Fat Boy Swim Critical Essay

A critical essay is a piece of writing analysing a text or texts. It is not a personal review!

S tatement E vidence A nalysis L ink Every paragraph must be SEAL ed!

QUESTION In the novel ‘Fat Boy Swim’ by Catherine Forde the protagonist (main character or characters), Jimmy is someone we see change and grow throughout the novel. Discuss with reference to theme, setting and characterisation the changes we see in Jimmy and what causes them.

Paragraph 1 Introduction (approx. 50 words) Name of book – ‘Fat Boy Swim’ Name of author – Catherine Forde Very brief summary of story (no more than two lines) Reference to the question – what essay is about What is the change in Jimmy - confidence Any other interesting information but not too much!

Paragraph 2 Technique - characterisation As we are showing a change in the character we must look at before and after. We need to show how he lacks confidence at the beginning, how we see change and what he’s like at the end.

Beginning What is Jimmy like at the beginning with regards to his confidence? –He lacks confidence. What characters cause him to have a lack of confidence? –Bullies – unsympathetic, nasty –Mum – over-protective, over-powering –G.I. Joe – pushy, harsh, tough, determined –Aunt Pol – realistic, truthful –Teachers – undermining, disrespectful –Members of the public – disrespectful, mean, inconsiderate, insensitive

Paragraph 2 (approx. 100 words) S tatement – The first sentence of your statement must be a topic sentence. A topic sentence introduces what the paragraph will be about and should mention the key information: – The technique you are writing about – Refer to question [The technique of characterisation is used to show that Jimmy changes throughout the novel.] We see this at the beginning when Jimmy seriously lacks confidence which is a result of/is not helped by…

Choose your character –Bullies – unsympathetic, nasty –Mum – over-protective, over-powering –G.I. Joe – pushy, harsh, tough, determined –Aunt Pol – realistic, truthful –Teachers – undermining, disrespectful –Members of the public – disrespectful, mean, inconsiderate, insensitive Choose one

E vidence – Choose a quotation which supports your statement. Shows how the character point of your chosen character contributes to Jimmy’s lack of confidence.

A nalysis – You need to analyse how your evidence supports your statement

L ink – refer back to the question. How does the point you have made answer the question? In this case, how does the point you have made show that Jimmy lacks confidence in the beginning?

Paragraph 3 Technique - Characterisation Middle – What is Jimmy like in the/towards the middle of the book with regards to confidence (we need to see a change or the process of change). You need to show him beginning to grow in confidence. What characters help him gain confidence towards the middle of the book? Ellie – sympathetic, understands him, has empathy with him G. I. Joe – encouraging, determined, helpful, harsh and fair Aunt Pol – supporting, understanding, positive, realistic

Paragraph 3 – 100 words approximately Statement – [Towards the middle of the book Jimmy starts to grow in confidence]. The technique of characterisation is used to show this when… –You choose a character Ellie – sympathetic, understands him, has empathy with him G. I. Joe – encouraging, determined, helpful, harsh and fair Aunt Pol – supporting, understanding, positive, realistic

Evidence – Quotation that backs up your statement

Analysis – must show how your evidence proves that your statement is true.

Link – Link back to the question, to show you are answering the question

Paragraph 4 Technique - Characterisation Statement – [At/towards the end of the book Jimmy has confidence]. The technique of characterisation is used to show this when… –You choose a character »G.I.Joe- determined, successful, supportive »Granny – supportive, truthful

Paragraph 4 – approximately 100 words Statement Evidence Analysis Link Remember we are looking at the technique of characterisation and showing how Jimmy is confident towards the end.

Paragraph 5 Technique 2 - Theme The next 3 paragraphs are going to show how Jimmy gains confidence throughout as a result of the main themes. –Bullying –Obesity –Motivation –Self-belief

Paragraph needs to examine how Jimmy had a lack of confidence as a result of his obesity (theme) –S – Mention technique of theme, and what that theme is (obesity) and that it shows Jimmy had very little confidence –E – Choose a quote which shows this –A – Analyse/explain how your quote shows your statement is true –L – Refer back to the question

Paragraph 6 Paragraph 6 shows that Jimmy begins to gain confidence as the book progresses. –S – State that the theme (bullying) shows in the middle of the book that Jimmy is gaining confidence –E – Find a quote to support this (perhaps where Jimmy isn’t bothered about the bullies or they leave him alone) –A – explain how this quote shows your statement is true –L – Refer back to/answer the question

Paragraph 7 Show how theme (motivation) shows us at the end of the novel that Jimmy has gained self-confidence –S – State that the theme of motivation, at the end of the novel, shows us that Jimmy has gained confidence –E – Find a quote to support this –A – Explain how your qupte supports your statement –L – Refer back/answer question

Paragraph 8 – approx 100 words This paragraph will looking at setting and focus on the setting of school and how this shows Jimmy’s lack of confidence. –S – State that the setting of the school shows Jimmy’s lack of confidence at the beginning. –E – find evidence (a quote) to show this is true –A- Analyse how your evidence supports your statement –L – Link back to/answer the question.

Paragraph 9 – approx 100 words This paragraph will looking at setting and focus on the setting of home and how this is where we see Jimmy a little more confident. –S – State that the setting of the home shows Jimmy’s lack of confidence at the beginning. –E – find evidence (a quote) to show this is true –A- Analyse how your evidence supports your statement –L – Link back to/answer the question

Paragraph 10 – approx 100 words This paragraph will looking at setting and focus on the setting of the swimming pool and how this shows Jimmy to be much more confident at the end. –S – State that the setting of the swimming pool shows Jimmy’s lack of confidence at the beginning. –E – find evidence (a quote) to show this is true –A- Analyse how your evidence supports your statement –L – Link back to/answer the question

Conclusion Sum up what you have discussed in the main body of the essay. Answer question Give your view