible) #### Tone Markers - **Warmth indicators:** Personal anecdotes, "I/you" language, emotional words - **Coolness indicators:** Impersonal constructions, analytical distance - **Confidence level:** Hedging vs. assertion - **Authority stance:** Expert, guide, fellow traveler #### Signature Elements - **What's unusual?** Things you don't see in most writing - **What's consistent?** Patterns that repeat - **What's recognizable?** Things that would identify this writer --- ## Comparative Analysis When you have multiple samples: ### Consistency Check | Pattern | Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3 | Consistent? | | --------------------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | ----------- | | Sentence length | | | | | | Punctuation style | | | | | | Paragraph length | | | | | | Tone | | | | | | First person presence | | | | | **Consistent patterns** = High confidence, can include in profile without caveat **Inconsistent patterns** = Need investigation: - Different registers? - Evolution over time? - Context-dependent variation? - One sample is atypical? ### Variation Analysis When patterns differ across samples: 1. **Identify the variation:** What's different? 2. **Seek explanation:** Is there a reason? 3. **Determine whether to:** - Capture dominant pattern (most frequent) - Capture context-dependent pattern (when X, do Y) - Treat as different registers (separate DNA docs) - Investigate further in interview --- ## What to Look For (Quick Reference) ### Highly Distinctive Patterns These are often the most identifying: - Unusual punctuation habits - Sentence opening patterns - Paragraph ending moves - Distinctive transitions - Pet phrases or constructions - Unusual word choices - Signature rhythms ### Common But Important Patterns These establish the baseline: - Sentence length tendencies - Formality level - First person presence - Contraction usage - Paragraph length - Tone/temperature ### Often Overlooked Patterns Don't forget to check: - What's absent (things they never do) - Opening moves across multiple pieces - How they handle uncertainty - Question usage patterns - Humor placement and style --- ## Gap Identification After analysis, note what you CAN'T determine from samples: ### Common Gaps - **Intent:** Why do they make certain choices? - **Aspirational vs. actual:** Is this how they want to write or how they do? - **Context-dependence:** Does this change in other situations? - **Evolution:** Is this current or outdated? - **Editing impact:** How much was changed by others? - **Anti-patterns:** What do they avoid? (Absence is hard to prove) - **Humor:** If not present in samples, does that mean none exists? ### Interview to Fill Gaps For each gap, identify the interview question that would fill it: | Gap | Question to Ask | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | Why short sentences? | "Do you consciously write short sentences? Why?" | | Is this formality typical? | "Is this your usual level of formality?" | | Why no contractions? | "Do you avoid contractions intentionally?" | | Edited by others? | "Was this piece edited by someone else?" | --- ## Red Flags Signs the sample may not be representative: ### Content Red Flags - **Heavy jargon** in supposedly casual writing - **Sudden formality shifts** mid-piece - **Inconsistent voice** within the same piece - **Generic AI-like patterns** (might not be their writing) ### Context Red Flags - Sample is very old (5+ years) - Sample was for unusual context (school, job application) - Sample was heavily edited by others - Sample is much shorter than typical work - Only one sample available ### Pattern Red Flags - Patterns that contradict user's self-description - Patterns wildly different from other samples - Patterns that match AI writing tells **When red flags appear:** Note them. Ask clarifying questions in interview. Don't assume sample represents true voice. --- ## Sample Analysis Worksheet Use this for systematic analysis: ``` SAMPLE INFO - Title/description: - Date written: - Word count: - Register/mode: - Edited by others?: FIRST PASS (gut impressions) - 3 things that jump out: 1. 2. 3. - Overall temperature: - Initial distinctiveness notes: SECOND PASS (metrics) - Avg sentence length: - Sentence range: - Punctuation notable: - Paragraph lengths: - "I" frequency: - Contraction use: THIRD PASS (qualitative) - Sentence architecture: - Paragraph patterns: - Transitions: - Opening move: - Closing move: - Tone markers: - Signature elements: PATTERNS IDENTIFIED - Strong patterns (confident): 1. 2. 3. - Tentative patterns (need confirmation): 1. 2. - Potential anti-patterns: 1. GAPS TO FILL - What can't I determine? - Questions for interview: RED FLAGS - Any concerns about this sample? ``` --- ## From Analysis to DNA Document ### Translating Findings | Analysis Finding | DNA Document Entry | | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | "Avg sentence length 12 words, range 4-28" | "Short sentences (avg 12 words) with occasional longer ones for rhythm" | | "Em-dash count: 8 per 1000 words" | "Heavy em-dash user—deployed for parenthetical insertions and dramatic pivots" | | "All paragraphs 2-4 sentences" | "Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences); uses single-sentence paragraphs for emphasis" | | "No semicolons found" | "Never uses semicolons" (confirm in interview) | | "'Actually' appears 6 times" | "Pet word: 'actually'—appears frequently for emphasis" | ### Confidence Levels Rate each pattern: - **High confidence:** Consistent across samples, confirmed in interview - **Medium confidence:** Consistent in samples, not yet confirmed - **Low confidence:** Based on single sample or inconsistent across samples --- ## Common Analysis Mistakes 1. **Overgeneralizing from one sample** — Wait for confirmation before finalizing patterns. 2. **Missing the forest for trees** — Don't get lost in metrics. What makes this writer recognizable? 3. **Ignoring gut reactions** — First impressions often catch the most distinctive patterns. 4. **Treating absence as avoidance** — Just because something's not in the sample doesn't mean they never do it. 5. **Assuming samples are representative** — They might be unusual. Always check. 6. **Skipping gap identification** — Know what you don't know. --- Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/tutorials/sample-analysis-guide) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com