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Writing a Critical Essay. Standard Grade. Points to Note. Your essay is a response to a specific task – you MUST focus on this task! Avoid simply retelling the story – this is NOT what is required. Everything you say should be relevant to the essay task. Introduction.
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Writing a Critical Essay Standard Grade
Points to Note • Your essay is a response to a specific task – you MUST focus on this task! • Avoid simply retelling the story – this is NOT what is required. • Everything you say should be relevant to the essay task.
Introduction • Your introduction should include: • Title • Author • Brief summary of the text • The focus of your essay
Main Part • You will need to demonstrate: • That you understand the key ideas in the text • That you can analyseand explain the effect of techniques used in the text • That you can evaluate the effectiveness of techniques used • That you can provide a personal response related to your understanding/analysis/ evaluation
Structure of Main Part • Each section of your essay should begin with a topic sentence related to the essay task. • Go on to make a STATEMENT about the text which is relevant to the task. • Then provide EVIDENCE from the text to support your statement.(This can be either a direct quotation of a paraphrase.) • Then ANALYSE your evidence – what techniques are used, what effect does it have? • At the end of each section (or whenever appropriate) include your PERSONAL RESPONSE to the text.
Conclusion • Your conclusion should return to the task set and summarise your response to it. • You can include your evaluation of the text as a whole.
REMEMBER! • STATEMENT • EVIDENCE • ANALYSIS • S-E-A • PERSONAL RESPONSE
AVOID • Retelling the story without attempting to analyse and evaluate • Using the word “quote” or “quotation” • Including huge chunks of text as quotations • Including information which is not relevant to the task
Useful Phrases • As the plot develops, … • The writer’s word choice here is effective because… • The sentence structure here is effective because… • This metaphor is effective because… • The writer’s use of simile is effective because… • In my opinion… • I think this shows…because • I felt …. when I read this because • The character’s actions here reveal… • The author’s characterisation is convincing because…