Writing the Critical Essay

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Writing the Critical Essay
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Identifying the Key words

• To pass, your understanding must be show to be
  appropriate to the task set
• This means that you must apply your knowledge and
  carry out the task exactly as it is asked in the
  question
• A strategy to help with this is to identify
  clearly the key words.
• The key words are those that provide details of
  the task

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• They will appear in both the first and second
  sentences of the question.
• Highlight or underline them and then repeat them
  throughout your essay.

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Example

• Choose a play in which a character feels
  increasingly isolated from the community in which
  he or she lives.
• Show how the dramatist makes you aware of the
  characters increasing isolation and discuss how
  this affects your attitude towards the character

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• Because you will be repeating these words
  throughout your essay, it is a good idea to jot
  down some synonyms for the key words so that you
  can vary your language
• E.G. Isolated alienated, separate, separated,
  set apart, cut off, etc
• Task 1

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Breaking down the task

• It is essential that you focus on your task from
  the planning stage if you are to gain a good
  mark.
• Having identified your key words, you should then
  try to break down the task into the various
  elements that it involves

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Example

• Choose a poem that deals with a childhood
  experience. Discuss to what extent the poets
  description of the experience leads you to a
  clear understanding of the poets theme.
• Once you have highlighted the key words of the
  task you now bullet-point the strands you must
  include in your discussion

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• Identify a childhood experience
• Analyse how the poet describes the experience
• Relate your understanding of the theme to the
  description of the experience

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• Once you have done this you would relate each
  bullet-point to your own text.
• E.G. Lockheads poem Revelation
• Experience being shown the farms bull
• Description use of sense colour, smell, shape,
  sound contrasts with hens
• Relation to theme awareness of dark side of
  life, sexuality, danger leading to loss of
  childhood innocence.
• Task 2

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Writing the Introduction Donts

• Start by talking about the life of the author.
• Give a detailed account of the plot.
• Go into detailed discussion about the characters,
  themes, etc.
• Include quotations or examples.
• Try to be amusing or dramatic.

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The 5 step formula.

• 1. Identify the text and author
• 2. Use words from the beginning of the question
  and explain why the chosen text is suitable for
  the question.
• 3. A sentence or two summarising the text but
  no more.
• 4. Refer to the words that set the task in the
  second sentence of the question.
• 5. Give an idea of how the rest of the essay is
  going to develop.

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Sample Introductions task 3

• In pairs/small groups read over the introductions
  and check the 5 steps then complete the table on
  strengths and weaknesses within each intro.
• The question is Choose a play which you feel
  has a memorable opening section.
• Show how the content or atmosphere of the
  scene or section provides an effective starting
  point for the development of the characters and
  the theme of the play.

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Task 4

• Individually write an introduction for Death
  of a Salesman using the same question.
• You have 5 minutes.
• Pass your introduction to the person next to you
  and they should assess it against the 5 steps.

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Plot summary yes or no?

• Do not do a outline of the plot paragraph. You
  just need to remember that new ideas should be
  put in context when they are first introduced.
• When a character is mentioned for the first time
  he or she should be introduced briefly.
• The setting of the story should be explained, if
  relevant.
• If an event is mentioned it needs to be placed in
  context, e.g. where does it fit into the sequence
  of events?

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Structure Points

• Statement topic sentence
• Evidence quotation
• Analysis explanation of quote and detailed
  comment
• Link use words from the question to link back
  to the main idea.

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STATEMENT

• The topic sentence will make a general point and
  not detailed one.
• It should refer to words from the question.
• Think of it as a signpost indicates the
  direction which the rest of the paragraph is
  going to travel.
• Task 5 Look at the examples of topic sentences
  and discuss how effective each one is.

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Evidence

• A statement must be backed up by evidence. This
  might be
• A direct quotation the actual words from the
  text.
• An indirect reference to something that happens
  in the text e.g. a summary of the incident in
  Howard Wagners office with the wire recorder to
  show Willys inability to cope with the modern
  world.

