YOU’re Essay walkthrough

1. Learning Intention; I can identify and use strategies to help me write critically about an text I am studying YOU’reEssay walkthrough

2. Step One: Selecting the right essay task Choose a poem which has a strong message. Consider the whole poem, and by referring to poetic techniques explain how the strong messageis explored. Plath suggests throughout her use of poetic techniques in “You’re” that mothers have a strong emotional bond with their unborn child and that pregnancy is a unique experience .

3. Step One: Selecting the right essay task Choose a poem which has a strong message. Consider the whole poem, and by referring to poetic techniques explain how the strong messageis explored. Plath suggests throughout her use of poetic techniques in “You’re” that mothers have a strong emotional bond with their unborn child and that pregnancy is a unique experience .

4. Through which techniques (that convey which specific emotions) does Plath convey her strong message?

5. Step THREE: Identifying your main points • Through which techniques (that convey which specific emotions) does Plath convey her strong message? • From the beginning a happy and light-hearted tone is used to convey her message… • However much Plath may be anticipating the arrival of her baby there are clearly aspects of pregnancy that she dislikes… • On the whole though the poem’s overarching message is conveyed positively, even wittily.. • Plath clearly has high hopes for her unborn baby…

6. Matching points to your quotes. Your essay will follow a PEAEAR structure • Through which techniques (that convey which specific emotions) does Plath convey her strong message? • From the beginning a happy and light-hearted tone is used to convey her message… • However much Plath may be anticipating the arrival of her baby there are clearly aspects of pregnancy that she dislikes… • On the whole though the poem’s overarching message is conveyed positively, even wittily.. • Plath clearly has high hopes for her unborn baby… Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Point Two: Quotes 3 + 4 Point Three: Quotes 5 + 6 Point Four: Quote 7 + 8

7. Step THREE: Identifying your main points • Through which techniques (that convey which specific emotions) does Plath convey her strong message? • From the beginning a happy and light-hearted tone is used to convey her message….(E1AEA2R) • However much Plath may be anticipating the arrival of her baby there are clearly aspects of pregnancy that she dislikes….(E3AE4AR) • On the whole though the poem’s overarching message is conveyed positively, even wittily….(E5AE6AR) • Plath clearly has high hopes for her unborn baby. ….(E7AE8AR) MESSAGE - Mothers have a strong emotional bond with their unborn child and that pregnancy is a unique experience – you must restate/rephrase this throughout to show you are answering the question

8. Choose a poem which has a strong message. Consider the whole poem, and by referring to poetic techniques explain how the strong messageis explored. Step FOUR: Begin by Writing An Introduction Must have... • Task • Author • Reference to Techniques • Summary and comments on structure Should have... • Evaluative language In her poem, “You're”, Sylvia Plath conveys the message that there is a strong emotional bond that exists in the unique experience that is pregnancy. Plath uses many poetic techniques such as unusual and unexpected similes, metaphors and sound techniques to give us this idea. “You're” is a free verse poem, written by Plath during or shortly after her pregnancy with her first child. There are two nine line stanzas which cleverly mirrors the nine month gestation period of pregnancy. This poem is filled with optimism…. but also anxiety …..

9. Transitional words and phrases Learn and use linking words to help give your essay a clear line of thought.

10. Step Six: Developing your PEAR Paragraph Point One: Quote 1 and 2 From the beginning of the poem Plath conveys the message that the bond between mother and unborn baby is unique. The reader is uplifted from the very first line by her description of her baby and a happy and light-hearted tone is used to convey her message

11. Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Step Six: A PEAR Paragraph • “Clownlike, happiest on your hands” ** Lay out in the same way as the poem does ** Take a new line for a quote longer than a few words

12. Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Step Six: A PEAR Paragraph Here Plath establishes to the reader the warm feelings of love and excitement she has for her. “Clownlike” reveals to the reader that, even before this poem begins….. The reader is further encouraged by Plath’s implication that …This is highlighted by the metaphor “feet to the stars”...

13. Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Step Six: A PEAR Paragraph • “Thumbs down on the dodo’s mode” (metaphor)” ** Lay out in the same way as the poem does ** Take a new line for a quote longer than a few words

14. Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Step Six: A PEAR Paragraph

15. Point One: Quote 1 and 2 Step Six: A PEAR Paragraph Therefore in the first few lines Plath… and leaves the reader feeling ….

16. Step Eight: Improving My Vocabulary Steps to Success: • Learn and use different words to analyse and evaluate the poem • Every time you practice an essay use a thesaurus to find different ways of saying the same thing

17. Step Nine: Writing A Conclusion In “You’re” Plath’s message is clear. Through this moving and uplifting poem she encourages the reader to think about the unique viewpoint of a pregnant woman. Through Plath’s effective use of techniques such as simile, metaphor and alliteration the reader is left feeling in no doubt about the strong emotional bond between a mother and baby. Must have... • Title • Author • Return Focus of the essay Should have... • Evaluative language