N5 Critical Essay Writing

Critical Essays Understanding – you must know the text well; this is shown through the evidence you choose Analysis – you must insightfully explain the techniques you have chosen Evaluation – you must be able to give a response to the novel and show how the essay question fits the novel

Example Essay Read the example essay. Note down anything you think has been done well. Note down anything you think you could improve. Give it a mark out of 20.

The Exam Paper You are looking for the Prose section. If you choose a question from another section, you will fail the essay.

The Question Two parts. The first sentence is a hook; it should immediately let you know if you can tackle the question using your text. The second part tells you how to answer the question.

Example Question Choose a novel or a short story or a work of non-fiction which explores a theme which you find interesting. Yes – you could easily use Animal Farm for this. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the writer explores this theme. Theme = corruption of power. Bullet point as many examples as you can think of which we could talk about to show this theme.

‘Appropriate Techniques’ Answers to questions on Prose should refer to the text and to such relevant features as characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax, turning point, plot, structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description… (You can also talk about symbolism.) Think about the terminology you will use before you even start writing.

Critical Terminology The language you use to analyse and evaluate is important. Avoid ‘shows’. You have a list of alternatives on your plan. Using evaluative words is concise and skilful; it shows that you are responding to the text all the time. Eg The shocking mass executions… Boxer’s mindless obedience… Orwell’s skilful use of a detached narrative voice…

Using Quotations DON’TS Do not begin a sentence with a quotation. Do not leave a quotation hanging as a sentence on its own. Do not use a quotation which simply reiterates exactly what you just said.

Using Quotations DO’S Embed quotations (shorter phrases) Take a new line and indent for long quotations Examples – Embedded Quotations Repeated reference is made to the fact that the animals ‘worked like slaves’, emphasising that their conditions had worsened under Napoleon’s rule.

Longer Quotations Squealer continues to manipulate the animals through his lies about the requirements of the pigs: ‘You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself.’ By questioning the animals’ belief in the pigs, Squealer makes them feel guilty about doubting their motives. Although you shouldn’t really need a quotation this long; much of the above could be explained in your own words, eg contextualise the question he asks about the milk and apples, then only quote his question.

Introduction Include title of novel, author, and wording from the question A brief summary of the novel A clear idea of how you will answer the question

Opening Sentences Basic (and totally acceptable): A novel which explores an interesting theme is ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell. Through the greedy pigs, Orwell shows us the corrupting nature of power.

Revising for ‘Animal Farm’ Themes: Use your timeline of power, language and trust to revise. You may wish to create another note sheet with extra examples of each.

Characters: Create a character development sheet for the following three characters: Boxer Snowball Napoleon Show how they change over the course of the novel and find evidence to show this (five points per character).

Setting Create a notes sheet detailing the importance of the setting of the farm. Think about: Its isolation Its name The different buildings The work that goes on in a farm Types of animals and perceptions of them Its mirroring of Soviet Russia

Other Techniques Create your own notes sheet for symbolism, language, dramatic irony etc. List examples and quotations for the different techniques.

Practice Questions – 2014 Paper 3. Choose a novel or short story or work of non-fiction which has a key incident. Give a brief account of the incident, and by referring to appropriate techniques, show how this incident is important to the text as a whole.

Key Incident Question Immediately say what the key incident is in your introduction Your first main paragraph should explain the key incident in detail Each subsequent paragraph should then show how the key incident has had an impact on further events Each paragraph should also explain the wider importance of the key incident and what it started – eg how it contributes to the theme of power or the writer’s message

Key incident: Snowball chased off the farm This is important to the text as a whole because Napoleon can begin to effect his plans without opposition: Trading Longer working hours Using violence (executions) Drinking (and other broken commandments) These could be a paragraph each. The important thing would be to continuously refer to the fact that the key incident allowed all of these things to happen as Snowball isn’t there to stop them. You could also say that Napoleon can now use Snowball as a ‘bogeyman’ type thing to make the animals obedient. Overall, the absence of Snowball allows the theme of power and corruption to develop and contributes to the overall failure of the rebellion.

4. Choose a novel or short story in which there is a character involved in some form of conflict. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the character comes to be involved in this conflict and how the conflict develops throughout the text. The best way around this question is to say the conflict is between Napoleon and the other animals. This would allow you to talk about the specific conflict with Snowball, then the general idea of conflict with Animalism.

Comes to be involved in the conflict when he is competing with Snowball for leadership (one paragraph) Conflict develops when he uses the dogs to defeat Snowball; however, he’s now in conflict with the original commandments Conflict develops with the animals in general: breaking the commandments (choose specific ones), executions, sending Boxer to die Continues to stir up conflict with Snowball in order to make the animals obedient Conflict climaxes with his change to a human, the original source of conflict

‘learning in an academic way at too early an age’ links back to the previous paragraph where the writer explained that British children go to school at the earliest age in Europe. ‘There are many reasons’ links forward to the new paragraph where the writer explains the problems that can occur when children are sent to school too young.

Overall, you need to mention how the developing conflict helps you to understand either: Napoleon’s character development The theme of power and corruption

Things to remember: Read the question carefully: pay attention to little words like ‘a’ or ‘the’. These are specifying how many things you should refer to. Frame your response within your knowledge of the text: what does the conflict show us about the progress of the rebellion? What does characterisation show us about the theme of power? ALWAYS CLEARLY REFER TO THE QUESTION.