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• A quotation needs to be put in context- introduce
  it properly by making it clear who spoke the
  words, where it came in the text, etc.
• NEVER introduce a quotation by saying The quote
  shows

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For example

• Weve got to decide if this is an island Ralph
  takes command and tells the others what to do.
  INCORRECT Dont begin a paragraph with a
  quotation, always have the statement first.
• In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is a character who
  exhibits strong leadership qualities, Weve got
  to decide if this is an island. INCORRECT
  Quotation is not in context.

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For Example Correct way

• In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is a character who
  exhibits strong qualities of leadership. For
  example, at the first meeting of the surviving
  boys it is he who stresses, Weve got to decide
  if this is an island. Statement is followed by
  a quotation that is placed in context.

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Explanation and Link

• Follow the quotation with a comment e.g. What
  does is show about the character/theme/setting...
• Always link points back to the main idea of the
  essay the simplest way to do this is to use key
  words from question.

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Example paragraph point task 6

• Willy's sons illustrate other significant areas
  of this central theme of failure Biff opts out
  of the competitive world which his father wants
  for him. And it is Biff who finally analyses the
  root cause of their domestic friction when he
  says 'We never told the truth for ten minutes.'
  It is Biff who finally blames his father for his
  own failure because 'We've been walking in a
  dream for fifteen years', 'I never got anywhere
  because you blew me so full of hot air.' The
  playwright presents us with a dramatic turning
  point when Biff comes to understand that he has
  been blinded by false values, unable to honestly
  address who he is or where he belongs in life.

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The so what? test

• Dont include quotations or comments for their
  own sake. For each quotation used or point made
  ask yourself so what?
• If the quotation doesnt tell you anything about
  theme/character/etc or the point doesnt add
  anything to your essay then it should be removed.

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Paragraph plan

• PARA 1 INTRODUCTION
• Use the 5 step guide to write an introduction
  relevant to the question. The direction of the
  whole essay should be clear from this point
  onwards.

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• Paragraph 2
• Start with a topic sentence that picks up one of
  the points mentioned in the introduction and
  develop it using the SEAL pattern. There may be
  several SEALs in each paragraph but they must all
  link logically to the original topic sentence.

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• Paragraph 3/4/5 onwards
• Develop these paragraphs in a similar pattern.
  Each should start with a linking word/phrase to
  give your essay coherence and should develop a
  new point.

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Conclusion

• The final paragraph should sum up each of the
  main points that have been covered in the essay
  and relate your answer to the question.

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The linking word/phrase

• Paragraphs should begin with a linking and topic
  sentence so that your essay has coherence.
• Examine the following Topic sentence and discuss
  why it is a good linking sentence.

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• In addition to his depressing physical
  surroundings, Tom Curdies family background
  contributes to his difficulties.

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Linking phrase, indicating that a second point is
to follow
This has been examined in the previous paragraph.
In addition to his depressing physical
surroundings, Tom Curdies family background
contributes to his difficulties.
How his family background contributes will be the
topic of this paragraph.
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• The pattern of these sentences is
• Linking expression at the start of the sentence
• Reference back to the topic of the previous
  paragraph
• Reference forward to the topic of the next
  paragraph.
• Hand out Linking words sheet.

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Now its your turn!

• Choose a play in which the opening provides us
  with a clear idea of what is to come. Discuss
  the various ways in which the opening 'sets the
  scene' and introduces us to the main themes and
  concerns of the play.
• 1. Identify the key words.

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• Choose a play in which the opening provides us
  with a clear idea of what is to come. Discuss
  the various ways in which the opening 'sets the
  scene' and introduces us to the main themes and
  concerns of the play.

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• Now break this up into the different elements
• 1. Identify the elements of the opening that
  provide a clear idea of what is to come.
• 2. Discuss the ways Miller has set the scene
  (techniques)
• 3. Relate the opening of the play to the main
  themes/concerns.

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• It is up to you to now plan and write the essay.