How to write a Classical Studies essay

STEP 1… DO NOT PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BE CALM…

STEP 2… Read the questions carefully Consider each question Can you answer it? Do you have enough to talk about? Can you think of any primary sources to use? Which one do you feel most confident about? In your exam you are given 3 questions to pick from

STEP 3… Highlight the key words in the question Break down the question and BRAINSTORM out each section The marker is looking to see your planning – it shows thought and will help your ideas flow… Stay very calm…

Roman prayer contained a number of elements considered essential for the gods to take notice and the request to be granted. Discuss: the elements of prayer that ensured that the correct god or goddess was prayed to and why this was so important • three further elements of prayer that were considered essential and why these were so important. What do such procedures tell us about how the Romans viewed their relationship with the gods?

STEP 4… Write your introduction… it’s easy because you have a brainstorm… Re-write the first part of the question into your introduction AND answer all parts of the question briefly… Do not add primary sources yet and… Stay very calm…

An introduction… Prayer was an extremely important aspect of Roman religion, which impacted everyday life in Roman society. The people would pray to the gods to gain their favour or information. If the request made in the prayer was not granted it was the fault of the human due to incorrect worship. Thus measures were taken to ensure the prayer was said correctly, and to the right god. From prayer we see how the Romans very much saw the gods with human emotion, instincts and tendencies, rather than them being like the benevolent and loving Christian god as many accept today. The relationship was mainly one where both groups were in it for what they could get out of it, very much like a religious contract.

Write your paragraphs… it’s easy because you have a brainstorm… STEP 5… Write your paragraphs… it’s easy because you have a brainstorm… P – Point – State your first bit of classical information that answers question E – Example – give an example/s (specific info and/or primary source (for a primary source make sure to outline what source is about and who said it)) E – Explain what the example means historically/classically/religiously… L/R – Link/Relevance – link back to question, ensure answer is relevant to the question

Sometimes you need to have an extended PEE (L)… (*cough*) If you have more than one example to explore within the paragraph then use the following structure… P – Point E – Example A E – Explain A E – Example B E – Explain B L/R – Link/Relevance

A paragraph…

Your conclusion is NOT like an English essay conclusion… STEP 6… Write your conclusion… it’s easy because you have a brainstorm… and have written a whole essay already… Your conclusion is NOT like an English essay conclusion… You MUST answer the LAST PART of the QUESTION…

Use the last part of the essay question to write your conclusion eg. STEP 6… Use the last part of the essay question to write your conclusion eg. What do such procedures tell us about how the Romans viewed their relationship with the gods? Take the ideas and evidence from the rest of your essay and based on that DRAW CONCLUSIONS to answer the last part of the question

BE THIS PERSON! Do not leave an exam early – EVER! Check your answers. Proof-read. Have a go!