Essay Writing What the…!

Essay writing is like arguing Then explain how evidence supports your case You need to make your case Back it up with evidence

Essay STRUCTURE Introduction Introduction –This is what is going to be in the essay. There are no surprises in my essay because it is all laid out here in the introduction. Paragraph Paragraph –This is me telling you the answer to the question IN DETAIL with lots of QUOTES and EXPLANATIONS and LINKS. Conclusion Conclusion –Let me just remind you of what I just told you in the paragraphs.

WRITING INTRODUCTIONS Re-write the question Re-write the question Mention both author and title of the book Mention both author and title of the book –always underline the book’s title Give the techniques/character/setting information – depending on the question Give the techniques/character/setting information – depending on the question Give the message/idea/theme shown through those techniques Give the message/idea/theme shown through those techniques Mention historical/social context – where is it set? How does that affect the characters in the story? What is expected of them in that context? Mention historical/social context – where is it set? How does that affect the characters in the story? What is expected of them in that context?

Paragraph writing… A very simple formula that never changes!

THE QUESTION Analyse how the writer used techniques to surprise or engage you in an extended written text. Let’s have a look at how to write a paragraph…

POINT Give your answer to the question. It MUST relate to the question. Give your answer to the question. It MUST relate to the question. It should tell us the answer, not hint at it. It should tell us the answer, not hint at it. First person narrative enables the reader to directly hear and experience the events taking place in Jimmy’s household. Jimmy being brought up in a house with major parental issues causes the household environment to be negative and stressful making Jimmy nothing but a product of his environment. Analyse how the writer used techniques to surprise or engage you in an extended written text.

EXAMPLE Give a quote to back up the statement/point you have made Give a quote to back up the statement/point you have made At level two you should aim to give two quotes PER paragraph At level two you should aim to give two quotes PER paragraph Explain each quote Explain each quote –What does it mean? Who said it? Explain importance to audience. Explain importance to audience. Explain what it means to the theme/ideas Explain what it means to the theme/ideas EXPLANATION

eg. Example + Explanation When Jimmy explains a conversation from his mother and father Jimmy mentions her saying “If you don’t stop that I’ll kill you”. This type of verbal abuse occurring in Jimmy’s household causes it to be negative and unpleasant making it stressful for him to live in. Later on Jimmy states “I wasn’t the slightest bit surprised to hear that”. We observe Jimmy emotional shutting down from other characters due to his household environment being so negative causing him to be a product of it. Analyse how the writer used techniques to surprise or engage you in an extended written text.

Link Link back to the question using KEY words from the question. Link back to the question using KEY words from the question. Link to the audience Link to the audience Link to importance socially/historically Link to importance socially/historically The link can occur at the same time as the explanation. It does not need to be separate from the explanation. The link can occur at the same time as the explanation. It does not need to be separate from the explanation. The use of first person narrative allows the reader to see and engage with the events taking place just as the character would, allowing us to interpret the issues better than a 13 year old boy (Jimmy) would as we are able to read between the lines.

First person narrative enables the reader to directly hear and experience the events taking place in Jimmy’s household. Jimmy being brought up in a house with major parental issues causes the household environment to be negative and stressful making Jimmy nothing but a product of his environment. When Jimmy explains a conversation from his mother and father Jimmy mentions her saying “If you don’t stop that I’ll kill you”. This type of verbal abuse occurring in Jimmy’s household causes it to be negative and unpleasant making it stressful for him to live in. Later on Jimmy states “I wasn’t the slightest bit surprised to hear that”. We observe Jimmy emotional shutting down from other characters due to his household environment being so negative causing him to be a product of it. The use of first person narrative allows the reader to see and engage with the events taking place just as the character would, allowing us to interpret the issues better than a 13 year old boy (Jimmy) would as we are able to read between the lines.

WRITING CONCLUSIONS Re-write the question Re-write the question Mention both author and title of the book Mention both author and title of the book –always underline the book’s title Summarise each point you made in the paragraphs Summarise each point you made in the paragraphs Restate the theme raised through your points Restate the theme raised through your points Mention historical/social context Mention historical/social context DO NOT copy, word for word, the introduction, but use it to guide how you write your conclusion. DO NOT copy, word for word, the introduction, but use it to guide how you write your conclusion.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED IN ORDER TO ANSWER ANY LEVEL TWO ESSAY QUESITON? QUOTES/EVIDENCE QUOTES/EVIDENCE THE MAIN IDEA/MESSAGE THE MAIN IDEA/MESSAGE WHO IS THE AUDIENCE WHO IS THE AUDIENCE BACKGROUND INFORMATION BACKGROUND INFORMATION TECHNIQUES USED TECHNIQUES USED WHAT SOCIAL OR POLITICAL OR HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE DOES IT HAVE TO YOU/THE READER? WHAT SOCIAL OR POLITICAL OR HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE DOES IT HAVE TO YOU/THE READER?

WARNING! The NCEA exam writers LAST YEAR got fed up with people writing essays that they had pre-learnt. The NCEA exam writers LAST YEAR got fed up with people writing essays that they had pre-learnt. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!? It means they have made the questions really specific so that you cannot pre- prepare an essay. You will not know before what kind of question you will get! It means they have made the questions really specific so that you cannot pre- prepare an essay. You will not know before what kind of question you will get!

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ME? It means that you need to understand exactly what the themes are and how to apply them to ANY question. It means that you need to understand exactly what the themes are and how to apply them to ANY question. It means that you need to understand the characters and be able to discuss them in relation to personality, relationships, social context, historical context, relevance, importance. It means that you need to understand the characters and be able to discuss them in relation to personality, relationships, social context, historical context, relevance, importance. It means you have to think for YOURSELF! It means you have to think for YOURSELF!

Write down the essay question and plan out what you will need to answer it. Analyse how the beginning of the text created a strong impression of at least ONE character or individual. Before you walk you must crawl, before you run you must walk