Critical essay revision The Kite Runner Critical essay revision

Quotations A good way to learn quotations is to write them out by theme, technique, character, etc. Once you have done this, you then need to learn them. You can do this by writing down the themes, techniques and characters and then writing the quote without looking at it.

Advice Plan carefully. Relate introduction to the task. Mention the title and author of the text. Spell the author’s name correctly. Refer to him throughout essay as ‘Hosseini’. Briefly outline plot (one sentence will do). Focus on task throughout.

Use the essay question to address the central concerns and themes in the text. Make sure that you don’t lapse into a retelling of the plot – analyse! Expand on everything you say, using quotations to support your points. Remember to revise the spelling of places, characters’ names, etc.

Sample essay questions Choose a novel or short story in which the central character’s failure to understand the reality of his or her situation is an important feature of the text. Explain how the writer makes you aware of this failure and show how it is important to your appreciation of the text as a whole.

Choose a novel or short story which you feel has a particularly well chosen title. Explain why you think the title helps you to appreciate the central idea/s of the text.