The Art of Writing English Literature Essays A Level Activities to improve your writing

The critical terminology of drama Look at the following key terms and definitions, decide which apply to the text you are studying and make a list in your reading journal Anagnorisis – the moment in which the protagonist realises a fundamental truth about their situation which they have not understood before Aside – words spoken by a character as if to the audience, unheard by the other characters Catharsis – the emotional release of tension the audience experience at the end of tragedies (according to Aristotle) Comedy of manners – a play which ridicules the social conventions of a society Farce – a slapstick type of comedy in which comic situations are pushed to an extreme of improbability Hamartia – in tragedies, a flaw in the central character that leads to their destruction Soliloquy – a type of monologue in which a character reveals thoughts directly to the audience Stichomythia – choppy patterning of lines alternating between characters Tragic flaw – another term for hamartia Tragi-comedy – plays which mix tragedy and comedy There will be additional slides covering poetry and prose

Key features of successful essays What are the key features of good literature essays? Make a list now. Then put them in order of importance. Compare with the list below: Answers the question Is well structured, developing a clear line of argument Uses textual evidence effectively Includes close analysis of language Is well expressed and accurately written Uses a range of contexts effectively Is interesting to the reader Has a strong introduction and conclusion Demonstrates independent thought, personal engagement and some originality Engages in informed critical debate Uses advanced critical vocabulary Fulfils the assessment objectives The 1-12 list reveals on click

I essay, you essay, we all essay Discuss the difference between the noun ‘essay’ and the verb ‘essay’ What are you actually doing when you write an essay? Crystalising your thoughts Discovering and developing your critical voice Reflecting on your understanding

warning The image on the next slide is extremely distressing. I have used it to provoke your reaction and to demonstrate the four basic principles of developing a critical response. Please treat this image with the respect it deserves. Please feel free to choose an alternative image.

Expressing your Opinions, ideas, values, feelings Look at the image. Discuss all of the above.

HO72 Drama and prose post-1900 (Component 02) The Great Gatsby 30 mark essay AO5 (Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations.) is not examined in this unit.

Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) The Tempest 30 Mark essay

Assessment objectives and weightings If your essay is worth 30 marks, discuss how these marks might be allocated for each of your exams Think back to recent essays and written work - what marks did you achieve? What are your areas of weakness? Have these changed over time? What can you do to improve your grade?

A golden formula? PEE+E PEAL TOC: Themes, organisation of ideas, context Discourse markers Thesis, argument or hypothesis Introduction, main body, conclusion Discuss which you think is currently most favoured by exam boards.

Horror writing Read the two introductions to essays you have been given Make a note of all their faults Then read the next example introduction and try to identify why it is better than the previous two Intros from pg 13-16

Answering the question Most A Level questions focus on a specific aspect of the text(s) studied. The most popular are: Character Character relationships Themes What else might they focus on? Come up with a sample question for each for the text you are studying Genre, language, structure

Discuss the different definitions of each Essay verbs Discuss the different definitions of each Discuss Explore Explain Examine Phrases include: To what extent do you agree… Evaluate the view that… They signal more than one opinion and you will need to consider counter arguments. How are these questions different? Discuss how Wilfred Owen conveys the experience of comradeship in Strange Meeting How does Wilfred Owen convey the experience of comradeship in Strange Meeting? What are the experiences of comradeship articulated in Strange Meeting? Discuss implies that issues have not been resolved, it suggests a number of different views Notice small words like how, what do they imply? Explore and examine suggest an open process of investigation whose results are to be determined in the essay, requires careful, close inspection of text

Dissecting a question Plan: Jot down ideas to support this contention To what extent do you agree that The Tempest is a comedy? This is a contention Plan: Jot down ideas to support this contention Think of counter arguments The best candidates pay closest attention to language of the text and of the question set. Does the question suggest a particular reading: e.g. psychoanalytical/feminist/Marxist etc Does the above question suggest a particular critical approach?

Dissecting a question (again!) ‘Prospero is a commanding character who likes to be in control’ This is a proposition In the light of this statement, discuss the way in which Shakespeare presents the character of Prospero through the use of language in Act 1 Scene 2. Plan: Jot down ideas to support this proposition Think of counter arguments The best candidates pay closest attention to language of the text and of the question set. Does the question suggest a particular reading: e.g. psychoanalytical/feminist/Marxist etc Does the above question suggest a particular critical approach?

Homework Using one of the detailed essay plans you have created, write the introduction to the essay. Find specific quotes to support each of your points.

Critical theory vs criticism What are the key aspects of your culture. Create a mindmap or collage to depict this Literary context criticism Socio-historical context Criticism is text specific, theory is more interested in how culture operates and thus, how texts operate in culture. Critical theory is similar to context in that it seeks to show what texts reveal about cultural values Author’s biographical context

Critical theory Why bother applying theory to texts? Undertake independent research of the history of critical theory. Choose one of the following tasks to complete: Produce a timeline to show the emergence of different schools of theory, identify which may illuminate the text you are studying Produce a revision handout of one theory. Include its key concepts and theorists as an extra challenge, try applying this reading to the text you are studying Theory can unlock unexplored paths of interpretation