Essay Writing

For the Future! In English in years 10 and HSC/DP, you will need to write essays. These are usually text responses. We are going to go through the basics in this PPT. Then I will talk more specifically about the assessment task.

Read the essay question carefully and make sure you understand it. Easy as 1, 2, 3 Read the essay question carefully and make sure you understand it. Pick out the KEY WORDS in the essay question. Think about whether you agree or disagree with the question – form a point of view (an interpretation of the text) which you will write about in the essay. Make a plan. What events and examples in the text can you discuss? List them in dot points.

7. Begin writing your first draft. Steps 6,7,8,9 6. Each of these dot points will then become a paragraph. 7. Begin writing your first draft. 8. Edit your work – get a friend or teacher to check for mistakes and make improvements. 9. Write a final copy.

What is the most important step in writing an essay? 1. Plan 2. First Draft 3. Edit 4. Final Copy

Essay structure Introduction (background info, state your point of view) Body (The paragraphs – what is the acronym again?) Conclusion – summarise your main points

Introduction Explain your understanding of the question Introduce your argument Provide your point of view Provide background information Don’t use detailed examples

Body One key point for each paragraph Use TEEL for each paragraph Point Evidence Explanation Link

TEEL Topic – Use a topic sentence at the start of a paragraph to make it clear to readers what the paragraph is about Evidence – Provide details of events using “quotes” from the text which supports your point Explanation – In your own words explain why the quote is important to the point you are trying to make Link – Make a link to the next paragraph so that it flows well and summarise the main idea of the paragraph

Conclusion Restate your point of view Restate in different words what your main ideas were Think carefully about your final sentence – end strongly Don’t introduce any new ideas

CRITERA Use the criteria to assess your previously written essay. Mark all the things that could be improved about the essay.

You can take 2 approaches: THE ASSESSMENT TASK You can take 2 approaches: An overall theme broken down into 3 sub points (the sub points can focus on a aspect of the theme OR on a particular poetic/literary device An overall theme broken down into 3 texts (you will analyse each text separately.) WHICH IS BETTER? WHICH IS EASIER?

What to incluDE? INTRODUCTION A thesis statement (ANSWER to the QUESTION) Introduce your texts (at least 3) Lead into body (mention main points) BODY Topic Sentence Expand on this in your own words Evidence (quote) Explain (THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT PART) Final – Link CONCLUSION Restate thesis Summarize main points Evaluate – which is most effective/accurate portrayal and why?

What are you doing essentially? “Analyzing the language techniques and stylistic devices the authors have used and HOW these create a representation/point of view about Australian culture” You need to show links – what kinds of links? Links between texts Links between stylistic devices/language techniques Links between themes Links between specific representations Links between specific points of view

You should have an idea of: Your PERSPECTIVE NOW PLAN! You can take in notes! You should have an idea of: Your PERSPECTIVE THEMES within your perspective LINKS, STRUCTURE, POINTS to discuss PLAN your notes