Mini Essays/ Paragraphs www.misterconnor.org

Topic Sentences The topic sentence is the sentence which summarizes the main ideas of that paragraph. It is usually the first sentence in a paragraph. The topic sentence acts as a kind of summary of the main ideas for the following paragraph. These do not need to be complicated. E.g. A key scene in the novel is when Tess puts her letter under the mat. Tess’s attitudes to those weaker than herself show her to be a compassionate character.

Explain, please. A mini essay is a small section of writing which addresses a single aspect of a question. This could be the use of characterisation, symbolism, key themes and so forth. The basic idea is that each full essay should contain three or four mini-essays. These are an good way to revise.

Ticky-Squeak Okay, it’s not really an acronym but… T I Q E E S Q E E C

Ticky Topic sentence (summary of what the paragraph will contain) Initial example. Quotation to support this idea. Explanation of the techniques used in the quotation. Explanation of how the technique connects to the topic sentence.

Squeak Second example. Quotation to support this idea. Explanation of the techniques used in the quotation. Explanation of how the technique connects to the topic sentence. Closing sentence – how do these two points address the main question.

Which might look like… The question is about a key scene in the novel. T A key scene in the novel is when Tess is raped. I In the darkness of The Chase, Hardy makes the scene almost ghostly. Q He describes Tess as less a human being and more a “pale nebulousness”. E Here, the whiteness and mysterious shape of Tess is emphasised. E This contributes to the question of whether Tess consented or not to the sexual encounter.

Continuing on… The question is about a key scene in the novel. S In this key scene Hardy there was nobody around to save Tess. Q Criticising the Christian god, Hardy asks, “Where was Tess’s guardian angel, where was the providence of her simple faith?” E The repeated questions here create an outraged tone. E Hardy is furious that a God could allow such cruelty to happen to such an innocent creature. C Both of these examples show that Tess’s rape was both a mystery and, to Hardy, proof that God will not help the weak.

Have a bash… Write a paragraph for a question about a turning point in the novel. T The first event which contributes to the final turning point is when Tess’s father is approached by Parson Tringham… I Tess’s father… Q Hardy writes… E It is interesting that… E From this… S The idea is continued when… Q The author says… E Hardy uses… E This idea connects with… C These examples both…

Now… Compose mini-essays for the following subjects… In an essay about a key theme in the play T The idea of class is a key theme in “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”. In an essay about conflict in the play T A clear conflict in the play emerges between Tess and Alec.