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LITB3 Section A Essay writing tips
Intro:
• Attack the question and offer a suggestion as to your answer
• Make clear, quickly, the 4-6 areas which will be explored to help answer the question
• Show you are aware of ALL parts of the question
• No need to quote
• Do not include a bolt-on load of contextual info: deploy it thoughtfully
Body:
• 4-6 even-length paragraphs
• Each paragraph must: o Begin with a topic sentence which
Links to the question
Provides a clear direction for the up-coming paragraph
Shows progression from previous section o Contains 5-8 sentences, each of which contain at least 1 smoothly integrated quotation o The quotation chosen should BOTH support the point AND be of sufficient interest to spark a comment on its language o Have a sustained ARGUMENT which helps answer the question o Have a concluding sentence which shows how your examination of the language & drama as helped you answer the question
Conclusion:
• Answer the question – even if you are open-ended in your findings (a good sign!)
• Make it clear to your reader that what you have concluded is valid
• No need to quote
Throughout:
• Demonstrate a specific and relevant knowledge of historical context
• Demonstrate a clear awareness for form (play) and genre (tragedy)
• The ‘Gothic’ is a term which comes from the 18thC.: we are retro-fitting it onto Macbeth (italics for title btw): do not go gothic spotting
Language:
• Use words you are in control of
• Use technical terms to improve precision – not to show off
• Keep referring to Shakespeare/playwright: we are appreciating his craft
• Keep referring to the AUDIENCE: the text should be playing in your head
• Only use the word ‘theme’ when referring to a subject area which is found in lots of different ways – literally and metaphorically. It is not the same as a topic/subject
• Remember that Shakespeare is writing POETRY: read his words as poems and analyse them with that level of detail
Intro:
• Attack the question and offer a suggestion as to your answer
• Make clear, quickly, the 4-6 areas which will be explored to help answer the question
• Show you are aware of ALL parts of the question
• No need to quote
• Do not include a bolt-on load of contextual info: deploy it thoughtfully
Body:
• 4-6 even-length paragraphs
• Each paragraph must: o Begin with a topic sentence which
Links to the question
Provides a clear direction for the up-coming paragraph
Shows progression from previous section o Contains 5-8 sentences, each of which contain at least 1 smoothly integrated quotation o The quotation chosen should BOTH support the point AND be of sufficient interest to spark a comment on its language o Have a sustained ARGUMENT which helps answer the question o Have a concluding sentence which shows how your examination of the language & drama as helped you answer the question
Conclusion:
• Answer the question – even if you are open-ended in your findings (a good sign!)
• Make it clear to your reader that what you have concluded is valid
• No need to quote
Throughout:
• Demonstrate a specific and relevant knowledge of historical context
• Demonstrate a clear awareness for form (play) and genre (tragedy)
• The ‘Gothic’ is a term which comes from the 18thC.: we are retro-fitting it onto Macbeth (italics for title btw): do not go gothic spotting
Language:
• Use words you are in control of
• Use technical terms to improve precision – not to show off
• Keep referring to Shakespeare/playwright: we are appreciating his craft
• Keep referring to the AUDIENCE: the text should be playing in your head
• Only use the word ‘theme’ when referring to a subject area which is found in lots of different ways – literally and metaphorically. It is not the same as a topic/subject
• Remember that Shakespeare is writing POETRY: read his words as poems and analyse them with that level of detail