Critical Essay Structure Intro – you should by now be at the stage where your introduction can be written fairly quickly. T - title A - author R - reference to question (include the key words) T - themes S – brief summary of the plot

Main Paragraph Structure Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4 stages – these stages are aligned with the marking criteria for a critical essay. The first stage is Point. This stage is aligned with your understanding of the text.

Point This section of your paragraph comprises of 2 sentences: The first sentence is a topic sentence – this should contain the key words for the question and give a focus for the paragraph. The second sentence is a context sentence – this should describe what is happening in the text.

Point Example: The first stanza of the poem is crucial in establishing the setting and, more importantly, the reader’s sympathy for the central character. The reader finds him a lonely and tormented man, trying to cope with the pressures of his job as he develops photographs in his “darkroom”; this setting is potentially symbolic, as the ambiguity of the word suggests not only the literal room in which he develops his photos, but also the idea of psychological darkness. Yet, paradoxically, the darkroom is both a symbol of his mental imprisonment and a place of refuge from the stresses of his job.

Main Paragraph Structure Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4 stages – these stages are aligned with the marking criteria for a critical essay. The second stage is Evidence. This stage is also aligned with your understanding of the text.

Evidence This section of your paragraph comprises of an introductory statement and a quotation from the text. Example: For example, in “finally alone” at the end of the line.

Main Body Paragraphs Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4 stages – these stages are aligned with the marking criteria for a critical essay. The third stage is Explanation. This stage is aligned with the analysis of the text.

Explanation Example: The inversion of these words emphasises his solitude. These words seem to suggest that solitude is an escape for the photographer. As we read on, we are able to understand why – his job involves a continuous strain on his emotions. He is clearly a caring and sensitive man who understands the terrible suffering he documents. This compassion has been tested however.

Explanation The evidence and explanation stages can, and, in the case of poetry, should be repeated until there is a detailed justification of the point. Example cont. As we read on, we are able to understand why – his job involves a continuous strain on his emotions. He is clearly a caring and sensitive man who understands the terrible suffering he documents. This compassion has been tested however. The “spools of suffering” that he develops are laid out in “ordered rows” suggesting that he tries to bring order to his world wherever he can, knowing how much disorder and chaos there is elsewhere.

Main Body Paragraph The fourth stage is Referring back to the themes/question This stage – combined with analysis - is aligned with the evaluation of the text.

Referring back Example: This whole opening section defines the photographer as the sole compassionate figure in the poem. He is anonymous – a figurehead for the entire profession – who represents the kind of caring, concerned person who might undertake the job of documenting important conflicts and atrocities.

Main body paragraph in full The first stanza of the poem is crucial in establishing the setting and, more importantly, the reader’s sympathy for the central character. The reader finds him a lonely and tormented man, trying to cope with the pressures of his job as he develops photographs in his “darkroom”; this setting is potentially symbolic, as the ambiguity of the word suggests not only the literal room in which he develops his photos, but also the idea of psychological darkness. Yet, paradoxically, the darkroom is both a symbol of his mental imprisonment and a place of refuge from the stresses of his job. For example, in “finally alone” at the end of the line. As we read on, we are able to understand why – his job involves a continuous strain on his emotions. He is clearly a caring and sensitive man who understands the terrible suffering he documents. This compassion has been tested however. The “spools of suffering” that he develops are laid out in “ordered rows” suggesting that he tries to bring order to his world wherever he can, knowing how much disorder and chaos there is elsewhere. This whole opening section defines the photographer as the sole compassionate figure in the poem. He is anonymous – a figurehead for the entire profession – who represents the kind of caring, concerned person who might undertake the job of documenting important conflicts and atrocities.

Conclusion C – Concluding word/phrase T - Title A- Author R – Ref. to q S – Summarise main points of essay

Conclusion Example: In conclusion, ‘War Photographer’ by Carol Ann Duffy successfully portrays the conflicts and tensions which are an inherent part of any war photographer’s life. Where she excels, is in exposing the terrible dilemma of the job: the inner conflict between carrying out an undeniably worthy job and maintaining a sense of compassion towards the relentless suffering you are confronted with, creating a profound feeling of sympathy for character of the photographer. Through her use of language, the poet not only tugs at the reader’s heartstrings, but forces them to consider their own attitudes towards suffering.

How many paragraphs? You should be aiming to write at least 4 detailed main body paragraphs to achieve in the top range of marks. Timings 5 minutes – plan 5 minutes – intro and conclusion 8 minutes - for each main body paragraph 3 minutes – read over