Essay+Tips


 * How to write an essay. – Hopefully the easy version! **

** Any question you are given needs to be answered – directly and with evidence. ** If I said ‘ analyse how effective a music video was’ you wouldn’t just say ‘cool cause the music was good. You could comment on many aspects; the melody, harmony, bass, connection between the artists, voices, clothes, lighting, setting, lyrics, overall judgement.


 * 1) Understand what the question is asking. Restate it in your words – think about the key words/ideas.
 * 2) When choosing what to write about you have to think about the relevant sections of the text and how they prove your point. Think of your play in a chronological order and use the key events that are relevant to the question.
 * 3) You should come up with about 3 or 4 main ideas – one for each paragraph.
 * 4) Each paragraph needs to be expanded – topic sentence, expand / or clarify idea, give evidence, discuss the evidence, restate your point.
 * 5) Make sure you have an introduction that shows what you will be discussing.
 * 6) Have a conclusion that summarizes what you proved.

** __Example of a paragraph__. – as long as you have opinions/evidence and discuss it, they can’t mark you wrong! There is no right way to write a paragraph – some are fuller than others. Some make their point better. **

**__ Introduction __** William Shakespeare challenges our belief in the integrity of heroes in the play Macbeth.[PJ1] He shows that humans, no matter what their social status, may be prone to human weakness. By examining the initial ideas of the great soldier Macbeth, his plagued conscience as he becomes King and his [PJ2] at the end of the play, we can see how a great man can fall from grace.

Shakespeare cleverly introduces us to Macbeth at the height of his career. The soldier has bravely fought MacDonwald’s rebel troops, then ‘redoubled back again’ to take on the advancing Norwegians. [PJ1], hear about his [PJ2] first hand from the Captain –just like the King himself. Macbeth ‘unseamed him from the navel to the chaps!” We also find out King Duncan is impressed enough to give him a [PJ3]. [PJ4] a soldier willing to loyally fight courageously for his challenged Kingdom. [PJ5], who shares his frustration with Banquo his friend and colleague. “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” Together, they have a very strange experience with the witches who prophesy fame for both of them. [PJ6]. Therefore, Shakespeare initially intended us to admire Macbeth and respect the qualities he displayed – of courage, determination, loyalty, strength. Shakespeare purposefully creates Macbeth as a hero, so later, when he 'falls from Grace' there is a marked contrast in his character.

[PJ1] Looking from the readers/audience’s perspective.

[PJ2] Small quotes linked into sentences.

[PJ3] Other factual evidence

[PJ4] Your judgments

[PJ5] Build on initial idea with a further idea

[PJ6] Use evidence that supports your ideas even though there could be arguments against it.

** TOPICS ** (choose ONE) 2007 questions – best one is 6 (I think) possibly 5 would be okay too. ** 1. **** Analyse how ** ONE or MORE **minor character(s)** helped you understand a **main character**. Note: “Character” can refer to an individual in a non-fiction text. ** 2. **** Analyse how ** an **important setting** was made **realistic or believable**. ** 3. **** Analyse how techniques ** were used to **strongly affect your emotions** in ONE or TWO key sections. ** 4. **** Analyse how ** **links** between the **beginning** and **end** helped you understand a **main theme or issue**. ** 5. **** Analyse how ** your text managed to be BOTH **entertaining** AND **thought-provoking**. Note: “Character” can refer to an individual in a non-fiction text.
 * 6. **** Analyse how ** ONE **main character’s attempts to solve a problem** were important to the **text as a whole**.