[Kaaal]

Hey,
I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for myself, but the english department in my school is very poor. We've studied our pieces fine (The Kite Runner, Digging, Psycho, The Devil's Wife, Last Post) but the teacher never really showed us how to write the essays well. Can anyone give me some advice? perhaps essay notes you've been given? Thanks

[UMARTIAN]

Intro - State the Author/Playwright and the name of the text. Then rewrite the words of the quesiton you have chosen into the introduction as well as a sentance overview of the plot.

Main Body - PEAR
P = Point, what is the point of this paragraph, why are you using it, TOPIC SENTANCE.
E = Evidence, provide evidence to convey in more depth the point you are making
A = Analyse, HOW it answers the question, go into depth of language, plot, characterization ect.
R = Relate to the question, answer why this quote answers the question you have chosen.

Conclusion:
The same as the introduction but begin with In conclusion/To conclude, rewrite the words of the question.

You should usually have 8 quotations, but it is mainly quality not quantity, so a 4 quote detailed analysis filled essay could get an A. Good luck!

[Kaaal]

(Original post by UMARTIAN)
Intro - State the Author/Playwright and the name of the text. Then rewrite the words of the quesiton you have chosen into the introduction as well as a sentance overview of the plot.

Main Body - PEAR
P = Point, what is the point of this paragraph, why are you using it, TOPIC SENTANCE.
E = Evidence, provide evidence to convey in more depth the point you are making
A = Analyse, HOW it answers the question, go into depth of language, plot, characterization ect.
R = Relate to the question, answer why this quote answers the question you have chosen.

Conclusion:
The same as the introduction but begin with In conclusion/To conclude, rewrite the words of the question.

You should usually have 8 quotations, but it is mainly quality not quantity, so a 4 quote detailed analysis filled essay could get an A. Good luck!

Cool, thanks!
I was also wondering if you write an essay in order of events - i.e each new paragraph being a different key moment - or is it better to just select parts you think are important, despite the possibility of them being in the wrong order? Sounds kind of confusing :P

[UMARTIAN]

(Original post by Kaaal)
Cool, thanks!
I was also wondering if you write an essay in order of events - i.e each new paragraph being a different key moment - or is it better to just select parts you think are important, despite the possibility of them being in the wrong order? Sounds kind of confusing :P

I understand what you mean.
When talking about an event in chapter 1 then 2 then 3, some markers see this as just a guided tour of the book.

Im doing To kill a mockingbird. There are loads of scenes about prejudice.
Black Church Scene
Mad Dog Scene
White School Teacher Scene
Childrens view
Adult view
Symbolism of the Mockingbird.

All these points can be put wherever. As long as I said 'Another example of prejudice in this novel is' instead of 'Then in the next scene this happened and in the next one this happened'

[Kaaal]

(Original post by UMARTIAN)
I understand what you mean.
When talking about an event in chapter 1 then 2 then 3, some markers see this as just a guided tour of the book.

Im doing To kill a mockingbird. There are loads of scenes about prejudice.
Black Church Scene
Mad Dog Scene
White School Teacher Scene
Childrens view
Adult view
Symbolism of the Mockingbird.

All these points can be put wherever. As long as I said 'Another example of prejudice in this novel is' instead of 'Then in the next scene this happened and in the next one this happened'

Ah i see, thank you I'm feeling a bit better about it now!

[UMARTIAN]

(Original post by Kaaal)
Ah i see, thank you I'm feeling a bit better about it now!

No problem, good luck with the exam!
Im working on close reading right now.
If you need anymore help send me a mail.

[Kaaal]

(Original post by UMARTIAN)
No problem, good luck with the exam!
Im working on close reading right now.
If you need anymore help send me a mail.

Thanks, and you too! I may do that if I stumble across any problems nearer the time

[Scrabble96]

Hi, just wondering how long your critical essays are supposed to be? Our teacher just says that it is quality not quantity but I don't want to write too little. Also, how many quotes per essay? Thanks!

[rawragee]

(Original post by Kaaal)
Hey,
I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for myself, but the english department in my school is very poor. We've studied our pieces fine (The Kite Runner, Digging, Psycho, The Devil's Wife, Last Post) but the teacher never really showed us how to write the essays well. Can anyone give me some advice? perhaps essay notes you've been given? Thanks

Hey, I'm doing Kite Runner too! it's my favourite text The Kite Runner comes up basically every year (I've looked back from 2002-2011 and it has in all those years) and everytime I've written an essay on it it's had the same stuff in it. I tend to divide my essays up into themes (i.e talk about one theme and how it's relevant to the question, the quotes and evidence for it, then move on) and then pick specific techniques which also answer the question.
I.e say if the question was about Amir and Hassan's friendship I'd set my essay like this:
Introduction
Discrimination (as in how because Hassan was a Hazara Amir never saw him as an equal)
Loyalty (Hassan was always loyal to Amir, unfair love etc)
Betrayal (Amir ruined their relationship)
Redemption (how Amir finally fixed their friendship by saving Sohrab, also the symbolism of his split lip)

I hope that helps somehow! ^
I think it's fair to complain about your school, my school's department is shocking too

[Kaaal]

(Original post by rawragee)
Hey, I'm doing Kite Runner too! it's my favourite text The Kite Runner comes up basically every year (I've looked back from 2002-2011 and it has in all those years) and everytime I've written an essay on it it's had the same stuff in it. I tend to divide my essays up into themes (i.e talk about one theme and how it's relevant to the question, the quotes and evidence for it, then move on) and then pick specific techniques which also answer the question.
I.e say if the question was about Amir and Hassan's friendship I'd set my essay like this:
Introduction
Discrimination (as in how because Hassan was a Hazara Amir never saw him as an equal)
Loyalty (Hassan was always loyal to Amir, unfair love etc)
Betrayal (Amir ruined their relationship)
Redemption (how Amir finally fixed their friendship by saving Sohrab, also the symbolism of his split lip)

I hope that helps somehow! ^
I think it's fair to complain about your school, my school's department is shocking too

Thank you very much, that's helped a lot Yeah, it so annoying to think that if it was better, maybe I'd do really well! I suppose it's up to us at the end of the day though

[Esmeee]

(Original post by Kaaal)
Hey,
I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for myself, but the english department in my school is very poor. We've studied our pieces fine (The Kite Runner, Digging, Psycho, The Devil's Wife, Last Post) but the teacher never really showed us how to write the essays well. Can anyone give me some advice? perhaps essay notes you've been given? Thanks

What notes do you have for the devils wife???